Proceedings of the 3rd European Conference on Intellectual Capital

Diagnostic Analysis <strong>of</strong> Human Capital in <strong>the</strong> University -
<strong>the</strong> Premise <strong>of</strong> Organizational Development
Andreea Feraru and Nicoleta Ciucescu
Vasile Alecsandri University <strong>of</strong> Bacau, Romania
andreea_feraru26@yahoo.com
ciucnico@yahoo.com
Abstract: Human capital development, namely, <strong>the</strong> investment in education and health, primarily aims to train
<strong>the</strong> available scientific and human resources and <strong>the</strong>n, to adapt human resources to structural changes <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
current economy. The investment in human capital in order to ensure, maintain, develop and motivate human
resources is <strong>the</strong> main premise that organizations (and universities) must capitalize. Empirical studies conducted
within <strong>the</strong> organizations have revealed a direct relationship between human capital and organizational
productivity: high-educated employees have a better health and are <strong>the</strong> unique and direct source <strong>of</strong> innovation,
creativity, and hence competitiveness. The purpose <strong>of</strong> this article is to conduct a diagnostic analysis <strong>of</strong> human
capital development and competitiveness in <strong>the</strong> universities and faculties. Thus, <strong>the</strong> present research focuses on
a quantitative and qualitative empirical approach to <strong>the</strong> issue under consideration. The present paper analyzed
<strong>the</strong> human capital in universities taking in consideration <strong>the</strong> links between education, lifelong learning and
employment and <strong>the</strong> training <strong>of</strong> scientific and human resources.
Keywords: human capital, institutional development, intellectual investments, universities, turbulent environment
1. Introduction
The issue <strong>of</strong> transition from school to work is a burden issue in <strong>the</strong> current economic restructuring
process in Romania, where a big number <strong>of</strong> young people is facing <strong>the</strong> unemployment. Therefore, <strong>the</strong>
transition from school to <strong>the</strong> labour market is governed by a new vision, called „education centered on
<strong>the</strong> labor market needs”. Graduates <strong>of</strong> higher education are those young people who have <strong>the</strong> highest
creative potential and who are expected to contribute <strong>the</strong> most to <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> knowledge
economy.
The development <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> knowledge economy where <strong>the</strong> investment in human capital is a priority and
human resources become an important asset will create prerequisites for <strong>the</strong> employment policy to
build a close relationship between education and training.
Globalization and knowledge economy expansion creates a competitive environment defined by <strong>the</strong>
criteria <strong>of</strong> efficiency, competitiveness and economic performance where <strong>the</strong> human capital develops.
Human capital consists <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> characteristic abilities <strong>of</strong> individuals that remain <strong>the</strong> same in any social
environment and can be exploited on <strong>the</strong> labour market in exchange for any kind <strong>of</strong> economic
resources.
Within <strong>the</strong> higher education system <strong>the</strong> human capital refers to all <strong>the</strong> academics (in terms <strong>of</strong>
knowledge, experience, skills and <strong>the</strong>ir individual talent) and <strong>the</strong> number <strong>of</strong> students involved in <strong>the</strong>
educational process. Students’ education is done through <strong>the</strong> transmission and <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong>
basic and specialized <strong>the</strong>oretical knowledge.
Human capital concept reflects <strong>the</strong> investment in education and <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> competencies
and skills necessary to perform certain economic activities. Basically, human capital consists <strong>of</strong>
educational capital (skills acquired by individuals while <strong>the</strong>y are enrolled in a school but also <strong>the</strong> skills
acquired outside <strong>the</strong> school) and biological capital (physical abilities <strong>of</strong> individuals, most <strong>of</strong>ten
syn<strong>the</strong>sized as <strong>the</strong> health status). Universities distinguish from o<strong>the</strong>r education and training
institutions because <strong>the</strong>y increase knowledge and generate graduates and researchers with creative
and innovative potential.
The research on <strong>the</strong> relationship between <strong>the</strong> education and <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> human capital is
included in social and organizational research. Our paper has <strong>the</strong> following structure:
Defining scope, objectives, identification <strong>of</strong> expected results;
Defining <strong>the</strong> main concepts <strong>of</strong> human capital, investment in education, training, labor market
insertion
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