Promoting the Employment of Students as a Priority Activity of Higher Educational Institutions in Modern Conditions

The financial and economic crisis, including the COVID-19 pandemic, determined the negative changes in the modern labor market. Under these conditions, the understanding of the role of higher educational institutions in solving the problems of employment of graduates is of both scientific and practical importance. The key method of collecting information was a questionnaire survey of students (N=974 respondents). The curators of the study groups distributed the link to the questionnaire posted on the Google platform. The purpose of the study is to analyze the specifics of the work of the Employment Assistance Center functioning in the structure of a higher educational institution. It was found that the majority of students (87.8%) consider it necessary to create Employment Assistance Centers in the structure of universities. The following services would be in demand among students: referral for internships, information about vacancies and internships of partner companies, career events, assistance in finding employment during their studies. It is concluded that modern youth is focused on an early start of a career, combining study and work. The following dysfunctions of the activity of the Employment Assistance Center were identified: an insufficient level of information support, a narrowed list of services provided to the students. The conclusion is made that the employment of graduates requires improvement of both pedagogical methods for the development of professional competencies of graduates, and the formation of organizational mechanisms that ensure the provision of services for internships of students, their part-time employment, carrying out activities for interaction with employers. The authors substantiate the concept of “seamless employment” of the students: the integration of the educational process and part-time employment within the study period, focusing the key areas of the university’s activities on the career needs of young people.