Придобивките од воведување практична настава во високото образование и улогата на бизнис заедницата во процесот - Универзитет „Св. Кирил и Методиј“ во Скопје

The benefits of introducing practical training into higher education and the role of the business community in the process

On 13 December, a significant meeting was held at the premises of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of North Macedonia between representatives of the University 'St. Cyril and Methodius' in Skopje, the business community and the Swiss Embassy, on the topic of: The benefits of introducing practical training into higher education and the role of the business community in the process.

The Rector of UKI, Professor Dr Biljana Angelova, emphasised that one of the University's main strategic goals is to deepen its cooperation with industry, with the aim of strengthening students' practical skills and their competitiveness in the labour market. She emphasised that the key to preparing students for contemporary challenges lies in forming strong partnerships with companies.

In this regard, UGJK, in cooperation with the Swiss Embassy through the IME (Increasing Market Employability) and E4E (Education for Employment) programmes, has launched a pilot project involving three faculties: The Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Food, the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, and the Faculty of Forestry Sciences and Landscape Architecture. The aim of the project is for part of the students' practical training to be carried out in companies, where they will be guided by two mentors – one from the University and one from the company.

The company representatives showed their readiness to participate actively in the project, providing their own mentors for the students. Additionally, at the meeting key issues were raised concerning improving cooperation between the University and the business community, extending the project to other study programmes and ensuring the sustainability of such activities in the future.

This project represents a significant step towards the modernisation of higher education, creating highly qualified professionals who meet the real needs of the labour market.