Mospan N. Trends in Higher Education Interaction with Labour Market in the European Union

The dissertation analyses the current trends in higher education interaction with the labour market in the EU by looking into the inter-related issues: the modernization of HE to the market economy needs, stimulating factors and regulatory mechanisms of HE interaction with the labour market. The concept of the study is based on the principles of comparative, systemic, holistic, cultural, interdisciplinary approaches, as well as pedagogical forecasting. The dissertation concludes with recommendations on measures needed to harmonize higher education interaction with the labour market in Ukraine according to the EU experience. The conditions for the modernization of higher education to the needs of market economy are defined: globalization, internationalization, Europeanization and standardization. The stimulating factorsof higher education interaction with the labour market in the EU are determined: marketization of higher education, transition period, the demand and supply matchof HE graduates in the labour market, graduates’ skill mismatch. The analysis of the trends of HE interaction with the labour market in the EU is carried out according to the economic relations levels: macro (higher education of the EU and the EHEA), meso (HEIs) and micro (the participants in the educational process). The perspectives of implementation in Ukraine the EU experience on HE interaction with the labour market are defined at different levels: state, higher education system, higher education institutions and educational process. At the state level: legal support of higher education interaction with the labour market; information support; statistical agencies in the field of HE; QA in accordance with the labour market demands; HE graduates support during their transition period; official employment services for HE graduates; forecasting of the labour market needs; monitoring HE graduates’ employment; planning of professionals; legal regulation of HE graduates’ employment; employee mobility support; modernization of qualifications. At higher education: cooperation of universities, colleges and employers; HE interaction with VET; development of joint programs (between different HEIs); professionalization of degrees. At HEIs level: career centres; monitoring of HE graduates’ employment; professionally-oriented programs. At the educational process: vocational education; employers’ emerging in the educational process, during internships, during the development educational programs.