Insights and experiences from vocational training
Students' perspectives on vocational training within the Central European Areal Studies study programme.
Bc. Oksana Turianytsia (2nd year Master’s programme student of the Central European Areal Studies study programme):
Overall, I found the vocational training incredibly valuable. My main role at LPP Logistics Slovakia s.r.o. was communication in Polish, English and Czech. Specifically, cooperation with partners from all over Central Europe. The company offered me not only a great working environment, but also excellent opportunities for career growth. The tasks entrusted to me required not only language skills, but also the ability to coordinate and plan effectively, especially in a complex multicultural environment. I am grateful for this opportunity and I’m leaving the company with a rich portfolio of experience that will undoubtedly benefit me in my future career in international communication, intercultural cooperation and project management, especially in Central European countries. The overall experience has had a profound and positive impact on my personal and professional development. I am especially grateful for my communication skills to the Faculty of Central European Studies at the CPU in Nitra (Central European Areal Studies study programme), as it was here that I gained a lot of knowledge in the field of culture and communication with Central European countries, for which I am very grateful.
Bc. Radovan Košík (2nd year Master’s programme student of the Central European Areal Studies study programme):
Working at the Karol Kmeťko Regional Library in Nitra? And why not? Everybody has said that the job of a librarian is just grunt work, during which books are put on the shelf and that's it. But the opposite is true, because working in a library is not as "boring" as it may seem to most. The Karol Kmet'ko Regional Library in Nitra is divided into several sectors, in which the consistent daily work is the most important to ensure the active operation of the library and its other outposts, which are scattered throughout the Nitra district. The sections of the library are divided into several sectors. Each one is important, so there is no doubt that the staff must carry out their work responsibly. The library of Nitra has three sections:
1. The Methodology and Coordination Section – is responsible for the professional guidance of public libraries with direct methodological responsibility in the districts of Nitra, Šaľa and Zlaté Moravce. It is responsible for the analysis, evaluation and processing of annual statistics of regional and public libraries in the above-mentioned districts.
2. The Bibliography Section - collects, processes and archives documents about the towns and villages of the Nitra district. It also processes the collection of bibliographic and regional literature in classical and electronic form, which has been recently introduced in the library. It even provides bibliographic information services to users.
3. The funds section - builds up a universal library fund, which is secured through purchases and donations from private individuals and institutions. In addition to books, the section also processes LP records, CDs, DVDs and other documents. It orders, purchases and processes daily newspapers and periodicals. It carries out a review of the library’s funds, discarding outdated, worn and damaged titles.
Every single task is very important to the library, so it is shared among several staff members whom I have had the opportunity to work with, and I can say from personal experience that they really take their jobs very seriously and professionally. They also work almost every day on projects, seminars, as well as recreational activities for everyone without distinction – children, adults, seniors, the disabled, etc. All these activities and book processes take time and planning. However, these functions of the library are not visible to the common visitor. But what does the library offer for us, readers?
The library offers multiple selections of books, and now readers can download a mobile app to borrow their favourite titles and new releases. This app is still being developed and many books are being added over time. But what about literature for linguistic minorities or for readers in a foreign language? Of course, even if it is not as well represented as those in the Slovak and Czech languages, the library is constantly purchasing foreign language books for its collection. Reading for the little ones is not neglected either, there is a section on the second floor of the library reserved just for young readers. The workers even provide interactive talks about books, which motivates the kids to take some of the books home. Old books and archived newspapers can also be found in the library. Although these documents are not lent out, they can be studied on site. The library also offers research services right in the study room. We can also look up the library from the comfort of our own home. Websites and applications with daily activity are commonplace in the computer sphere. We must not forget audio books for the blind or books in Braille either.
Bc. Rozália Mihóková (2nd year Master’s programme student of the Central European Areal Studies study programme):
In addition to theoretical training, practical training is an integral part of students' real preparation for their future profession, especially in my study programme. The Mlyňany Arboretum of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV) allowed me to carry out my vocational training, which was a valuable and cultural experience for me. During the training I used theoretical experience to prepare an event for visitors and I also gained practical experience. My task was to design an experiential game called Valentine's Crossword, which aims to introduce the history of the Mlyňany SAV Arboretum and the collections of trees found there. Based on this, during my training I worked on the design of this project. In addition to designing the game, I also created an informative poster for it. The result is a working draft of the game for visitors, which can be implemented in the Valentine's Day period after its finalization. The game is based on learning about the history and trees of the Mlyňany SAV Arboretum, with participants learning about the arboretum directly in the field based on the individual tasks that are assigned to each site. For answering the questions and then completing the crossword puzzle correctly, they can receive a gift. I positively evaluate the professional guidance and advice of the head of the professional practice Ing. Jarmila Králová, PhD., from whom I gained new experience and skills not only with the creation of the cultural event, but also with working in the interactive environment of the mobile application Action bound.
Text: Bc. Oksana Turianytsia, Bc. Radovan Košík, Bc. Rozália Mihóková
Photo: Bc. Oksana Turianytsia, Bc. Radovan Košík, Bc. Rozália Mihóková
