Work market alert in Kosovo: Boys are abandoning universities

In the podcast 5 questions of Radio Free Europe, former Deputy Education Minister and field expert Dukagjin Pupovci, says real analysis of labour market needs is missing in Kosovo.

According to him at public universities, there continue to be large numbers of students in areas such as the economy and the judiciary, although the labour market does not need that much quadro.

The fact that there's a competition for 1100 students is just too much. Because, 1100 economists here, even if we make it 1100, let all of the other four [funities] -- 2000 economists per year our economy doesn't need such a capacity”, Pupovci says.

He notes that 30 percent of Kosovo students study in the fields of business, management, and law, often forced to work jobs for which they have no need to study at all.

According to Pupovci, the Ministry of Education should have a clearer policy for the adoption of registration quotas and to develop dialogue with universities to adapt them better to market needs.

Pupovci estimates that choice of studies should be based on personal trends but also on real employment opportunities.

He says the job market requires more practical knowledge and soft skills, such as communication and planning.

“The employers often have to invest in the training of graduates, because the university does not give it all the skills it requires”, he says.

Pupovci says public universities should reform study programs by providing broader profiles that give students more employment opportunities.

If you now limit your qualifications to accounting, you limit it only to banks and insurances, and so on, then artificially create situations so that people can't find easy work”, he adds.

He also notes a decline in interest in studies, especially in boys. According to him, almost 30 percent of seniors stop pursuing higher education, since they consider that with skills acquired in middle education they can work.

This has also contributed to the gender makeup of higher education, where over 60 percent of students today are girls and women. /Radio Free Europe/