Rīgas pedagoģijas un izglīTĪbas vadības augstskola

7.2. Organisation of the study programme – changes during the self-evaluation period

In comparison with the pervious, non-accredited study programme, several essential changes have been made to the new programme:

• 
  The report of the Accreditation Commission pointed out that the contents of the programme Personnel Management has only a slight difference from the programme Office Manager- Desk Officer. The main changes since 2004 have been as follows: the amount of personnel management study subjects has been increased by 8 credit points ( previously 2 credit points); this subject is acquired already in the first year of studies and is a major in all the following study years.
  
• 
  The main role in the study programme has been allocated to the acquisition of personnel management; it has been integrated in the whole study programme by not only increasing the amount of credit points for the personnel management course, but also including the acquisition of knowledge and skills in the content of other study courses in conformity with the Professional Standard. Descriptions of study courses have been reviewed at the meeting of the Department of Economics and Entrepreneurship.
  
• 
  Several study subjects have been removed from the study programme (for example: Client marketing, Fundamentals of entrepreneurship), whereas a number of study courses have been added to the programme (for example: Work psychology, Situation of labour force in Latvia and the European Union). Such a decision has been made to ensure the competencies mentioned in thr Professional Standard.
  
• 
  Several study courses have been integrated into one more comprehensive course, thus increasing the amount of the credit points and acquisition period of one subject (for example, the courses Labour legislation and Labour protection have been combined into one, and the courses Macroeconomics and Microeconomics have been combined in the course Fundamentals of Economics likewise.) Such approach prevents the fragmentation of study courses and duplication of their contents.
  
• 
  Great effort was made to revise the descriptions of study courses related to the acquisition of information technology. The Accreditation Commission had made consistent objections concerning the adequacy of the contents of the course to the level of an institution of higher education. Two new study courses- Information technologies in the personnel manager’s work(8 CP) and Personnel information systems (4 CP) were devised aimed to teach the future personnel manager the use of the computer according to his/her job responsibilities/functions.
  
• 
  Another significant change is connected with the acquisition of foreign languages. The acquisition of English amounting to 11 credit points (English for Special Purposes 6 CP and Business English 5 CP) is compulsory for every student of the programme. The long-term goal of the programme in the acquisition of foreign languages is to achieve such a level that every graduate could study professional literature in English, use English and at least one more foreign language in their professional activity.
  
• 
  Several study subjects were moved from the module of theoretical courses of the branch to the module of free optional courses. (Fundamentals of marketing, Rhetoric and Dramatics). Study subjects necessary for obtaining the qualification of the personnel manager were added (Work psychology, Business English).
  
• 
  To improve the contents of the study programme, regulations for the applicants were worked out. The main criteria for student matriculation are the comprehension of the personnel manager’s profession as well as the level of the knowledge of English and computer skills.
  
• 
  The study programme was altered in compliance with LR Professional Standard Personnel manager and considering the conclusions of the members of the Latvian Association of Personnel Management- professional personnel managers. Thus the programme provides knowledge and professional skills in four big interrelated modules:
  

1. 
   The field of law
   
2. 
   Economics, entrepreneurship and management
   
3. 
   Communication
   
4. 
   Psychology
   
• 
  Study courses of the programme are implemented observing the consecutiveness principle: first, the student obtains basic information in one of the above-mentioned four fields and in the consecutive study years the subjects become more specific, more relevant to the acquirement of the profession (for example, in the first years of study the student acquires personality and communication psychology, and in the consecutive study years he/she studies management and organisational psychology as well as work psychology).
  
• 
  Consistency in the acquisition of knowledge and skills is also ensured; this is reflected in the Practice Regulations. Each consecutive practice builds up the skills acquired during the previous practice. Each practice takes place on the basis of previously acquired theoretical knowledge.
  
• 
  The academic staff involved in the programme attended a number of seminars, presentations and meetings aimed to create a more complete idea about the professional and personal competencies of a personnel manager working in an organisation. By developing the lecturers’ understanding of the personnel manager’s profession in today’s situation, the contents of the study course, the quality of the programme and the quality of the professional training of students is gradually changing, too. Table 7 reflects the change in the study programme since the previous accreditation in 2004.
  
• 
  Employers and students were actively involved in restructuring the programme and discussing its contents.
  

Changes in the structure of the study programme

Table No. 5

Designations:	Common study courses
	Different study courses
	Courses which have been combined or their contents has been changed, with a change in the title of the course
Personnel Management year 2005				Personnel Management year 2004
Title of the study course		CP	Module	Title of the study course	CP	Module
General education study courses
Business communication		2	A	Business communication	2	B
Logics		2	A	Logics	2	A
Fundamentals of philosophy		2	A	Fundamentals of philosophy	2	A
Issues of the culture of the Latvian language		2	A	Issues of the culture of the Latvian language	2	A
Business etiquette		2	A	Image making and business etiquette in an enterprise	4	B
Interaction training		2	A	Interaction training	2	B
Sociology		2	A	Sociology	2	C
English for Special Purposes		6	A	Business foreign language	8	A
				Introduction to studies	2	A
				Ethics, aesthetics	2	A
Altogether:		20
Basic theoretical courses of the branch and courses of information technologies
Personnel management		10	A	Personnel management	4	B
Fundamentals of entrepreneurial law		2	A	Fundamentals of law	2	A
Fundamentals of economics		4	A	Microeconomics	3	A
				Macroeconomics	3	A
Fundamentals of management		4	A	Management	3	A
Personality psychology		2	A	Personality development psychology	3	A
Information technologies in the personnel manager’s work		8	A	Fundamentals of information technology	4	A
Methods of research work		2	A	Methods of research work	2	A
Organisational and management psychology		4	A	Organisational psychology	2	A
				Management psychology	2	A
				Economics of entrepreneurship	2	A
Altogether:		36
Altogether in Module A:		56
Professional specialisation courses of the branch
Work psychology		4	B
Business ethics		2	B
Adult study methods		2	B
Business English		5	B
Fundamentals of accounting		2	B	Fundamentals of accounting	2	B
Second foreign language		6	B	Business foreign language II	4	B
Statistics		2	B	General economic and company statistics	4	B
Fundamentals of finance and management accounting		2	B	Management accounting	4	B
Project management		2	B	Project management	3	B
Quality management		2	B	Quality management	2	B
Record keeping in personnel manager’s work		3	B	Record-keeping	4	B
Personnel information systems		4	B	Management information systems	4	A
Personnel manager’s professional ethics		2	B	Professional ethics	2	B
Labour legislation and labour protection		4	B	Labour legislation	2	B
				Labour security and labour protection	2	B
Public relations		2	B	Public relations	3	B
Methods of business games		2	B	Business games	2	C
Ergonomics		2	B	Ergonomics	2	B
Situation of labour force in Latvia and the European Union		2	B	Latvia in the European Union	2	C
Communication psychology		2	B	Communication psychology	2	A
				Labour organisation management	2	B
				Strategic management	2	B
				Finance and credit	3	B
Altogether:		52
Research project		1	B
Term paper I		3	B	Term paper I	3	B
Term paper II		4	B	Term paper II	3	B
Altogether:		8
Altogether in Module B:		60
Practices
Practice in personnel record keeping		4		Record keeping practice	6
Practice of observing and comparing personnel departments of different organisations		12		Practice in speciality (personnel management)	6
Qualification practice		10		Qualification practice	8
				Pre-diploma practice	6
Altogether:		26
State examinations
State qualification examination		4		State qualification examination	4
Development and defence of diploma paper		8		Development and defence of diploma paper	8
Altogether:		12
Free optional courses
Fundamentals of marketing		2	C*	Client marketing	3	B
Rhetoric and dramatics		2	C*	Rhetoric	3	A
Taxes and duties		2	C*	Taxes and duties	2	B
Political science		2	C*	Political science	2	C
Third foreign language		6	C*	Business Russian	2	C
				Models of management science	2	C
				Intercultural relations	2	C
				History of the world’s culture	3	C
Altogether:		6

C* - students have to opt for 6 CP from Module C.

To implement the programme in accordance with the improvements and additions, 4^th and 5^th year students had their length of study prolonged. Year 5 students will complete their studies on May 31, 2006, whereas year 4 students. will complete their studies on March 31, 2007 (Resolution of RTTEMA Senate on 26.09.2005.)

7.3. Practical implementation of the study programme and assessment system

Different study forms are used in the study process the choice of which is determined by the specific character of each study course. Lecturers have devised their individual descriptions of study courses according to the joint requirements of the study programme. The descriptions of study courses have been devised taking into consideration the Academy’s conception and the specific character of individual study courses. As it was mentioned in the report of the Accreditation Commmission, the previous study programme lacked the link between study subjects. Now the programme has been organised in such a way that the contents of the study courses does not overlap. Therefore the subjects have been combined in larger modules and the subject of personnel management includes both introduction to the speciality and the fundamentals of management. Starting work in the study programme lecturers’ task is to familiarize themselves with the programme and the descriptions of all study subjects in order to understand what is the place and role of their subject in the study programme as a whole. The director of the programme has discussions with lecturers of all study subjects.

Each description of the study course contains the tasks which have been set according to the goal of the study programme, the contents of the study course, study methods and forms of the organisation of work as well as methodological techniques for the assessment of students’ study achievements. Some innovations have been introduced to the descriptions of study courses, i. e. introduction- the place of the study course amongst other study courses, list of topics to be acquired independently. The descriptions of study courses and programmes devised by the lecturers are approved at the meetings of the corresponding departments.

As the number of students in the groups does not exceed 30 students, the accent in the study programme is laid on a more frequent use of interactive methods and forms in the study process in order to ensure a more wholesome feedback since both established and contradictory matters can be revealed more clearly in such a way. The variety of interactive methods and forms is a significant factor in the provision of study quality.

During the implementation of the study programme the following study methods and forms are used:

1. 
   lectures,
   
2. 
   seminars (students’ individual presentations on a particular problem and the possibilities of its resolution),
   
3. 
   discussions and debates (expert polling, question – answer; extended, planned), disputes. These forms of work are prepared beforehand.
   
4. 
   discussing reports (oral or in a form of reviews of written reports),
   
5. 
   theoretical conference, press conference (in the group, among groups),
   
6. 
   the project method where 5-7 students acquire and prepare a particular topic for group presentation,
   
7. 
   the use of video material in the acquisition of study courses.
   

In comparison with the previous accreditation of the study programme and the developmental trends of the study programme, the practice of the programme Personnel Management lasts from Year 1 till Year 4. Its total amount is 26 CP. (See Practice Regulations in Appendix No.8).

The practice is conducted by the director of the programme and the lecturers of the corresponding study courses in cooperation with the enterprise’s (establishment, organisation) specialists.(See the copies of the agreements on the provision of practices in Appendix No. 9).

• 
  In semesters 1 and 3 – practice in personnel record keeping -4 CP
  
• 
  In semesters 4, 6 and 7 - practice of observing and comparing personnel departments of different organisations -12 CP
  
• 
  In semester 8– qualification practice -10 CP
  

Each consecutive practice is based on the experience, conclusions and knowledge acquired during the previous practice, it is the continuation of the previous practice.

Before starting the practice students are given practice tasks. Practice tasks are set in such a way that they encourage students to think, do additional work, gather and systematize material for further work and self-education. In accomplishing practice tasks the student can express his/her personality, attitudes, interests, knowledge, skills and abilities creatively.

Common goals of the practices:

1. 
   To enhance students’ all-round training for the work of the personnel manager.
   
2. 
   To provide the opportunity to test the theoretical knowledge acquired during the study process in practice, gather the necessary material and prepare for writing the diploma paper.
   
3. 
   To improve communication skills and abilities.
   
4. 
   To facilitate the acquisition of the competencies of the future profession.
   
5. 
   To evaluate own responsibility, training and suitability for the chosen profession.
   

For the accomplishment of practice tasks, the knowledge acquired during studies must be used. Students’ professional gain and the overall assessment of the practice depend on the quality of the accomplishment of the tasks, analyses of the results, self-evaluation and the evaluation of practice supervisor. On conclusion of each practice students write a practice account and presents the results of work in practice conferences. (See practice programmes in Appendix No. 10).

In Semesters 3, 4 and 6 students write scientific papers. The first scientific paper is written in the shape of a project and it has a rather free form of account. However, it has to be based on the theory. Students can write their first term paper without the empirical part of the research, but the second term paper must include the empirical part of the research which reveals students’ skills of conducting practical research.

Without successful completion of all practices and scientific papers students are not allowed to take the qualification examination, defend the diploma paper and obtain the diploma of second level higher professional education.

Students take the qualification examination and defend the diploma paper in the presence of State Qualification Commission. The body of the Commission complies with Regulations on Second Level Professional Higher Education National Standard No.481 issued by LR Cabinet of Ministers on November 20, 2001.

The quality of the organisation of the study programme is evaluated in the form of polling. Student polls are conducted once a semester and they are aimed to evaluate the professionalism of the academic staff of the programme and the possibilities of the enhancement of the study programme.

Lecturers’ poll is to be conducted in the spring of 2006 aimed to determine the level of the lecturers’ job satisfaction and scientific research work performed in the academic year 2005 /2006.

Development of professional skills in the acquisition of study courses, during practices and writing scientific papers. Table No.6

	Study subjects	Practice	Scientific papers
Study year 1	Provides a general idea about the personnel manager’s profession, in-depth studies of languages and information technologies	Students learn to process personnel documentation, gain competence in personnel record keeping	Reports on topics assigned by the assistant professor
Study year 2	Information and skills in management, legislation, organisation; comprehension of economic regularities, understanding of entrepreneurial processes	Students familiarize themselves with the personnel manager’s job responsibilities, perform the functions of an assistant, compare the differences in different enterprises	Students are able to define a problem question and find sources for its description, possibly offer a solution to the problem
Study year 3	Special knowledge and skills just in the personnel manager’s work	The skill to analyse the results of the personnel departments of different organisations and the necessity of diverse functions in different enterprises	Theoretical review of scientific research literature and periodicals; advancing a problem
Study year 4	Special knowledge and skills just in the personnel manager’s work	Students acquire the skill to perform the personnel manager’s functions independently (participate in selection, devising the motivation system, evaluation)	Includes both theoretical substantiation and part of practical research in the personnel management science
Study year 5	Students can use knowledge and skills not only for one particular enterprise, but know how to use them universally (generalisation)	Students perform practical research for the enhancement of the efficiency of personnel management. They determine the existing situation, perform analyses, propose and carry out improvements	An extended theoretical and practical research which proves the student’s skill to perform the personnel manager’s duties independently

At the moment the students of the programme Personnel Management are involved in three research projects:

1) In the research project’s concourse financed and organized by RTTEMA was supported project ''The ways of development of Personal Management science in Latvia, European Union and Word” managed by Mag. psych. Signes Enkuzena. Other members in project work group are: Mag.psych. Baiba Skrauce and Mag.sc.soc Agita Miķelsone;

2) research work is realised in cooperation with the Latvian Association of Personnel Management and it is aimed to establish the compliance of the real functions and responsibilities of personnel managers and personnel specialists working in Latvia with the personnel manager’s Professional Standard. The follow-up of the project will deal with the real skills and knowledge which are to be used in the personnel manager’s and personnel specialist’s work. It will be possible to use the results obtained in the research in the enhancement of the study programme.

3) the project Technical Assistance in the Consolidation of the Capacity of NGO and Municipal Authorities for the Introduction of the European Social Fund Measures financed by the European Social Fund. This project has been created by three Latvian regional self-governmental authorities. Lectures and seminars aimed to improve the personnel management functions and highlight their role in the organisation of municipality work have been planned within the framework of the project.

Since the contents of the programme is comprised of study subjects of both psychological, economical, entrepreneurial and communication sciences, the scientific research activity of the academic staff of the programme represents different aspects of personnel management and it is reflected in the topics of students’ scientific papers (See Appendix No. 11). The scientific research and methodological work of the academic staff involved in the study programme Personnel Management is also reflected in the themes offered for students’ term papers and diploma papers. Scientific research work is conducted mainly in the fields of economics and organisational psychology. The majority of them are term papers. The scientific advisors of student research activity are mainly lecturers from the departments of economics and organisational psychology. Students gain ideas for their research work during practices. Students select topical problems, offer their resolutions by comparing theoretical approaches with practical activity. The results of the research work appear in practice conferences, defence of term papers and RTTEMA scientific conferences.

Assistant professor Hilmārs Zīle directs student research activity towards the study of the problems of Latvian and European labour force.

Mag psych. Signe Enkuzena’s research activity is oriented towards the study of personnel mangers’ real functions in the organisations of Latvia and their compliance with the Professional Standard.

Associate professor of the Department of Organisational Psychology Anita Lasmane advises students whose papers are connected with the impact of organisational culture and managers’ personal qualities on personnel management processes. A number of students have researched issues of job motivation and job satisfaction. They are advised by the lecturers of both departments of psychology and economics. Topical subjects in student research work are the enhancement of the personnel selection processes and their relation to work efficiency in the organisation. These topics are researched by Mag. sc.soc Agita Miķelsone.

The research field of Mag. tqm. Velga Avota is the quality and developmental trends of personnel management. All the lecturers of the programme who conduct scientific work individually or in projects integrate their experience and knowledge in the contents of the courses of the study programme.

In March 2006 a scientific conference on the theme Contemporary personnel manager in a contemporary organisation will be organised for the students studying in the programme Personnel Management. It is vitally important for the development of scientific research activity that such conferences become a constituent part of the study programme.

The selection and use of study methods and organisation forms is determined by the specific character and the contents of the study subject, the amount of contact lessons and the number of students in a group..

Student study achievements are assessed according to RTTEMA requirements: RTTEMA Regulations on Examinations approved at the meeting of RTTEMA Senate on January 12, 2001, Proceedings No.12 (See Appendix No. 4).

Each RTTEMA lecturer works out criteria for the assessment of students’ knowledge corresponding to the study course, uses them in the assessment process to obtain assessment which is based on the evaluation of knowledge and skills as well as the appraisal of students’ growth. The most common forms of the assessment op students’ work are the following:

• 
  essay
  
• 
  participation in seminars,
  
• 
  practical assignments performed individually or in the group,
  
• 
  term projects and their presentation,
  
• 
  test works and tests
  
• 
  oral examination or examination in the form of test,
  
• 
  as well as attendance of lectures and student performance against the objectives of the specific situation.
  

The study course is completed by a test or examination according to the approved study programme. The result of the examination or differential test is assessed on a ten-point scale, non-differential test is entered on the records as ”pass” or ”fail”.

The state examination and diploma paper are assessed by the Qualification Commission on a ten-point scale. The body of the Commission is formed in compliance with Regulations on Second Level Professional Higher Education National Standard No.481 issued by LR Cabinet of Ministers on November 20, 2001.

The lowest positive assessment in state examinations is not less than 5 points.

In the qualification examination the student has to demonstrate his/her knowledge of the theoretical and special courses of the branch. When studying for the qualification examination the student is informed about all the requirements for state examinations and at least two tutorials are provided. The qualification examination takes place in the presence of the Qualification Commission and students’ knowledge is assessed on the 10-point scale.

In their diploma paper students have to demonstrate their professional knowledge and research work skills. The student develops his/her diploma paper on a topical subject which he/she chooses from the thematic fields of diploma papers approved by the Council of the Department of Management and Economics. Initially the scientific advisor advises the student on the diploma paper and gives his/her assessment, but on the completion of work the assessment is given by the reviewer. The defence of the diploma paper takes place in the presence of the Qualification Commission.

After successfully passing all the state examinations (not less than 5 points), having good results in all study subjects (not less than 4 points), defending practice accounts and three scientific papers- two term papers and one scientific project, students are awarded the second level professional higher education diploma.

7.4. Students studying in the programme
7.4.1. The number of students in the programme and 7.4.2. Matriculated first-year students
At present there are 167 part-time students in the programme Personnel Management. 142 of these students started their studies in the programme Office Manager- Desk Officer and during their studies in year 2004 the programme was changed with the title Personnel Management.

Tables No. 7 and 10 show the number of students in the programme Personnel Management on November 1, 2005 over study years and study branches.

Table No. 7

Number of students in the programme	Study year 1	Study year 2	Study year 3	Study year 4	Study year 5
Rīga	22	0	30	45	32
Cēsis	0	0	22	0	0
Alūksne	0	0	0	16	0
Altogether over study years	22	0	52	61	32
Altogether in the study programme					167

Figure 10


Despite the fact that the study programme Personnel Mngement was not accredited in 2004, 25 students applied for studies in the first year and 22 of them were matriculated. It is another proof of students’ interest in this study programme and the demand for professionals on the labour market.

Figure 11 depicts the number of students matriculated in the study programme Office Manager- Desk Officer.

Figure 11

. .

7.4.3. Graduates

Since the study programme Personnel Management was not accredited in year 2004, there are no RTTEMA graduates in this programme. According to the resolution of the Senate issued on 29.09. 2005, the present 5-year students had their study time prolonged till May 31, 2006 and 32 students are expected to graduate from this programme in the spring of 2006.

In years 2002 and 2003 198 students graduated from RTTEMA study programme Office Manager- Desk Officer.

The first graduates (47 altogether) were in Rigas, Cēsis, Jēkabpils, Kuldīga, Liepāja and Madona branches (See Figure 12).

Figure 12

The number of the graduates of the study programme Office Manager- Desk Officer in 2002

As depicted in Figure 13, the number of the graduates of the study programme Office Manager- Desk Officer tripled in year 2003, but their main concentration was in Riga.

Figure 13


The number of the graduates of the study programme Office Manager- Desk Officer in 2003

Looking ast the results of matriculation and the number of graduates, there was a large student drop-out. The reason for this was uniting the student groups of some branches, which increased students’ travel costs; as a result students became unable to pay and quit their studies (or went on the academic leave). Another reason was a considerable increase in the tuition fees (in year 1998 the tuition fees reached 450 Ls, in year 1999– 490 Ls, whereas in year 2000 the tuition fees reached 650 Ls + 10% in each consecutive year, in 2001 and the following years– 650 Ls in Riga and 550 Ls in the branches).

For students who entered the professional study programme Personnel Management in year 2005 the tuition fees are 650 for one study year, which is cheaper in comparison with similar programmes in Latvia.
7.4.4. Student opinion polls and their analyses
RTTEMA student opinion polls are conducted twice a study year in order to find out their opinion about both the contents of the study courses and the forms and methods of the organisation of studies. The accreditation materials contain the analyses of the results of student opinion polls conducted by RTTEMA Study Department in October, 2005. All the students studying in the programme received questionnaires. 90 questionnaires were returned (See Appendix No.12) which makes 54% , thus the results of the poll can be considered plausible. The following figures and text reflect the results of the student poll.78% of students evaluate the professionalism of RTTEMA academic staff as adequate and just a small part of them emphasize that the lecturers’ professionalism could be higher.


Professionalism of RTTEMA academic staff

Figure14

Most of the students emphasize that, in their opinion, theoretical knowledge is of a good quality and satisfies the necessary requirements of the Academy.


The quality of theoretical knowledge

Figure 15

Similarly, most students consider that practical knowledge also conforms to the standards. However, 10% of the respondents accentuate the necessity to improve the quality of practical knowledge in the Academy.


The quality of practical knowledge

Figure 16

In students’ opinion, the provision of material and technical resources is rather good and adequate. However, it is quite natural that 50% of the respondents see opportunities for its improvement.


Provision of material and technical resources

Figure 17

Almost all students emphasize that study achievements are assessed objectively, indeed.


Are study achievements assessed objectively?

Figure 18

75% of the respondents emphasize that the study process is adequately organised and they encounter no problems with it, but still there are students who would like the study process to be improved.


How do you evaluate the organisation of the study process?

Figure 19

The respondents emphasize that their chances on the labour market after graduating from RTTEMA are really good and promising. Just part of the students emphasize that finding a job could create problems.

How do you evaluate your chances on the labour market after graduating from RTTEMA?

Figure 20

Students consider that the most significant study subjects for their speciality are labour legislation, different kinds of psychology and record keeping in the personnel manager’s work. Foreign languages, management and informatics are also mentioned in the students’ questionnaires.

Asked about the study subjects the aims of which are not clear enough, students mention fundamentals of philosophy and project management. It means that these issues should be discussed with the lecturers of the corresponding study courses.

In their recommendations about the study subjects which should be included in the study programme students point out that labour legislation and rights should be allocated more credit points. Such lecturers as Agita Miķelsone, Velga Simsone, Maija Leikarte, Sandra Laurīte, Jānis Gedrovics and Līga Kalniņa rank very high among students.

In their recommendations about the enhancement of the study programme students mention the following: lecturers should talk more about practical and existing things instead of discussing theoretical issues; some of the study subjects should be delivered in a foreign language; students should be provided with practice placements, students should be given more practical assignments with real examples.

The obtained information was handed over to the heads of the relevant departments. The quality of the lecturers’ work is analysed at departmental meetings since the lecturer has the opportunity to receive additional pay or a bonus for qualitative work according to the evaluation.

7.4.5. Graduates’ opinion polls and their analyses

The first graduates from RTTEMA professional study programme Personnel Management will only be in the spring of 2006, therefore materials from last year’s accreditation report which reflect the opinion of the graduates of the study programme Office Manager- Desk Officer have been included in the present accreditation report.

The gains in the study process most frequently mentioned by the graduates of the programme are the following:

• 
  professional skills,
  
• 
  communication skills,
  
• 
  the wish to study in the master’s programme and improve oneself,
  
• 
  acquired good skills in information analyses,
  
• 
  greater opportunities on the labour market.
  

Figure 21 shows that the graduates of the programme appreciate the knowledge and skills acquired during studies, which have helped them to compete on the labour market.

The graduates were also asked about the professionalism of the academic staff.

Figure 21


Evaluation of the quality of theoretical and practical knowledge acquired at the Academy

Figure 22 shows that the graduates appreciate the professionalism of the academic staff.

Figure 22


Evaluation of the professionalism of RRTEMA academic staff

Figure 23 reflects the graduates’ answers to the question about the provision of the material and technical resources. The majority – 48% - have assessed it as satisfactory, therefore during the last 2 study years, considering also the experts’ recommendations, the Academy’s material and technical resources have been replenished.

Figure 23


Evaluation of the graduates’ satisfaction with the material and technical resources

Graduates’ recommendations for the enhancement of the study programme

• 
  to introduce more seminars in the study process,
  
• 
  to improve the Academy’s library,
  
• 
  to increase the number of contact lessons for the acquisition of foreign languages.
  

We must note that the above-mentioned recommendations have been taken into consideration: the descriptions of study courses have been improved, they reveal more varied forms of practical classes. The number of books and informative materials in the Academy’s library has been increased. In the Department of Languages the methodology of teaching foreign languages has been worked out, various forms and methods are used. (The materials can be found in the Department of Languages ).

7.4.6. Students’ participation in the enhancement of the study process

• 
  To obtain feedback on the contents and organisation of the study programme, to get acquainted with students and their opinion, the director of the study programme met students several times a month in the first study semester.
  
• 
  The director of the programme and representatives from each study group have formed a working party. They have a meeting once in three months in order to discuss current issues.
  
• 
  Students actively participate in the search for their practice location and willingly help to create long-term cooperation between the Academy and the organisation which accomplishes practice tasks
  
• 
  Students are responsive and get involved in the implementation of both different researches and projects.
  
• 
  The monitors of student groups are invited to participate in departmental meetings in order to analyse the study process more thoroughly and to ensure qualitative exchange of information.
  
• 
  Students participate in the self-evaluation processes of the study programme and the discussion of the report in the council of the department.
  
• 
  Students have the opportunity to get in touch with the lecturers by e-mail and mobile phone.
  
• 
  Student polling is conducted twice a study year.
  
• 
  Students’ tutorials with the lecturers.