Abstract:

The ongoing debate on study quality and the relevant set of competences for management and business students has stimulated the research presented in this paper. The paper starts with the definitions of and a discussion on study quality, relating theoretical work to the practical criteria used in formal evaluations by accreditation bodies. The paper then researches the feedback on study quality at the Vilnius university Faculty of Economics from the responses of both graduates and employers. The data of the student and employer surveys on the quality of studies and the match between program features and the needs of the job market has been used to reveal the attitudes towards the study program quality and relevance. Differences between opinions of students and those of employers point to necessity to have a balanced view on these opinions. The common point in the responses of both students and employers is the perceived need to strengthen the practical aspects of the programs, providing a level of real-life experience that would more precisely relate job market requirements to the body of knowledge and competences received by the students in the study process. The most important directions for strengthening the quality of studies are discussed based on the results of the surveys.

Keywords:

Study quality, business studies.