TUNING OF ACADEMIC AND BUSINESS SECTORS‘ POSITIONS FOR BETTER COMPETENCES OF GRADUATES

Abstract

It is universally recognized that in order to cope with the raising challenges which emerges under the pressure of rapid global transformations and exponential changes in nowadays economy and society, enterprises concentrates on educated and highly skilled human resources, which are suited for the requirements of knowledge. The importance of skilled human resources is strongly emphasized in European initiatives and strategic documents such as “Europe 2020” and others. It is argued that qualitative requirements for human resources competences are shifting. The main factors which stimulate the changes in requirements for human resources competences are underlined and discussed in this research paper. In this situation role of higher education institutions becomes undisputed and crucial. In European Universities’ Charter on Lifelong Learning is laid down that “Since their foundation over 800 years ago, Europe’s universities have championed research, fostered a civilized and tolerant society and prepared young people for their role in society and the economy”. These institutions continue their fundamental role in nowadays societies. Universities are required to educate highly skilled human resources who are able to respond the challenges of changing business environment and be highly adaptable. This research paper focuses exclusively on the graduates of universities who become crucial under the circumstances of knowledge based economy. Notably, graduates competences are important for both sides – for universities and for business sector as well. This paper explores peculiarities of the position of academic and business sectors towards universities’ graduates’ competences. Unfortunately, authors reasonably demonstrate that there exist observable differences between positions of academic and business sectors towards the content of universities’ graduates’ competences. This fact plays negative role in the processes of economic development and society cohesion. Research paper discussed issues are related to the revelation why academic sector position to graduates competences differs from the business sector. This scientific and practical problem is analyzed in this article. Obviously, the partnership between academic and business sectors is broadly recognized. However in the paper there is discussed the involvement of third actor – government – in order to strengthen the cooperation between business sector and universities. The involvement of government can do significant and positive impact trying to minimize gap between graduates competence and labour market requirements. This specific accent is made in the paper. In developing these insights the main objective of this paper are following: to identify objective positions of academic and business sectors towards universities’ graduates’ competences. Authors of this article state that it is necessary precondition enhancing the relevance of universities’ graduates to business sector’s requirements. This paper particularly focuses on the questions how to find managerial ways to match academic and business sectors’ position towards graduates’ competences reducing mismatch between universities, labour market and society at large. Solving main tasks of research authors are using analysis of scientific literature and documents. Main research findings allow to present the insights and recommendations to academic, business sectors as well as government for the closing partnership in the graduates preparation processes in order to respond to nowadays changes and raising challenges in business environment. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.eis.0.7.5068