Future economic professionals: development of practical skills and competencies in higher education from the point of view of international employers

Economic Annals-ХХI: Volume 176, Issue 3-4, Pages: 91-98

Citation information:
Berková, K., Krpálek, P., & Krpálková Krelová, K. (2019). Future economic professionals: development of practical skills and competencies in higher education from the point of view of international employers. Economic Annals-XXI, 176(3-4), 91-98. doi: https://doi.org/10.21003/ea.V176-09

Kateřina Berková
PhD (Economic Teaching Methodology),
Assistant Professor,
Department of Economic Studies,
College of Polytechnics Jihlava
16 Tolstého Str., Jihlava, 586 01, Czech Republic
katerina.berkova@vspj.cz
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6158-0171

Pavel Krpálek
PhD (Economic Teaching Methodology),
Associate Professor,
Vice-Rector for Science and Development,
College of International and Public Relations Prague
17 U Santošky Str., Prague 5, 150 00, Czech Republic
krpalek@vsmvv.cz
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7665-5316

Katarína Krpálková Krelová
PhD (Theory of Teaching Subjects of General and Vocational Nature),
Assistant Professor,
Department of Economic Teaching Methodology,
University of Economics
1938/4 W. Churchill Sq., Prague 3, 130 67, Czech Republic
krelova@vse.cz
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8419-4556

Future economic professionals: development of practical skills and competencies in higher education from the point of view of international employers

Abstract. The authors aim to determine the importance of practical preparation of future accountants, auditors and entrepreneurs during the study both from the point of view of the companies with transnational scope of activity that belong to the group of the Czech Republic’s most attractive employers and from the point of view of the students of the University of Economics in Prague (Czech Republic) in the field of accounting and financial management, who very often gain positions in such companies. Another aim is to verify what emphasis the practice in the international context places on providing the students with knowledge of business and market laws in relation to the abovementioned professions. The research was conducted by using a questionnaire survey at the beginning of 2018. The chi-square test of independence was used in view of the categorical variables. Practical preparation is important for both groups of respondents (i.e. 139 students and 24 relevant companies-employers). During the study, it was established that most students are already employed (75% of the bachelor and 95% of the master programmes students), which shows that the students in the accounting and corporate financial management field of study have a very close contact with practice. Although most students at both levels of education are already employed (88%), only 52% of them work in the field which is identical to their educational programme. Satisfaction of companies with students is conditioned by their practical preparation during the studies, which, however, is most often non-existing. The companies’ representatives, as well as students, recommend that practical subjects be incorporated in the course of study. Also, emphasis should be placed on the development of professional competences of auditors and accountants, as well as on entrepreneurships’ training, which should be in the form of simulated professional environment during the classes. Taking into consideration the results of the new research and scientific studies, we consider the recommended procedures to be justified and relevant internationally.

Keywords: Professional Competence; Higher Education; Accountant; Auditor; Entrepreneur; Employer; Simulation Methods

JEL Classification: E24; J24

Acknowledgements and Funding: This research was supported by the College of Polytechnics Jihlava, Czech Republic, under Grant No. 1170/4/181 «Model of Permeability of Corporate Economy and Financial Accounting in the Quality Improving System of the College of Polytechnics Jihlava» and by the Grant Agency of Academic Alliance (Project No. GA 7/2018).

Contribution: The authors contributed equally to this work.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21003/ea.V176-09

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Received 16.04.2019
Received in revised form 27.04.2019
Accepted 29.04.2019
Available online 20.08.2019