A university graduate - a profile in the social context

Abstract

The author proposes a universal classification of graduate profiles in terms of ‘a graduate as an educated person’ versus 'a graduate as a qualified person’. The difference between those two categories lies in motivation to obtain more knowledge than needed for a profession and in utilising such knowledge for purposes broader than one’s career. This issue is described in the socio-economic context of modern-day Poland where, despite an increase in the number of educated people and the high individual value of education, the utility of education for individuals can sometimes be problematic. The article presents selected results from the Study of Humań Capital in Poland which reveal certain deficiencies and gaps in the professional background of university graduates. Moreover, the article discusses trends in shaping the profile of a university graduate (with students, i.e. customers on the education market, having an increasing influence on such profile, especially in terms of professional qualifications, as they want to shape the teaching curricula in various fields of study). The author concludes that the graduate profile needs to contain elements from both types discussed in the paper, as this is necessitated by the subsequent stage of social development, e.g. the wisdom-based society.