The students' expectations from higher education career development centres' courses: Case of the School of engineering management

Higher education career development centres are becoming all the more important elements of higher education institutions around the world and the Republic of Serbia.In Serbia, researchers have noticed the lack of activity among the students regarding development of skills needed for the job market with the emphasis on so called transferrable skills, needed on any job or a career.As a contribution to the career counselling practice in higher education institutions in Serbia, School of Engineering Management introduced obligatory course for the students -Career Management -in order to assist the students to develop skills needed for the entrance to the job market.In the first year of the course implementation, the students had the opportunity to express their expectations from the Centre through a survey before and after attending the course.The students' expectations from the Centre have changed after attending the course and the students have become ready for more proactive role in managing their own career.The students also started to understand better the importance of acquiring transferable skills for strengthening their own employability.It is necessary for higher education institutions in Serbia to introduce compulsory career development programs for all students.