AN EXAMPLE OF THE INNOVATIVE EDUCATION OF THE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS OF CHEMISTRY AIMED AT THE BUSINESS SUCCESS IN SLOVAKIA

The paper refers to a great contradiction between the requirements for practice and the real profile of university graduates in the field of chemical technology. The practice has shown that besides the first-rate technical knowledge also the economic and managerial knowledge is necessary. The above-mentioned discrepancy can be solved by introducing the modern teaching of subjects enabling the students to acquire the knowledge and practical experience in the area of financing and business capability. The paper evaluates the partial results of innovation obtained during the instruction of two innovative subjects at the University of Technology in Bratislava and, at the same time, it predicts the new proposals for improved conditions in this field.

In the paper, the following outputs of the secondary and primary research are presented: the status-quo analytical results achieved in 2016 by the Association of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry of the Slovak Republic, the results of quantitative investigation of the growth of financial knowledge of students achieved during the period of years from 2014 to 2016, the qualitative investigation of the satisfaction of students in the area of business education implemented in the period of years from 2011 to 2016, and finally, the results of investigation performed in 2016 for the purpose of evaluation of the graduates´ satisfaction with the preparation for practice.

It has been found out that there exists a great discrepancy between the requirements for practice and the real profile of a graduate who finished the study at the Faculty of Chemical Technology. It is interesting to know that there exist even 31 % of its graduates who are of the opinion that they have not been prepared for practice sufficiently. On the other hand, the students who have chosen the study from among the investigated subjects have the better knowledge in the practice-demanding fields. It is noteworthy that 73 % of students who had passed a subject concerned with the financial knowledge were successful and obtained a certificate. During the research students of the business education positively assessed a possibility to view the practical implementation of business comprehensively and to test the real business activity in simulated legislative conditions.

The paper describes the current situation in the area of the implementation of requirements for practice influencing the graduate´s profile at the University of Technology in Slovakia. It also points out to the possibility of improving the given status in a way shown on the example presented at the Faculty of Chemical Technology in Bratislava. Proceeding from the last findings it can be stated that a chosen way of the innovative education introduced at the Slovak University of Technology is suitable and effective. However, it is necessary to improve also the promotion of optional subjects and to learn students how to undertake the responsibility for their “graduate´s profile” after completing the university study.

The described way of education presented in the field of the financial and entrepreneurial proficiency is unique at the Slovak University of Technology and the example of its successful implementation could lead to some changes in the mode of instruction at universities of technology in Slovakia.