THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPETENCE IN TECHNICAL SCHOOLS: MARKET PERCEPTIONS

The present study aims to identify and analyze how the development of technical skills in schools meets the needs and demands of the labor market. Essentially qualitative in nature, the research methodology comprised field research carried out from October 2010 to June 2011. Semi structured interviews were held with fourteen professionals from technical schools located in the state of Rio de Janeiro to gauge their perceptions, which were essential in identifying the gaps in skills required by the market. In addition, interviews were conducted with: four team leaders who graduated from technical schools, to discover their expectations and the difficulties in developing new professionals to meet daily business demands; and three HR professionals to investigate the difficulties in attracting and retaining employees. The results presented in this study generated a series of propositions that suggest possible actions to further the knowledge, skills and training of professionals, thus contributing to improving the curricula of technical training schools in Rio de Janeiro. The phenomenographic nature of the research led to the interviews being analyzed, interpreted and grouped according to meaning. This procedure allowed for categories and themes to be generated from two perspectives: that of employees graduating from technical schools, and their employers.