One of the goals of the project is to improve the professional skills of students in the field of digital marketing, entrepreneurship and presentation skills, in a foreign and native language, for the purpose of permanent employability. Namely, without professional practice in the real sector, students do not acquire specific professional competences for the labor market through current education, and direct contact with the real sector is necessary for their future self-employment and permanent employability. Given the lack of professional practice, they need additional education and practice for the professions for which they are being educated. Another goal was to strengthen the competence of teachers to support students in the application of modern business tools with an emphasis on digital and content marketing, branding and sustainable development. It is necessary to enable teachers to connect with the real sector, to enable them to develop digital skills with the application of modern and specialized programs for creating marketing strategies and products. After the acquired knowledge, teachers will be able to adapt curricula and teaching programs for subjects from the field of professional practice.
At the Business and administration school Osijek, we train for four-year professions: economist, administrative officer and business officer. 60% of students come from rural areas of the wider local community and enroll in the qualification of economist with the intention of developing their own company or developing small family business. Some come from families that own companies, and want to continue and improve the family business. Students of the Economist qualification should acquire competences in the business of entrepreneurs, marketing, modern digital technology skills, application of communication and presentation skills, sales skills and entrepreneurship and risk taking. The curriculum prescribes the attendance of the course „Practice company“, which is a substitute for professional practice and should simulate work in the real sector. Cooperation with the real business sector is not foreseen, and students cannot understand the market economy system and business processes. Without professional practice in the real sector, students do not acquire specific professional competences in the digital world and communication skills with the target group of clients, and are not recognized on the labor market.