1. Introduction

Significance and objectives of the subject of professional practice
The Polytechnic University of Jihlava (hereinafter referred to as "VŠPJ") is a public non-university university that places great emphasis on cooperation with the application sphere. A compulsory part of the curricula of all accredited bachelor's degree programmes is a long-term professional practice. The aim of the professional practice is to enable students to verify their knowledge and skills acquired by studying individual subjects of the respective field of study, in practical activities in specific situations in business and public sector entities. The opportunity to practice theoretical knowledge in practice and to gain work experience already during their studies is a unique opportunity for students to increase their chances for future employment in the labour market. Students who demonstrate good knowledge, skills, moral qualities and an active approach in performing work tasks during their professional practice may even obtain permanent employment in a given organization after graduation from the VŠPJ.

Graduate Profile
The profile of the graduate of the study programme Tourism is designed to meet the Government Regulation No. 275/2016 Coll., on the areas of education in higher education for study programmes in the category of Economics. The acquired knowledge and skills of the graduate were designed to be in accordance with the Central Database of Competences of the National Occupational System of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

From the perspective of the Central Database of Competences of the National Occupational System of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the graduate of the study programme Tourism has the following competences:

- Professional knowledge: Knowledge in the field of business economics, knowledge in the field of accounting and taxation, knowledge in the field of economics, knowledge in the field of legal principles, laws, regulations and their interpretation and meaning, knowledge in the field of tourism theory, knowledge in management, knowledge in human resources management, knowledge in hotel management, knowledge in hospitality management, knowledge in travel agency management and tour guiding, knowledge in destination management, knowledge in marketing, knowledge in geography, knowledge in statistics and mathematics, knowledge in foreign languages.

- Professional skills: skills in working with people in the fields of business economics, management, marketing, hotel, hospitality, travel agency operations, skills in mental work in all these fields, skills in managing processes and activities in these fields.

- General skills: are implicitly given by the expansion of economic awareness, and are further enhanced particularly in the areas of computer and numerical competence and language competence.

- Soft competences: these are mainly effective communication, cooperation, creativity, independence, flexibility, problem solving, planning and organising work, discovery and orientation to information.

A graduate of the Tourism study programme:
a) demonstrates, in an appropriate breadth and degree of knowledge:
- key economic concepts and categories and the connections between them in the context of the main economic theories and schools of economics,
- key concepts and connections in the field of tourism,
- financial and accounting issues in general,
- basic mathematical and statistical methods useful in the processing of economic data,
- the legislative framework for the operation of economic legal entities, including tax framework and methods of accounting data capture,
- legislative framework in relation to its narrower profile (operation of typical tourism enterprises - travel agency, accommodation and hospitality facilities),
- current managerial approaches, corporate activities,
- tools and technologies (IT) typically used in tourism enterprises,
- relevant for preparation for managerial functions; knowledge of the broader context and impacts of economic activity and sustainable development principles,
- in the field of regional development.

b) can, in an appropriate breadth and degree of skill:
- plan operational and tactical activities in a hotel operation, travel agency including product costing,
- analyze the prerequisites for the development of tourism of a destination, propose options for sustainable development of tourism of a destination,
- assess and analyze the impact of the economic situation on the enterprise,
- develop a marketing research plan and implement it,
- develop a business plan,
- apply basic human resource management tools,
- use information technology and software support for organizational, presentation and analytical work,
- basic mathematical and statistical analysis.

c) can be employed for example:
- in middle management positions in the hotel industry e.g. reception manager,
- in middle management positions in the hospitality industry e.g. operations,
- in middle management positions in the travel agency operations industry,
- as a manager or regional development worker in the tourism industry,
- as an administrative and economic worker,
- as an independent entrepreneur.

A graduate of the Tourism program will find employment in both private and public sector organizations. He/she is prepared for the performance of professions mainly at the middle management level in operational, organizational, personnel and financial departments. In the private sector, he/she will find employment in various types of enterprises operating in the tourism sector, in the public sector in institutions at all levels of public administration. Graduates can also find employment in non-profit organisations (state and non-state).

The graduate is prepared to perform the typical positions listed in the National Occupational Classification for Hospitality, Tourism, Wellness for those who have completed a bachelor's degree. These include hospitality and hotel operations manager, front desk manager, supervisor

reservation department, head of the catering department, tourism guide, independent travel agent or travel agency worker. The range of knowledge, skills and general competences acquired not only enables graduates to quickly integrate into practice, but also allows them to continue on to relevant Master's follow-up programmes.