Tertiary – that is higher vocational and higher - education has been under great political and social pressure in Slovakia in recent years.
Employers are pointing out, in particular, on the poor field structure of graduates and their insufficient readiness for practice. Due to low wages, not the best conditions for scientific and research activities, and also due to the low level of entry knowledge and competencies of students who come to universities and colleges, are also dissatisfied teachers. Last but not least, the students themselves are dissatisfied, not only with the conditions for studying, but also with the approach of teachers and the level of preparation for their professional career.
NUE has been cooperating and discussing the issue of tertiary education for a long time with other employers' organizations as well as with many university representatives and independent analysts. The result of these discussions is the document "Concept of the reform of tertiary education in Slovakia from the point of view of NUE" (link; document for download: V5_reforma_TV.pdf). The proposed reform directly reflects the needs of society, or labour market and envisages maintaining the current level of availability of tertiary education, but in a state-funded structure that is close to the average of OECD countries in terms of the average length of tertiary education.