INTEGRATING RESEARCH INTO STUDY PROGRAMS: DEVELOPMENT OF AN HR COMPETENCY MODEL AND INTEGRATION INTO CURRICULA

The market potential and the constant expansion of Austrian and European/multinational companies in Central and Eastern European countries leads to a huge demand for qualified employees. To succeed in the so-called "war of talents", companies need adequate human resources strategies (and furthermore human resources competencies) to attract appropriate staff, to develop and retain those employees. Increased knowledge and enhanced understanding of human resource management (HRM) is of particular importance. Hence companies deal with increasing questions about HR role models and HR competencies to manage the most important resource of a company, the employees. Austria is one of the largest investors, within the top five, in many Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. In Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic Austria has a share of around 20% of foreign direct investments in 2010 (47% in CEE countries). An increase of 19.1% according to the previous year was detected. This strong international gearing of Austrian companies also means that country-specific knowledge is indispensable.

The objective of this three year project is the research and further development of an HR competency model. The concepts proposed in the literature for the analysis and development of HR competencies are analyzed and a holistic model is being developed, tested by focus groups and then quantitatively used in the countries to analyze the national characteristics of HR competencies in Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia. Throughout the whole research process students, alumni, lecturers, academics and practitioners are involved through discussion groups and interviews to ensure a holistic approach and additionally results useable for all target groups. The goal is furthermore to assess each cohort’s evolution of HR competencies throughout the 3 year Bachelor program. Besides this integration of students throughout involving them in discussion groups and assessing their competence development, students are involved actively in the research project by conducting a qualitative and quantitative research project in the course “Business Research”. Results will be transferred to practitioners as well as used for course and curricula design within the FHWien University of Applied Sciences of WKW. Participating universities: Brno University of Technology/Czech Republic, Szent István University/Hungary, János Selye University/Slovakia. This presentation will give an overview of the holistic approach of this research projects, using different methods, integrating practitioners and students and furthermore applying the competency model in the curricula throughout competence assessment.