Profiling of graduates of a technical university in accordance with practice requirements

Jana PLCHOVÁ and Irina BONDAREVA

Abstract:

The main objective of the paper is to study the interconnections of the content taught at technical universities with regard to the requirements of practice. This article presents partial outputs from more extensive research, which maps the views of graduates of the Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology of Slovak University of Technology (STU) in Bratislava. According to the Slovak higher education ranking scheme prepared by ARRA organisation, STU is the best university in chemicals technologies, especially in regards to the long term. In order to obtain results, the classic questionnaire method was used in written form. The survey was taken by respondents - graduates of the faculty, in the academic years from 2016/2017 to 2018/2019. Due to an existing discrepancy between the graduate profile of the faculty and the current requirements of practice, the knowledge of graduates about those requirements on their profile was examined. At the same time, the graduates' satisfaction with the preparation for practice was examined in this sense. The results of the investigation indicate that a majority of graduates are aware of the need for knowledge and skills in the field of economics and business of a company as conditions for their successful application in practice, but a high percentage of students do not consider their study at the faculty to be sufficient in this regard. The obtained results were evaluated in connection with the gradual implementation of the project, which allows students to supplement the study program with selective subjects in the field of economics and management beyond the scope of compulsory credits. The paper evaluates the discrepancy between the content of the study and the requirements of practice, pointing to a certain stagnation in the way education at the technical university is inflexible in adapting to the requirements of practice in the field of economics, management and soft skills. It also points to one of possible solutions to this situation by involving the students themselves in this process.