UNIVERSITIES AND THE LABOUR MARKET: IS HIGHER EDUCATION KEEPING PACE WITH THE NEW NEEDS OF THE ECONOMY?

Adapting university programmes to the needs of the labour market remains one of the main challenges facing higher education in North Macedonia. For years, education experts and private sector representatives have warned that some study programmes are not changing at the same pace as developments in the labour market, which increasingly requires practical skills, technical competencies, and knowledge in emerging fields such as technology and data analysis.

In response to these changes, some universities have started adjusting their academic offerings by introducing new programmes aimed at addressing the demands of the digital economy.

The South East European University is among the institutions that have introduced new study programmes in this direction, including the “Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence” programme, which aims to combine business knowledge with analytical skills and emerging technologies.

However, according to Blerta Abazi, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Economics at South East European University, the main challenge remains the pace at which universities adapt compared to the rapidly changing labour market.

“The market changes within months, while universities, which are accredited institutions, change within years,” says Abazi.

She argues that universities face a structural challenge in rapidly adapting study programmes due to accreditation procedures and requirements. Nevertheless, according to her, this does not mean that higher education institutions are not taking steps to respond to new demands.

Abazi notes that some universities are already developing programmes that not only address current labour market needs but also aim to anticipate the professions of the future.

“Not all universities are producing graduates who do not match the needs of the market. There are universities, in fact most universities, that are introducing new study programmes which are attractive for the labour market,” she says.

According to Abazi, programmes in the field of business analytics and artificial intelligence represent a concrete example of efforts to prepare students for a labour market where the use of technology and data analysis is becoming increasingly important.

However, Abazi believes that changing university programmes alone is not sufficient. She argues that stronger cooperation between universities, businesses, and state institutions is needed to provide students with more opportunities to gain practical experience during their studies.

She proposes strengthening dual education models in higher education, where part of the learning process takes place in companies and the rest at universities.

“It would be beneficial to introduce dual programmes, where one part of the studies is carried out in companies and the other part at universities. This could help break some of the barriers between academia and the business community, or the labour market,” Abazi says.

According to her, universities should place greater emphasis on developing practical and technical skills, as students need knowledge that they can directly apply in the workplace.

Abazi adds that greater involvement of companies through mentoring and internship programmes would allow students to gain experience during their studies and facilitate their transition from university to the labour market.

Recent data show that more than 8,000 people with higher education in North Macedonia are seeking employment, while employers report a shortage of workers with practical and technical skills in areas such as information technology, data analysis, and business.

The text was developed within the project “Advocacy for Inclusive Development,” financially supported by the Government of Switzerland through the Civica Mobilitas programme.

The content of this text is the sole responsibility of the Forum for Reasonable Policies, IOHN and BIRC and in no way can be considered to reflect the views of the Government of Switzerland, Civica Mobilitas or the implementing organisations.