Abstract:

Internalization, globalization, information technology and need of innovations stimulated the growing role of knowledge. In this contribution we focused on actual trends, perspectives and innovations in the Slovak tertiary education system. In the knowledge society educational institutions have an important role of a knowledge-carrier. The requirements of the knowledge based society for the training of future experts change the process of university education. In this context the main objective of this paper is the analysis of selected indicators and attributes of the tertiary education in Slovakia.

We will concentrate on main characteristics that are important for the quality of university education: system of educational fields, number of undergraduate educational institutions, number of students and teachers, number of graduates and employment of graduates. The data for the individual indicators will be obtained from the statistical database DATAcube, the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic and the Portal of Universities. Using statistical methods and analytical tools, we will estimate the development of selected attributes in the near future.

Presented results will be useful for universities and can be applied in the development, stimuli and planning of universities innovations. The graduates of universities should bring into practice acquired knowledge and new methods. In contemporary enterprises human capital becomes the most important means of production. Well prepared university graduates could provide firms with competitive advantages to which belong abilities for team work and transfer of acquired knowledge.

Keywords:

System of education, tertiary education, quantitative and qualitative analysis, knowledge transfer.