STEP TOWARDS DUAL EDUCATION IN BUSINESS INFORMATICS: A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO CURRICULUM INNOVATION

Vocational Education and Training (VET) based on principles of dual education has become recognized by numerous national educational systems as one of most advantageous models of education. This model allows one part of education and training to be realized within educational institutions, while the other part is carried out within industry partner organizations. In such way, labor market is supplied with highly qualified workers, capable of easily adapting to new business conditions and introduction of new digital technology.

Implementation of a dual education system requires firm relations between representatives of education and business spheres. There are numerous possible models of their cooperation and collaboration. Successful realization of carefully chosen model ensures benefits for both sides, especially those associated with the high degree of compliance of graduates’ skills with the requirements of the labor market. The gap between competencies attained within educational institutions and those necessary for entry into professional life is reduced to the minimum possible extent.

Considering that there are presently only hints of possible future introduction of dual education in Serbia, the Faculty of Economics in Subotica has developed a dual business informatics study program within the present legal framework. The aim of this paper is to present the possible models of collaboration between a higher education institution and the ICT sector in different stages of curriculum design and implementation. At the same time, the paper presents the content of the developed interdisciplinary business informatics curriculum thru an overview of expected student competencies.

The authors have collected the necessary input from business entities thru interviews and questionnaires. The collected data served in the identification of feasible models of cooperation, as well as in the detection of necessary competencies of future employees in the ICT sector. The outcome of this research is a designed dual study program, ready for accreditation, with specified syllabi and well-defined modes of industry partners’ participation in their realization.