university–enterprise cooperation

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participants (young and unemployed
people, women, and internally displaced
people) and enterprises (type of
enterprise, type of training/service, type
of distribution...);
• Long-term planning of training and services
distribution for various groups of users.
Final goal of TSNA analysis is to determine
knowledge and skills gaps, weaknesses and new
competence requirements in regional enterprises,
especially SMEs, and labor market. The
company managers and persons engaged in
product and service development, are constantly
facing the question: Which knowledge should
be developed to enhance competitiveness and
efficiency of the company, and which are the
particular fields of activities that the company
should concentrate on? The answer is that it is
not wise to create an ultimate list of required
knowledge, skills and services. On the contrary,
it is necessary to develop a system which will
continuously monitor the changing needs of
the company, analyse the results and provide
feedback to a flexible and promptly responding
environment which includes educational,
training and consulting institutions.
This tool is needed by both parties: the
company managers and the training institutions
providing education and new services.
Continuing education, the delivery of noncredit
or professional development courses
to the community and to local industry, is
an important element of the university’s
service to the community. Having in mind
that universities in the WB region have no recent
experience in organization of Life-long
learning (LLL) courses, it is very important to
discuss the concept of establishment of the
future Life-long Learning Centre at WBC.
It is important to clear up that different
types of vocational training will not replace
academic programmes but will complement
them by equipping graduates with the requisite
employability and key skills. Universities should
become aware that working in partnership
with existing providers of training (i.e in soft
skills) would contribute to bridge the gap and
move to commercial training for SMEs.
There will potentially be more work for
Universities by providing short courses
involving the underpinning knowledge
required to complete a competence based
on European Vocational Qualifications
where there may be gaps in the individual’s
experience or qualifications. There is a
lot of space for the Universities in WBC
to organize different trainings such as
training in communication skills, IT abilities,
team working and collaboration, problem
solving abilities and taking responsibility
for employees own continued professional
development.
The project WBC-VMnet has developed of an overall regional T&SNA system, with the objective to identify
the following needs:
• Company needs for advanced trainings and R/D services in the field of product and process development,
applying innovative VM technologies,
• The needs of the labour market, i.e. the unemployed who are registered at the national Employment
Service (with the high school and university education) for specific trainings.
The regional TSNA system includes the following:
1. Analysis of the conditions in the companies (in particular sectors, which will be identified for each PC)
through:
• Analysis of the strategic goals of the company
• Analysis of the organizational and innovative potentials
• Assessment of their position at the domestic and international markets
• Analysis of skills and knowledge of the employed in the project development sector
• Analysis of posts occupied, i.e. the expected competencies of the employees occupying the posi
tion, for further development of recommendations by the experts in this field.
2. Research of the existing and required skills of the unemployed (university and high school degree),
with the engagement of the National Employment Service, which will improve the balance between the
offer and the requirements, and their successful employment.
• Analysis of posts occupied, i.e. the expected competencies of the employees occupying the posi
tion, for further development of recommendations by the experts in this field.