transferable job skills, university trainng, qualitative and quantitative research

The contribution aims to present the opportunities for training university students, which reflect empirically recorded changes and demands of the labour market, using the example of educational modules created within three universities in the Czech Republic and Slovakia in cooperation with experts from practice. Educational modules represent an example of supporting the development of the transferable job skills of university graduates. These competencies are essential across different areas of life, and a person builds and carries them during her/his lifelong career. The content of the modules we based on the results of an empirical analysis of almost 50,000 job offers in the Slovak Republic in the years 2020-2022, complemented by findings from qualitative research using focus groups of employers in the Czech Republic. The analysis showed that among the most required personal qualities are communicativeness (54%), analysing and solving problems (50%), and organizing and planning work (36%). Based on the data, we compiled two educational modules in which students had the opportunity to develop the following competence blocks: communication, teamwork, time management, self-management, analysis and problem-solving and project management, adaptability, flexibility, entrepreneurship, presentation skills, and negotiation. Teaching in the modules took place using the blended learning method in international teams of students of social science and technical study programs, mainly online. Under the guidance of teachers and experts from practice, students performed tasks resulting from working reality, while their main goal was to outline and present a complex proposal for solutions to a specific real problem from practice. Both modules were piloted in the 2022/23 academic year and evaluated by students and experts. Students highly appreciated the training in transferable job skills, especially the opportunity to apply gained theoretical knowledge in tangible practice. Keywords: Transferable job skills, university graduate, labour market, blended learning, experts from practice.

The contribution aims to present the opportunities for training university students, which reflect empirically recorded changes and demands of the labour market, using the example of educational modules created within three universities in the Czech Republic and Slovakia in cooperation with experts from practice. Educational modules represent an example of supporting the development of the transferable job skills of university graduates. These competencies are essential across different areas of life, and a person builds and carries them during her/his lifelong career. The content of the modules we based on the results of an empirical analysis of almost 50,000 job offers in the Slovak Republic in the years 2020-2022, complemented by findings from qualitative research using focus groups of employers in the Czech Republic. The analysis showed that among the most required personal qualities are communicativeness (54%), analysing and solving problems (50%), and organizing and planning work (36%). Based on the data, we compiled two educational modules in which students had the opportunity to develop the following competence blocks: communication, teamwork, time management, self-management, analysis and problem-solving and project management, adaptability, flexibility, entrepreneurship, presentation skills, and negotiation. Teaching in the modules took place using the blended learning method in international teams of students of social science and technical study programs, mainly online. Under the guidance of teachers and experts from practice, students performed tasks resulting from working reality, while their main goal was to outline and present a complex proposal for solutions to a specific real problem from practice. Both modules were piloted in the 2022/23 academic year and evaluated by students and experts. Students highly appreciated the training in transferable job skills, especially the opportunity to apply gained theoretical knowledge in tangible practice. Keywords: Transferable job skills, university graduate, labour market, blended learning, experts from practice.