1. RESERCHERS ABOUT LATVIAN EMPLOYERS’ COMPETENCE REQUIREMENT FROM HIGHER EDUCATION GRADUATES IVARS MUZIS Riga Teacher Training and Educational Management Academy State Institutions of Higher Education: Rezekne Higher School founded 1993 Riga Teacher Training and Educational Management Academy founded 1994

2. By study directions Graduates from accreditated programs of Pedagogy and Teacher Education The place of the graduates in labour market 21% of graduates are postgraduate students 37% work at secondary schools 32% work at primary schools 5% head -master of a school 21% do the office work 5% are employed in a private company

3. Results Abilities required at hiring- employers perspective Learning capacity 3.6 Stress capacity 3.47 Problems solving 3.47 Planning 3.35 Interpersonal communication 3.33 Personal presentation 3.29 Self-evaluation 3.07 Computer skills 3.07 Vision 3 Leadership 2.93

4. Results Attitudes required at hiring - employers’ perspective Curiosity 2.60 Vitality 3.20 Ambition 3.25 Optimism 3.30 Cooperation 3.40 Open to challenges 3.49 Open to learning 3.60 Desire to make quality things 3.65 Responsibility 3.70 Open to changes 3.80

5. Results Traits required at hiring - employers’ perspective Creativity 3.6 Personal attitudes 3.07 Flexibility 3.47 Balanced personality 3.4 Sociability 3.33 Honesty 3.27 Entrepreneurial spirit 2.73 Sensibility 2 Individualism 1.87

6. Results General hierarchy required at hiring – employers’ perspective Personal abilities 3.33 Personal attitudes 3.07 Specialist knowledge 3 Personal traits 3 Foreign languages 2.87 Practical experience 2.73 Results obtain during studies 2.13 Employers do not have a clear idea about requirements regarding graduates and do not establish criteria for competence of graduates’ appreciation

7. Results Graduates profile- employers perspective Knowledge Good theoretical and practical knowledge Abilities Learning capacity Stress capacity Problem solving capacity Attitudes Open to change Responsibility Desire to make quality things Traits Creativity Initiative Sociability

8. Conclusions The assessment of the employment potential of state institutions of higher education represents a direct evolution of the quality evaluation of higher education system. In order to increase graduates hiring rate on their speciality immediately after graduation, higher education institutions must reconsider its vision and strategies for students training. Than graduates must have good theoretical and practical knowledge, to have attitudes and proactive behavior, communication skills, team work skills, in order to generate high added value for its employers. Data on graduates competencies offered by schools can be used to improve the quality of higher education courses in terms of the preparation they provide for participants in the labor market. The major problem for higher education is a lack of domestic demand that reflect an incomplete and stagnating national innovation system.