Abstract:

Professional competences are an essential part of any profession. Machalová (2004) assumes that professional competence includes professional, social and psychological competence. The development of the competences in students of helping professions (social work and psychology) is realized not only through the professional subjects but also through the professional (compulsory) practice. By completing specialized professional practice at the bachelor's and master's level of study, students of helping professions develop communication and counseling skills that are used in work with a client. The aim of the paper is to analyze and compare the professional (communication and interaction) competences of students of bachelor's and master's degrees in psychology and social work, while we compare the level of professional competences in two measurements (before (T1) and after completion of specialized professional practice (T2).

Methods:
The research sample consisted of 96 students of helping professions (96% women, AM= 22.75, SD= 1.20). There were 35 bachelor's degree students (M= 21.63, SD= 0.13) in the first (T1) and second (T2) measurements (before (T1) and after (T2) completing professional practice). Master's degree students were 61 (M= 23.40, SD= 0.88) in the first and second measurements (before (T1) and after (T2) completing professional practice). We used questionnaires to measure the communication style with the client, the effect of interaction with the client and the competences of social workers.

Results:
The result of the comparative analyzes of professional (communication and interaction) competences of bachelor´s and master´s degree students showed that students of the bachelor´s degree scored higher in the variable effect of interaction with the client. No statistically significant differences were demonstrated in the other monitored variables. During the prepared model situations, the students helped the clients to relax and communicate about their current experience.
When comparing professional (communication and interaction) competences of students of bachelor's degree before (T1) and after (T2) completing professional practice, we found statistically significant differences in all monitored variables (communication style, interaction effect, ability to develop effective communication, ability to orientate and plan counseling procedure, ability to support and helping the client to become self-sufficient, the ability to intervene and provide services). Statistically significant differences were also demonstrated in the monitored variables for master's degree students comparing T1 and T2 (before and after professional practice). The results of the research indicate an improved ability of students to choose effective methods of working with the clients, to propose new forms of work and to actively involve even more passive clients in self-care.

Conclusion:
The results showed that professional practice is an integral part of education and its importance in the development of professional competences is shown not only in the master's degree but also in the bachelor's degree of study. For this reason, we plan to increase the hours of professional practice in both degrees of study.

KEGA 039UMB-4/2021 Alternative practice forms effectivity verification aimed at helping professionals´ professional competences development.

Keywords:

Professional competences, Professional practice, Master's degree, Bachelor degree, Social work, Psychology.