Abstract:

The conducted labor market research in Poland indicates the need to closely link academic teaching with the needs of the economy. The aim is to develop a model of education that closely links formal education with apprenticeship education, facilitating graduates entering the labor market, which in turn leads to a reduction of high unemployment among university graduates. This goal is to be achieved by measures aimed at adapting education programs to the needs of the labor market and combining higher education with professional activity. Similarly, strategies for the development of higher education (whether environmental or expert) indicate the necessity of developing education focused on practical skills through various forms of partnership between universities, enterprises and employers.

One of the forms of shaping students' practical skills is the introduction of student internships and practices, during which the student will also have the opportunity to use the expert knowledge gained during the studies.

The article presents conclusions and observations after the implementation of a pilot program of student internships at the Faculty of Environmental Engineering of the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice (Poland). The article also contains a synthetic elaboration of the results of evaluation studies carried out on program participants after the end of the internship.

Keywords:

Practical skills, student interships, labor market, education.