Integrating Transferable Skills into the Curriculum in the Framework of the Management of Study Programmes in Higher Education Institutions of Latvia

In the agenda of globalization and the related integration of markets in the world economy, the main concern for modern universities is to provide their graduates with a wide range of skills necessary for launching and managing their professional career. This is directly associated with the overall academic quality of the study programme. In this context, higher education institutions of Latvia should develop a clear policy for integrating transferable skills in their academic programmes. As programme directors manage all pedagogical and administrative issues affecting the programme, and introduce modifications in accordance with the changing requirements of students, they need some information about their students' opinion on promoting transferable skills in the university. Later, this information will be used in the course of the management of a study programme for updating it and making it more competitive in the international education market. In the paper, it is argued that integration of transferable skills into the curriculum can be regarded as an essential aspect of the management of study programmes in a university, which is vital in the context of providing more career opportunities to graduates. The aim of the research presented in the paper was to identify what transferable skills (those that can be used across different fields and jobs) would appeal to potential employers and contribute to a successful career from the point of view of university students. The paper is based on 1) the analysis of theoretical literature and official EU documents on higher education; 2) a survey conducted in two higher education institutions of Latvia - Riga Technical University (RTU) and Transport and Telecommunication Institute (TSI). The results of the study performed in the paper suggest that the formation of students' transferable skills should be integrated in a corresponding study programme and promoted over the whole period of studies. Education managers should favour the development of a wide assortment of skills, which are vital for their graduates' professional growth and career development.