GRADUATE COMPETENCES AND THE JOB MARKET   Assoc. Prof. Diana Popova, PhD Burgas Free University Bulgaria Project No. 2015-1-LVO2-KA205-000609

Education From memorizing and reproducing facts and figures To developing skills and competences To developing “soft skills” Project No. 2015-1-LVO2-KA205-000609

“Hard” and “soft” skills ‘Hard’ skills can get you a job interview ‘Soft’ skills can get you the job The good balance between hard and soft skills can guarantee your success Project No. 2015-1-LVO2-KA205-000609

Knowledge, skills and competences today Knowledge – just a “click” away Bologna Declaration – focus on learning outcomes and developed competences Competences – skills combined with a corpus of knowledge that make us fit for the labor market. Competence – a keyword for employability and a measure for success Project No. 2015-1-LVO2-KA205-000609

Knowledge economy (Brown и Hesketh 2004: 1) The knowledge economy presupposes A world of smart people With smart jobs Who do smart things In a smart way For smart money A world more accessible for everybody Project No. 2015-1-LVO2-KA205-000609

Developing competences Personal characteristics Skills Knowledge Project No. 2015-1-LVO2-KA205-000609

What higher education should do Develop higher-order cognitive skills: Gathering and interpreting information Synthesizing information Data evaluation Critical thinking Project No. 2015-1-LVO2-KA205-000609

Academic entrepreneurship Proactive teachers and students Updating curricula, e-learning, distance learning Academic entrepreneurship In the job market In society In Europe and around the world Responsive to changes Employees need: Computer skills; Conflict resolution skills; Foreign language skills; Stress management skills; Ability to deal with difficult clients. What employers have to say Project No. 2015-1-LVO2-KA205-000609

What needs to be done? Project No. 2015-1-LVO2-KA205-000609 Talk to students and employers Work on projects with the businesses Research the job market Offer consultations to students Career centre Project No. 2015-1-LVO2-KA205-000609

Lifelong Learning Learning for life Lifelong learning Competitive in 21st c. Project No. 2015-1-LVO2-KA205-000609

By maintaining lifelong curiosity and inquisitiveness How? By maintaining lifelong curiosity and inquisitiveness Curiosity combined with motivation to learn is more important than intelligence when the goal is success in education (“The World is Flat”, Thomas Friedman). Project No. 2015-1-LVO2-KA205-000609

Personal characteristics - a success factor for “soft” skills Professional ethics Positive attitude and intrinsic motivation Accepting criticism and learning from it Communicativeness Team work Ability to work under stress Leadership Self-confidence Ability to resolve problems Project No. 2015-1-LVO2-KA205-000609

Higher Education under pressure to develop competences for the future Employers Students and parents Accreditation and quality assurance commissions Government Project No. 2015-1-LVO2-KA205-000609