Innovations in education – the example of two universities in border regions

Abstract

The article deals with the changes at the level of economics and institutions, which cause the changes in education to be necessary. The education changes happen much more slowly and in many cases they do not reflect the market demands. The aim was to show, how necessary it is to acquire conjunction and harmonious development of the economics and education. The author stresses that the new curricula should support the lifelong education, because knowledge-based economics and education accentuate the ability to learn and manage one’s own development. Universities must meet the expectation – but they should be foremost the leaders of social and economic development. Today the condition of the success is the use of knowledge from various disciplines and connection with the field experience. Her theses the author bases on experiences from the realization of international educational project, where the innovative solution had been tried. The project was implemented by regional universities in border regions. The goal was to interconnect the knowledge and experiences of the teachers from both universities with the knowledge and experiences of businessmen. The innovative element laid in common education of students, inceptors and representatives of the business. Within the framework of the practical implication the transfer of knowledge in all directions happened: from universities to the world of business, from the world of business to the universities, between universities and between businessmen respectively. All this had in addition a trans-border dimension. The innovative form of education had been evaluated as interesting, motivating for further education and useful for the participants and regional development.