Gap Between Theory and Practice in Management Education: Teaching Entrepreneurship Through Practice

Introduction

During last two decades in Eastern and Central Europe, businesses have learned tough lessons through practices of hiring newly graduated people. As of today, in many cases presenting a university diploma is not an indisputable proof of possessing the required skills. The gap between skills the newly graduated employees learn in the schools and the skills required in the market is huge. This phenomenon destroyed the trust of the market towards the educational system and has forced the businesses to become the last line of defense, develop their own evaluation system and replace the filters that should have been in place through the academic education.

The general perception is that students received the diploma without absorbing the mathematical, analytic and logic skills needed. They are supposed to absorb those skills during the educational cycle. Businesses reported in Albania that the results of the tests evaluating young job applicants show lack of knowledge and skills. In one case, subjects of the tests were recently graduated young Albanians, who studied in the country. After the interview, the candidates were asked to undertake the test without preparation. The candidates had the right to decline. The test contained 40 questions and empirical data the company gathered shows that none of the candidates was able to answer all questions. The highest score in 4 years’ experience of hiring young employees was 24, while 80% of the students' score from 15-18 points out of 40. Regardless of these results, the candidates had high demands regarding position and remuneration.

The measurements of those skills help the business to numerically evaluate skills and determine the technical potential of the candidates at the point of graduation. The low results in those tests are not the main problem. Based on observations recently graduated students miss other important skills such as entrepreneurial mentality and spirit, leadership, innovation, fast adaptability, decision making and managing project cycle. Those skills are not even properly taught in Albanian universities.

In the region the gap between skills that students learn in the schools and the ones required by the market is still huge. The trust of the market towards the educational system is destroyed and real efforts need to take place. Students are not capable professionally and do not have enough knowledge and skills to respond to markets' needs. There are several reasons behind this situation. Based on observations most of the responsibility stands with the government policies, university management and the academic faculty in that order.