Abstract:

Practical training (i.e. internship, practice), is considered as an important element in the first professional steps of an individuals at the beginning of their careers. With the introduction of the Bologna reform, university and higher education study programs came closer to the needs of the labour market, in such a way that they introduced courses that allow students to complete a few weeks of mandatory study practice in selected public and private organizations. Practical training pursues the goal of combining theory and practice and is aimed at acquiring various professional competences.

In this article, we analyse the responses of the survey questionnaires of 232 students within the practical subject Student placement that is organised as a subject at the Faculty of Public Administration, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. The subject is mandatory for all students at the 1st cycle (Bachelor) programmes in the 3rd year of University Study Programme Public Sector Governance and Higher Education Professional Study Programme Administration. The student completes practical training as part of 160 hours of work in the organization. Within the above-mentioned subject students work in the working environment in selected organisation.

The results of students’ evaluation indicate that students have a high level of knowledge in the field of using ICT tools and digital literacy, but at the same time, there is a perceived lesser need among organizations to use these skills acquired at the faculty. In this regard, the diaspora between the qualifications of students and the real needs of the market in the field of digitalisation is evident. Similar results are found in the field of foreign language use.

In this paper, we present a series of key procedural and substantive recommendations and guidelines for general and specific improvements, which can benefit public administration faculties in improving the contents and processes within the study programmes. The results show a match in the competences acquired by the students and the competences desired by the employers in the field of analytical and integrative thinking, human resource management people, and in the field of use of official writing.

The results can serve tertiary education organizations dealing with the field of practical training, as well as employers from public and private administration.

Keywords:

Public administration, student, survey, digitalisation, practical training.