The role of a higher education institution in search of graduates first job

Višja strokovna šola Šolskega centra Kranj (VSŠ ŠC Kranj) si prizadeva, da njeni študenti in diplomanti pridobijo uporabno praktično znanje, kar jim omogoča zaposljivost in osebno rast. Glede na dejstvo, da je osrednji predmet preučevanja magistrskega dela vloga višje šole pri zaposlovanju diplomantov, smo v teoretičnem delu naloge predstavili nekatere možnosti, teoretična priporočila in smernice za zagotavljanje zaposljivosti diplomantov, opozorili na ovire, ki zmanjšujejo učinkovitost zaposlovanja, ter predstavili spremenjeno vlogo šole pri povečanju zaposljivosti. V empiričnem delu naloge smo raziskali in analizirali, kako diplomanti VSŠ ŠC Kranj razumejo pomembnost svoje zaposljivosti in graditve kariere ter koliko je usmeritev šole v zaposljivost prepoznana pri študentih. Analizirali smo zaposlenost diplomantov VSŠ ŠC Kranj v programih mehatronika in informatika. Pridobili smo mnenje diplomantov o tem, katere aktivnosti bi prispevale k večji zaposljivosti diplomantov, katere dimenzije zaposljivosti so že prisotne na VSŠ ŠC Kranj. Ugotovili smo, da je po mnenju diplomantov višja šola v določeni meri dobro opravila svojo vlogo pri zagotavljanju njihove zaposljivosti in iskanju prve zaposlitve ter da je velik delež diplomantov trenutno že zaposlen. Obstajajo pa možnosti za izboljšanje kakovosti delovanja VSŠ ŠC Kranj v prid zagotavljanju zaposljivosti diplomantov in nudenju pomoči pri iskanju prve zaposlitve. Zato smo oblikovali predloge za pomoč študentom pri načrtovanju kariere, in sicer uvedbo novih dejavnosti v okviru kariernega centra in vključitev vsebin karierne orientacije v kurikulum.The post-secondary education institution Višja strokovna šola at the school centre Šolski center Kranj (VSŠ ŠC Kranj) aims at its students acquiring useful practical knowledge, which enables their employability as well as their personal growth. The focal subject of the study presented in this thesis is the role of the post-secondary education institution in search of the first job of its graduates. Thus the first part of the thesis presents some possibilities, theoretical recommendations and guidelines for providing employability of graduates. Furthermore, some obstacles, which can reduce the effectiveness of employing graduates, are presented, as well as the changes in the concept of the role of the post-secondary education institution in this process. In the empirical part, we have researched how the importance of the employability and career building is comprehended by the graduates, and to what degree they recognize the orientation of the institution towards the employability of its graduates. The analysis of the current employment status of the graduates of mechatronics and informatics has shown that the majority of them are already employed. We have acquired the opinion of the graduates on which activities would contribute to their better employability and which such activities are already in progress at VSŠ ŠC Kranj. The research has shown that in the opinion of the graduates, the educational institution has carried out its role in securing their employability and finding their first job considerably well, but there are still possibilities for quality improvements of the activity of VSŠ ŠC Kranj to improve the employability of the graduates and to offer them a sufficient support in searching of their first job. Some recommendations for the advancement of quality of school’s activities connected with employability of the graduates have been offered in the closing part of the thesis. We have drawn up some proposals for helping students with planning their careers with some new activities within a career centre or including career orientation in school curriculum