Abstract:

Since 2024, the public universities in the Slovak Republic have been implementing so-called performance contracts, the aim of which is to finance projects to restore and streamline the higher education environment following the COVID-19 pandemia, with measurable indicators set. All public universities in Slovakia are committed to funding based on the following areas: quality and attractive higher education; quality scientific, research and creative activities in schools; social impact and regional cooperation; integration of university capacity; and internationalization.

In the first domain of quality and attractive higher education, the Ministry monitors the effectiveness of studies in the form of dropout rates and success rates indicators. The dropout rate indicator measures the number of new students enrolled in a school year and correlates with the number of graduates in the first year. The success rate indicator is linked to the number of students enrolled in higher education and the number of students who successfully completed their academic years (i.e., they did not leave university for any reason, or did not comply with academic obligations, or were not expelled.

Although the main data track statistics across the country, universities and faculties, administrators at specific sites (institutes and departments) lack a management base to identify problem elements and reasons for leaving colleges or why continuing students do not meet their obligations on time and do not complete their studies as planned. We assume that the competencies required for successful completion of higher education copy the competencies required for a knowledge-based society such as cognitive competences, digital competences, language competences or soft skills.

This paper analyses the transition of all students enrolled in the BA program in Media and Communications Studies, evaluates the success rates of all years of study, the topic group, and the process of preparation and submission of final papers. It also provides possible conclusions and presents the results of anonymous student surveys conducted to obtain quantitative and qualitative results.

Keywords:

Higher education, competencies, study attractivity, media and communication studies, drop out rate, success rate.