INDUSTRIAL NEEDS FOR MODERN ENGINEERING KNOWLEDGE IN CENTRAL EUROPEAN REGION – SURVEY RESULTS

摘要

IN ORDER TO PROVIDE COMPANIES WITH A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE, IT IS NECESSARY TO CONSTANTLY INVEST IN NEW CAPACITIES OF THE STAFF ENGINEERS WHO DEVELOP NEW PRODUCTS, AS WELL AS OF NEW GENERATIONS OF STUDENTS. IN ADDITION TO BASIC ENGINEERING SKILLS, THEY SHOULD ALSO BE PROVIDED WITH SKILLS WHICH WOULD HELP THEM TO DEAL WITH CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES IN PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT. THE MAIN TRENDS IN THIS RESPECT INCLUDE DEVELOPMENT OF SMART PRODUCTS AND TRANSITION FROM THE PRODUCT AS AN OBJECT OF SALE TO THE PRODUCT AS AN OBJECT TO SUPPORT THE SALE OF A SERVICE. IN THIS PAPER, THE AUTHORS PRESENT RESULTS OF A RESEARCH CARRIED OUT AMONG THE INDUSTRIAL PARTNERS IN CENTRAL EUROPE. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE RESEARCH IS TO IDENTIFY THE DEMAND OF INDUSTRY FOR NEW STAFF, THEIR CAPACITIES AND SKILLS. OUR FINAL AIM IS TO PREPARE AN INTERNATIONAL JOINT STUDY PROGRAM OF THREE UNIVERSITIES. THE RESULTS HAVE SHOWN THAT COMPANIES IN CENTRAL EUROPE ARE AWARE OF AND FOLLOW GLOBAL TRENDS AND THEY ARE ADAPTING THEIR STAFF ACCORDINGLY. AS THEIR MAIN CHALLENGE, MANUFACTURING COMPANIES PERCEIVE THE GROWING NEED FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY SKILLS AND THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW BUSINESS MODELS THAT BECAME POSSIBLE BY INCREASED SMARTNESS OF PRODUCTS.