Adaptability of Human Geography Study Program Alumni Competencies in the Job Market

Abstract

research alumni preparedness for the job market. The aim of the study was to analyze alumni competences of the Master`s study program in Human Geography and compare them to job market demands. The analysis of theoretical performance appraisal by competencies indicated the importance of employee competencies. Graduates must be competent in professional erudition, functional flexibility, innovation and knowledge management, human resource mobilization, international orientation etc. The Master study program of Human Geography at KU has been successfully operating since 1998, and the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport included it in the list of the unique study programs in the Republic of Lithuania. In order to ensure that the competencies of the students could correspond to the labor market, the developers and renewers of the study program must regularly listen to the feedback of the graduates, who completed this program. A qualitative focus group study was conducted in order to reveal a reflection of graduates and their appraisal for better matching of the program to labor market needs. Empirical data were collected during the alumni round table discussion. The study involved 10 alumni and qualitative content analysis was performed to analyze the empirical data. After analyzing the data of the interview-discussion research, the following 7 categories were distinguished: Project preparation competence – one of the most important competencies of the master’s study program; GIS program management competence formation and application in work activities; International orientation, foreign language skills open more opportunities; Information, literature search and competences of literature analysis; Tendencies of adaptability of students competencies in practical and work activities; Unawareness of the profession of human geography in society; Suggestions for better compliance of alumni competencies with the labor market. The interview-discussion statements of the research participants were concentrated in the following main subcategories: Academic worldview formation (s); Strong alumni foreign language competence; Application of competencies shows wide multifunctionality of the study program; Importance of application of competencies is unquestionable; Project preparation competence is successfully applied or has a strong potential for application in work activities in the short and long term; Literature analysis; Information, literature search, etc. The content of all categories and subcategories is localized at a positive level of matching labor market to graduates’ competencies. Keywords: alumni, job market, human geography, master’s study program, content analysis.