QUESTIONNAIRE: COMPANIES PART 1 We kindly ask you to classify the skills listed below according to: - How important it is for a recently graduated student to demonstrate these skills; - If you feel that it’s the Higher Education Instituition’s (HEI) responsibility to develop the skill in recent graduates, or if it’s the companies’ responsibility. - How important it is for an employee with 5 years of experience to demonstrate these skills;   1. Problem Solving and Analytic Identifying, prioritizing and solving problems, individually or in groups; the ability to ask the right questions, sort out the many facets of a problem, and contribute ideas as well as answers regarding the problem. Recent graduates::   HEI’s responsibility for developing the skill in recent graduates:  Someone with 5 years experience:  Very important Important Not too important Not at all important Yes No     Very important Important Not too important Not at all important 2. Decision Making Making timely decisions on the basis of a thorough assessment of the short and long-term effects of decisions, recognizing the political and ethical implications, and being able to identify those who will be affected by the decisions made.. Recent graduates::  HEI’s responsibility for developing the skill in recent graduates:  Someone with 5 years experience:  Very important Important Not too important Not at all important Yes No     Very important Important Not too important Not at all important 3. Planning and Organizing Being able to determine the tasks to be carried out toward meeting objectives (strategic and tactical), perhaps assigning some of the tasks to others, monitoring progress made against the plan, and revising a plan to include new information. Recent graduates::  HEI’s responsibility for developing the skill in recent graduates:  Someone with 5 years experience:  Very important Important Not too important Not at all important Yes No     Very important Important Not too important Not at all important 4. Personal Organization and Time Management Managing several tasks at once; being able to set priorities and to allocate time efficiently in order to meet deadlines. Recent graduates::  HEI’s responsibility for developing the skill in recent graduates:  Someone with 5 years experience:  Very important Important Not too important Not at all important Yes No     Very important Important Not too important Not at all important 5. Risk Taking Taking reasonable job-related risks by recognizing alternative or different ways of meeting objectives, while recognizing the potential negative outcomes and monitoring progress toward set objectives. Recent graduates::  HEI’s responsibility for developing the skill in recent graduates:  Someone with 5 years experience:  Very important Important Not too important Not at all important Yes No     Very important Important Not too important Not at all important 6. Oral Communication The ability to present information verbally to others, either one-to-one or in groups. Recent graduates::  HEI’s responsibility for developing the skill in recent graduates:  Someone with 5 years experience:  Very important Important Not too important Not at all important Yes No     Very important Important Not too important Not at all important 7. Written Communication The effective transfer of written information, either formally (e.g., reports, business correspondence), or informally (e.g., memos, notes). Recent graduates::  HEI’s responsibility for developing the skill in recent graduates:  Someone with 5 years experience:  Very important Important Not too important Not at all important Yes No     Very important Important Not too important Not at all important 8. Listening Being attentive when others are speaking, and responding effectively to others’ comments during a conversation. Recent graduates::  HEI’s responsibility for developing the skill in recent graduates:  Someone with 5 years experience:  Very important Important Not too important Not at all important Yes No     Very important Important Not too important Not at all important 9. Interpersonal Working well with others (superiors, subordinates, and peers), understanding their needs, and being sympathetic with them. Recent graduates::  HEI’s responsibility for developing the skill in recent graduates:  Someone with 5 years experience:  Very important Important Not too important Not at all important Yes No     Very important Important Not too important Not at all important 10. Managing Conflict The ability to identify sources of conflict between oneself and others, or between other people, and to take steps to overcome disharmony. Recent graduates::  HEI’s responsibility for developing the skill in recent graduates:  Someone with 5 years experience:  Very important Important Not too important Not at all important Yes No     Very important Important Not too important Not at all important 11. Leadership and Influence The ability to give direction and guidance to others and to delegate work tasks to peers and subordinates in an effective manner that motivates others to do their best. Recent graduates::  HEI’s responsibility for developing the skill in recent graduates:  Someone with 5 years experience:  Very important Important Not too important Not at all important Yes No     Very important Important Not too important Not at all important 12. Coordination Being able to coordinate the work of peers and subordinates and encourage positive group relationships. Recent graduates::  HEI’s responsibility for developing the skill in recent graduates:  Someone with 5 years experience:  Very important Important Not too important Not at all important Yes No     Very important Important Not too important Not at all important 13. Creativity, Innovation, Change The ability to adapt to situations of change; at times, the ability to initiate change and provide novel solutions to problems; the ability to reconceptualize roles in response to changing demands related to the firm’s success. Recent graduates::  HEI’s responsibility for developing the skill in recent graduates:  Someone with 5 years experience:  Very important Important Not too important Not at all important Yes No     Very important Important Not too important Not at all important 14. Visioning The ability to conceptualize the future of the company and to provide innovative paths for the company to follow. Recent graduates::  HEI’s responsibility for developing the skill in recent graduates:  Someone with 5 years experience:  Very important Important Not too important Not at all important Yes No     Very important Important Not too important Not at all important 15. Ability to Conceptualize The ability to combine relevant information from a number of sources, integrate information into more general contexts, and apply information to new or broader contexts. Recent graduates::  HEI’s responsibility for developing the skill in recent graduates:  Someone with 5 years experience:  Very important Important Not too important Not at all important Yes No     Very important Important Not too important Not at all important 16. Learning The ability to gain knowledge from everyday experiences and to keep up-to-date on developments in the field. Recent graduates::  HEI’s responsibility for developing the skill in recent graduates:  Someone with 5 years experience:  Very important Important Not too important Not at all important Yes No     Very important Important Not too important Not at all important 17. Personal Strengths A variety of personal traits that assist individuals in dealing with day-to-day work situations – for example, maintaining a high energy level, motivating oneself to function at an optimal level of performance, functioning in stressful situations, maintaining a positive attitude, ability to work independently, and responding appropriately to constructive criticism. Recent graduates::  HEI’s responsibility for developing the skill in recent graduates:  Someone with 5 years experience:  Very important Important Not too important Not at all important Yes No     Very important Important Not too important Not at all important 18. Technical Skills Skills needed to deal with the technical tasks required by the job. Recent graduates::  HEI’s responsibility for developing the skill in recent graduates:  Someone with 5 years experience:  Very important Important Not too important Not at all important Yes No     Very important Important Not too important Not at all important If you answered “Very important” or “Important” on Technical skills, please indicate the top’s technical skills that should be developed before graduation by the HEI. 1 2 3 4 5 19. Initiative and proactivity The ability to anticipate situations, needs and future problems in the workplace. To always be aware of surroundings, analyze the context in order to develop alternative scenarios. Initiative is part of proactive behavior and demonstrates the ability to anticipate solutions. Recent graduates::  HEI’s responsibility for developing the skill in recent graduates:  Someone with 5 years experience:  Very important Important Not too important Not at all important Yes No     Very important Important Not too important Not at all important 20. Ethic and Integrity Demonstrate personal values and behave in a way not Yesply because it is law, but because it is our individual responsibility. Recent graduates::  HEI’s responsibility for developing the skill in recent graduates:  Someone with 5 years experience:  Very important Important Not too important Not at all important Yes No     Very important Important Not too important Not at all important 21. Team Work Collaborative work and acceptance of suggestions / recommendations from other members of the team. To develop good relations between colleagues and promote morale. To work cohesively in order to find better solutions. Recent graduates::  HEI’s responsibility for developing the skill in recent graduates:  Someone with 5 years experience:  Very important Important Not too important Not at all important Yes No     Very important Important Not too important Not at all important 22. Responsibility Professionalism, and sense of duty; thinking beforehand on tasks that must be done, being able, when finishing a task, to start the following immediately; trying to resolve a problem that others are unaware or not yet begun to solve. Recent graduates::  HEI’s responsibility for developing the skill in recent graduates:  Someone with 5 years experience:  Very important Important Not too important Not at all important Yes No     Very important Important Not too important Not at all important 23. Commitment and persistence Accomplishing all the objectives, seeking to understand the tasks and completing them while always focusing on improvement, facing the difficulties and possible contingencies. Recent graduates::  HEI’s responsibility for developing the skill in recent graduates:  Someone with 5 years experience:  Very important Important Not too important Not at all important Yes No     Very important Important Not too important Not at all important 24. Critical Thinking Being active, asking questions and analyzing the answers with skepticism. Consciously applying tactics and strategies to uncover meaning or assure their understanding. Being open to new ideas and perspectives. Willingness to challenge beliefs and investigate competing evidence. Recent graduates::  HEI’s responsibility for developing the skill in recent graduates:  Someone with 5 years experience:  Very important Important Not too important Not at all important Yes No     Very important Important Not too important Not at all important 25. Resilience and Motivation Resilience is the ability to overcome problems and adversaries. Being able to look at mistakes as a challenge and to deal pressure in an appropriate way. Being optimistic about solving problems. Being in “Flow” is being passionate about the work being done. Recent graduates::  HEI’s responsibility for developing the skill in recent graduates:  Someone with 5 years experience:  Very important Important Not too important Not at all important Yes No     Very important Important Not too important Not at all important 26. Continuous improvement and Excellence Being able to work properly in a precise way and paying attention to details. If necessary, being available to do extra work in order to guarantee that tasks are well executed. Looking for new tasks and responsibilities. Recent graduates::  HEI’s responsibility for developing the skill in recent graduates:  Someone with 5 years experience:  Very important Important Not too important Not at all important Yes No     Very important Important Not too important Not at all important Is there any other transferable skill that you consider important to mention?     PART 2   1.In what ways are transferable skills evaluated by you during the recruitment and selection process? Please tick any of the following in use in your company. Interview Group dynamics interviews Curriculum Vitae Psychometric tests Role-plays Case studies Reference checks Assessment centres None Other(s) (please identify)   2. Please identify to what level of importance you consider each of the following in a recruitment and selection process of recent graduates:   Very Important Important Not too Important Not at all important Technical Skills  Very ImportantImportantNot too ImportantNot at all important Transferable skills  Very ImportantImportantNot too ImportantNot at all important Relevant Work experience  Very ImportantImportantNot too ImportantNot at all important Any other work experience  Very ImportantImportantNot too ImportantNot at all important Good academic records (no reprobations, and achievements between the 70th and the 100th percentiles)  Very ImportantImportantNot too ImportantNot at all important Voluntary work  Very ImportantImportantNot too ImportantNot at all important Extra-curricula activities (groups, associations, clubs)  Very ImportantImportantNot too ImportantNot at all important Periods of Study abroad  Very ImportantImportantNot too ImportantNot at all important Complementary training in languages  Very ImportantImportantNot too ImportantNot at all important Training related to the arts  Very ImportantImportantNot too ImportantNot at all important Summer school, internships or placement within programme of study  Very ImportantImportantNot too ImportantNot at all important Information and Technology  Very ImportantImportantNot too ImportantNot at all important   3. Is there any other area that you consider important not mentioned above?   4. Which areas of the technical training do you consider fundamental to be developed by the University, for Biotechnology professionals?   PART 3   1. To what sector does your organization belong?  Industry (food) Industry (beverage) Industry (water) Industry (pharmaceutical) Industry (energy) Industry (chemicals) Distribution (food) Distribution (beverage) Distribution (water) Distribution (pharmaceutical) Distribution (energy) Distribution (chemicals) Biomedical Consultancy / Services Other:   2. How many employees does your Organization have?  1 to 9 10 to 49 50 to 249 250 to 499 More than 500         Organization Filled out by   Position   E-mail   Date   Would you like to receive the final report?   YesNo Are you prepared to partake in a short telephone interview if required?   YesNo       Answer the questions marked with *