What are the most in-demand competencies on the labour market and how can you learn them?
Teamwork, self-management, communication, adaptability, or the ability to independently analyse and solve problems—these are the skills that employers expect from university graduates. These competencies are the focus of a newly opened module at the Faculty of Philosophy.
This year, students of the Faculty of Arts are being offered a new study module: PPK – Transferable Work Competencies for the Labour Market I and II.
Within this module, students can acquire skills that are crucial for today’s labour market under the guidance of experienced lecturers and managers from professional practice. The content of the module is based on qualitative and quantitative research conducted through analyses of job advertisements and focus groups, which clearly showed that employers expect university graduates to possess not only subject-specific knowledge, but also additional competencies. Among the most preferred are the ability to solve problems independently, personal time management, adaptability, negotiation skills, and teamwork.
International teams and online learning
Another advantage of this module is its online format and international dimension. The module was developed within the Interreg V-A Slovakia–Czech Republic cross-border cooperation programme, and is jointly delivered by three universities: the University of Ostrava, Trnava University, and the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava.
Online instruction is adapted to students’ individual needs. The module consists of three elective courses, each worth 2 ECTS credits.
Collaboration, discussion, and self-study will take place on the Moodle and Teams platforms, where joint tutorials and consultations with tutors and lecturers will be held every three weeks.
What does the module include and how can you apply?
The content is designed to prepare students for a wide range of problems they may encounter when working in teams. Students will be exposed to various practical tasks involving specific problem situations that they will need to solve as effectively as possible.
The module consists of three thematic areas.
Module PPK – Transferable Work Competencies for the Labour Market I
(to be piloted in the winter semester 2022/2023 – introductory course in October/November 2022)
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Time management and self-management
Module PPK – Transferable Work Competencies for the Labour Market II
(to be piloted in the summer semester 2022/2023 – introductory course at the beginning of March 2023)
- Problem analysis and problem-solving, project management
- Adaptability and flexibility, entrepreneurship
- Presentation skills and negotiation
Only a limited number of students will be admitted to the pilot courses, so interested students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
Applications for PPK – Transferable Work Competencies for the Labour Market I will be open from 12 September 2022 in the MIAS system. The module is open to students of the Faculty of Arts of Trnava University and will be taught from November 2022 to January 2023.
Applications for PPK – Transferable Work Competencies for the Labour Market II will be accepted from the second half of January 2023, about which students will be informed in due time.
More about the START project:
2020–2023: Supporting Transferable Work Competencies for the Labour Market during University Studies
Project number: INTERREG V-A SK-CZ/2020/12
The aim of the project is to create and test an international e-learning educational module for first- and second-cycle university students to strengthen so-called transferable work competencies for the labour market. The project enhances sustainable international cooperation in the field of increasing employability and supporting labour mobility of university graduates. Part of the project is the development of an educational module that reflects changes related to the trends of Industry 4.0.
