Abstract:

The contribution of university-level education to the development of society and the economy is, in general, difficult to overstate. This paper deals with the economic function of university-level education in Slovakia. As a result of digitization, automation, robotization or the use of artificial intelligence, the demand for routine activities with low added value is decreasing in the labor market and, conversely, the demand for specific skills, creativity and adaptability of employees is growing. Changes in the labor market requirements should be reflected by the the whole education system, including universities. Within this paper we assess Slovak universities based on the extent to which they reflect the requirements of the economy and the labor market. The employability of university graduates in the labor market is assessed on the basis of several indicators, such as the average monthly salary of graduates, the unemployment rate of graduates or the number of employers who view graduates' CVs published on job portals. The evaluation of individual universities or faculties based on selected indicators is compared with their performance in the field of science and research. One of the important findings is that a high level of science and research at a university is not a necessary precondition for the success of its graduates in the labor market.

Keywords:

Employability, university graduates, Slovakia, evaluation.