Practice during university studies as a driver of student employability

Abstract

In this article, the issues of links between practice during university studies and employability abilities are analysed, the purpose of practice during university studies is highlighted, as well as the parameters of organising practice and problematic areas are defined. A hypothesis that a student’s activity during practice forms the basis of employability abilities is corroborated. Increasing requirements of a labour world for university graduates’ readiness determines the trends of changes in university study programmes with more attention being given to the quality of practice. When assuring quality of practice, a university creates preconditions for the development of student employability abilities. This article highlights the Lithuanian context and focuses on the problematic areas of organising practice during university studies. It should be noted that practice during university studies has little tradition in Lithuania. Up until 2009, in several study programmes practice was more of a formality rather than a real student’s activity in the professional field. Practice during university studies has only recently started being valued as an important part of quality of a study programme that determines students’ readiness for professional activity. Parameters for organising practice during university studies are discussed in the article: structure and resources of practice, realisation of practice, outcomes of practice and impact of practice. After the analysis of theoretical attitudes and introduction of generalisations of empirical researches, an idea is highlighted that assurance of these parameters at university studies creates preconditions for the development of student employability abilities and purposeful readiness for professional activity.