The Voice of Employers – their Suggestions for Optimizing the Relationship between the University and the Labor Market

Abstract

The university and the labour market can no longer be considered as separate entities because they are deeply interconnected, and their relationship is characterised by mutual influence. In order to ensure this relationship is functional and beneficial for all parties involved, it is highly important not only to listen to employers’ voice (which is the initial step) but also to incorporate their feedback into institutional development strategies. Effective communication and collaboration between universities and the labour market must be continuously fostered to guarantee that graduates acquire the skills employers expect and that employers are satisfied with the training provided. This study aims to identify a set of effective solutions proposed by employers to enhance the quality of graduates’ skills. In order to answer four research questions, data were collected and processed from a broader survey, conducted via a questionnaire with 153 employers from “Vasile Alecsandri” University of Bacău (UBc) between July and September 2024. The gathered data were then compared and correlated with findings from a similar study conducted in the previous year, during the same months. The results obtained will help the substantiation of decision-making and action lines at the faculty and institutional levels aimed at improving graduates’ skills in response to the dynamic and challenging demands of the labour market.