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Employers’ Perceptions of Business and Economics Graduates’ Competencies in Croatia

Author

Listed:
  • Štambuk Ana

    (University of Rijeka, Faculty of Economics and Business, Rijeka, Croatia)

  • Karanović Goran

    (University of Rijeka, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Rijeka, Croatia)

  • Host Alen

    (University of Rijeka, Faculty of Economics and Business, Rijeka, Croatia)

Abstract

Background: The issue of graduates’ competencies is not a new one, but was brought back into the spotlight after the 2007-2008 Global Financial Crisis and the ensuing disturbances in the labour market. These disturbances were manifested through an increased unemployment rate, with a significant share of highly educated people.Objectives: This paper provides an insight into employers’ assessment of the importance and sufficiency of the competencies acquired by business and economics university bachelor graduates in Croatia.Methods/Approach: The methodology applied in this research includes the importance-performance analysis (IPA) that provides a two-dimensional importance-satisfaction grid. Data for the IPA analysis were collected by the structured questionnaire.Results: Results indicated that employers are satisfied with specific competencies (business and economic) and that the emphasis of business and economics higher education institutions (HEI) should be placed on generic competencies.Conclusions: Findings imply that mobility of highly educated people could be caused by the level and quality of specific competencies of bachelors with a degree from Croatian economics higher education institutions. Additionally, the conclusion of the conducted study indicates a need for implementation of student-oriented teaching methods, the introduction of obligatory internship, and introduction of courses oriented towards the development of generic competencies.

Suggested Citation

  • Štambuk Ana & Karanović Goran & Host Alen, 2019. "Employers’ Perceptions of Business and Economics Graduates’ Competencies in Croatia," Business Systems Research, Sciendo, vol. 10(2), pages 108-123, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bit:bsrysr:v:10:y:2019:i:2:p:108-123:n:8
    DOI: 10.2478/bsrj-2019-021
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    competencies; importance-performance analysis - IPA; business and economics; demographics and finance; Croatia;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A22 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics - - - Undergraduate
    • G01 - Financial Economics - - General - - - Financial Crises
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • J11 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Demographic Trends, Macroeconomic Effects, and Forecasts

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