Blog Human resources experts gathered around a table to discuss cutting-edge talent strategies.

What is the situation with graduates of technical fields in the South Bohemia region? Are employers satisfied with the level of education and practical application of graduates within companies? __Should__ the government regulate the numbers of high school and university students? These and other questions were explored by HR experts during a panel discussion in České Budějovice.

HR professionals from several South Bohemian technical companies gathered on Tuesday, June 11th, at Hotel Budweis to discuss the current state of technical fields. Company representatives and the Českobudějovice employment office unanimously agreed that the region's supply of technical school graduates is insufficient to meet the growing demand from businesses.

The reasons are multiple. In the eyes of parents, who co-decide with students on school choice, there remains a false impression that working in an industrial zone is demanding and dirty. Today, this significantly departs from reality, as companies are employing very advanced technologies, state-of-the-art equipment, and robotic workstations. Lack of a highway that could speed up mobility for work also remains a barrier, as well as the limited number of companies and schools that communicate and cooperate closely on recruitment. Mutual collaboration benefits both sides: companies can assess a student's knowledge, skills, and work ethic as a potential employee, while students get the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the environment, production programs, and corporate culture. Both parties thus gain the time and space to decide on potential cooperation.

"As early as the mid-1990s, we realized that if we want graduates when we need them most, we must start working with schools immediately. Today, we actively collaborate with several technically oriented schools not only in South Bohemia," says Ilona Walnerová from the HR development department.

Good collaboration experience with schools is also reported by Iva Fantyšová, Director of Human Resources at MOTOR JIKOV Group a.s. "We have been working with schools long-term, not only at the high and secondary school levels, but also visiting primary and nursery schools, metaphorically speaking. Our own training and educational centers in České Budějovice and Soběslav prove very effective, where apprentices and students gain practical experience directly in our operations."

The MOTOR JIKOV training center was established in 2007. Today, the company operates two training centers in České Budějovice and Soběslav, as well as a training facility in Soběslav. "Our activities in these centers have proven very successful, so we renovated and equipped them with new technologies this year. Additionally, we have a well-developed recruitment system, including educational methodologies and a scholarship program. While we cannot say that people are flocking to technical fields, we do see a certain positive shift," adds Iva Fantyšová.