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Higher education graduates with sufficient practical experience are also in demand on the job market by MOTOR JIKOV GROUP. An extended collaboration with the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen is expected to further enhance this effort. The university has coordinated with companies in the automotive industry and launched a new program where students learn to repair cars while utilizing modern computer applications. Faculty members from partner companies are directly involved in the teaching process.
“I asked employers what our graduates lack, and the answers were consistent. From a professional standpoint, their knowledge is solid, but they have little practical experience, often struggle with languages, cannot communicate effectively, and their managerial skills are insufficient,” explains Milan Edl, Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Pilsen. The new field "diagnostics and service of road vehicles" will be studied as a bachelor’s program aimed at producing graduates better suited to industry needs.
In the Pilsen, Karlovy Vary, and South Bohemia regions, there are numerous companies manufacturing auto parts. Thus far, the school has signed contracts with six firms, including the foundry and engineering holding MOTOR JIKOV GROUP.

In the fall, 44 applicants enrolled for the first year, with 27 ultimately starting the program. Practical training begins from the second year, as students are currently learning fundamentals and finalizing contracts with companies. They are expected to spend at least 12 weeks in industry, ideally visiting the companies every Friday. “It's not my ideal scenario, but organizing a flexible schedule for practical training is quite challenging,” acknowledges Dean Edl, explaining the difficulty in accommodating multiple companies’ preferences.
For several years, discussions in the Czech Republic have revolved around establishing programs that are professionally focused rather than purely academic. Such initiatives are mainly advocated by CEOs of large firms who face shortages of production personnel. However, establishing such programs in schools has proved challenging. “We could do it simply because we already have an accredited professional-oriented program from previous years. We only needed to replace some courses and expand the curriculum to include practical training,” Edl explains.

Accrediting professionally oriented programs has historically been difficult, as confirmed by Jakub Fischer, Chair of the Council of Higher Education Institutions. “We believe that the new law, effective from September 2016, will change that,” he states.
According to the law, study programs will no longer be categorized solely as bachelor’s, master’s, full-time, or part-time, but also as professionally or academically oriented. Companies have long sought graduates with such backgrounds, and Fischer expects more such programs will emerge over time.
The University of West Bohemia is now preparing its first few students for industry.

Photo: 03_zcu: At the Careers Fair of the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, representatives of the company’s professional training guarantee, Radomír Hrouda, and human resources development specialist, Pavlína Stifterová, provided information to students.
03_zcu_1 and 2: During the Automotive day and Open House event held in January at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, MOTOR JIKOV GROUP was a key participant! The event aimed to attract potential students. Attendees received information about internship and apprenticeship opportunities from human resources specialist Lenka Trnková.
03_zcu_3: Students from the Secondary Industrial School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering in Česká Budějovice also attended the event, having arranged transportation by the company. In the photo, Štěpán Čech (left) and Tomáš Varga are with educator Miloš Badal. The image also features MOTOR JIKOV Group’s human resources specialist, Lenka Trnková.