Analysis of Lifelong Learning in Industrial Enterprises in the Border Regions of the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic

Lifelong learning is a conscious learning process with the aim of acquiring knowledge, skills and competences throughout an individual’s life. For lifelong learning to be successful, learning activities must meet market requirements. Correct skills of employees and a serious approach to lifelong learning are now being viewed as essential meet the skills and workforce needs of the future. Well-adjusted education system improves quality of life and sense of self-esteem of employees, besides it brings benefits of competitiveness for the whole company. The key goal of the article was to identify the current needs of lifelong learning in industrial enterprises in technical fields. The conducted questionnaire survey was focused on the companies in the border regions of the Slovak Republic (the Trnava, Trenčín and Žilina regions) and the Czech Republic (the South Moravian, Zlín and Moravian-Silesian regions). The research was aimed primarily at the companies in the machinery and automotive industries. Based on the results of the questionnaire, the requirements for the training focused on technical areas such as: materials engineering, mechanical engineering, computer aided design and production preparation, automation and control of technological processes and mechatronic systems, production quality, IT security and others were defined.