Teachers' formation from the perspective of labour market demands

The higher education system development underwent numerous legislative analyses during the last two decennies, from the perspective of introducing the provisions of the Bologna process, which stipulate the three - cycle of higher education qualifications system - bachelor, master and doctor's degree. In terms of teachers'training, the debates and controversies continue, although currently the expected changes in the Education Law should bring clarifications of the issue. The competency profiles for the didactic profession include professional competencies-design and achievement of educational programmes, evaluation of learning processes and of pupils' progress, the managerial approach of the educational group, pupils' psycho-pedagogical counselling and orientation, self-evaluation and amelioration of professional practices and career evolution and transversal competencies - application of professional deontology principles and norms, efficient cooperation in interdisciplinary professional working teams, long-life use of efficient learning methods and techniques, for a continuous professional formation and development. The present study centers upon a critical analysis of the relation between the competencies offered by the universities and labour market demands. The results of the study show the existence of a theoretical diffuse foundation of the competency concept in the legislative and normative curicular documents but also a lack of unity in the demand and offer of competencies on the labour market. Also, we identify a greater demand of transversal competencies as compared to professional competences but also a range of new competencies “required on the labour market”, but unidentified in the competency profiles of higher education programmes. In elaborating the study, we used the analysis of Romanian curricular documents and opinions expressed by the representatives of employers within a methodical meeting organized with education specialists, employers' representatives and students.