Higher education and industry: how to build mutually beneficial collaborations

Higher education and industry: how to work well together

Advice on how universities and academics can forge mutually beneficial relationships with commercial partners

Spotlight collection looking at building productive links between higher education and industry

Higher education has always been a key driver of economic growth, upskilling the workforce and fuelling innovation. But with rapidly changing industry demands and funding models, the relationship between universities and the private sector is being remodelled. Institutions are working hard to meet new skills needs and forge stronger commercial partnerships. This collection of resources looks at how academia and industry can build mutually beneficial links.

By dene.mullen, 20 April, 2022

Don’t forget that the ‘academic’ and the ‘vocational’ are deeply intertwined

University staff and leadership should not forget that the academic and the vocational are deeply intertwined

It’s not enough to focus solely on academic mission, but neither is it enough to think of universities as little more than training schools, says Sir Chris Husbands

Reading time

4minutes

Meeting employer needs

Resources

By dene.mullen, 8 April, 2022

The sector must come together when talk turns to promoting economic success

Looking to the future of the workforce and universities

What could be more important than preparing our students for jobs in the local economy and supporting graduates to become the entrepreneurs of the future? asks Sir David Bell

Reading time

4minutes

By Miranda Prynne, 18 April, 2022

Strategies to train students in three transferable skills wanted by employers

Image of students learning the transferrable skills wanted in the workplace

Two simple teaching methods that faculty can use in the classroom to train students in the communication, problem-solving and critical thinking skills sought by employers, shared by Elly Vandegrift

By Eliza.Compton, 15 February, 2022

Helping students to see the future career value of their work-integrated learning

Woman on rock at beach dipping toes in water illustrating work-integrated learning

Real-world experience and outputs tailored to industry allow students to see the relevance of what they learn in the classroom

Image showing people walking to work in a busy city

By dene.mullen, 19 April, 2022

Do our students need to be book smart or street smart? They need to be both

A teenager with street smarts, but university graduates will need to combine practical and academic skills to boost employability

Employers want talent to jump right in and fulfil new tasks without a lot of coaching. Project-based learning will help prepare students for this new way of thinking and working

Reading time

3minutes

By Eliza.Compton, 4 March, 2022

Contextual learning: linking learning to the real world

Young woman works on engineering planning project, contextual learning, HELF

Experience in the professional world can set your students up for a seamless transfer from higher education to the world of work

Reading time

5minutes

A focus on future skills

Resources

By Miranda Prynne, 25 February, 2022

Pivoting university course offerings to upskill the workforce

Advice on developing a course portfolio that meets workplace demand for upskilling

Teresa Ironside outlines how universities can develop their course portfolio to meet changing workplace skills demands and deliver education to a wider range of learners

By dene.mullen, 19 November, 2021

Universities need to prepare for the mature student onslaught

Universities should be preparing now to be inundated with older students given workforce shifts

Higher ed is notoriously bad at attracting and accommodating mature students. Given the workforce shifts spawned by the pandemic, this needs to change, says Dilshad Sheikh

By dene.mullen, 17 May, 2021

Short online courses can grease the wheels of student employability

With more and more students achieving high grades, online micro courses can help graduates stand out in the jobs market

The degree has transitioned from differentiating factor to basic benchmark. Online microcredentials can help graduates stand out from their rivals, says Madina Tash

Image showing a research scientist working in a bioscience laboratory

By dene.mullen, 24 November, 2021

Dragon’s zen: how to handle the jump from HE to a commercial venture

Turning an idea into a commercial interest is a hugely rewarding but challenging journey for university academics

The learning curve is steep when leaving academia for an entrepreneurial adventure. John Miles outlines what to expect and says the skills you learned as a researcher can help

By dene.mullen, 20 January, 2022

We must rethink PhDs to smash barriers and ensure bioscience success

Rethinking PhDs to create graduates that are both academic and commercial is crucial to bioscience success

Redesigning PhD training will help develop commercially savvy researchers, address skills gaps in UK bioscience and bolster innovation, say Simon Cook and Derek Jones

Research and the private sector

Resources

By Miranda Prynne, 3 February, 2022

Managing individual research productivity in academic organisations: seven key insights

Steps that institutions can take to increase the research productivity and impact of their academic staff

Advice on steps institutions can take to boost the productivity and impact of researchers, based on a study by Olga Ryazanova and Jolanta Jaskiene

By dene.mullen, 28 January, 2022

External engagement in academia: lessons from the business world

University academics can be bad communicators - and this can be a problem when trying to engage industry

Many academics see external engagement as a chore. Others are just unable to appreciate industry perspectives. Both are stifling the contribution of universities

By Miranda Prynne, 20 May, 2024

All together now: how to write an interdisciplinary research proposal

Advice on drafting effective proposals for interdisciplinary research projects

Advice on drafting successful research proposals to secure support and funding for interdisciplinary projects, from three academics with experience developing research partnerships and collaborations

Students learning about industry with an educational visit to a factory

By dene.mullen, 11 November, 2021

Four practical tips for bringing students and businesses together

New approaches to bringing students and businesses together can help address employability issues after university

New approaches to student and employer “matchmaking” can help address graduate underemployment – and bring enjoyment for both sides, says Adele Browne

By dene.mullen, 13 October, 2021

Community colleges are the front line for workforce innovation

Community colleges are at the forefront of work-related study

As bachelor’s-granting institutions grow ever more focused on employability, there’s much they can learn from community colleges, say Vicki Karolewics and Bharani Rajakumar

Supporting student career preparation

Resources

By Miranda Prynne, 16 March, 2022

Career corners: a simple way to improve student job preparation

Using 'career corners' to present employment options to students

Many students enter their final year with no idea what they wish to do after university. Career corners aim to help by providing job and industry overviews that facilitate informed choices

Reading time

3minutes

By dene.mullen, 14 April, 2022

Tips on bringing expert professionals to class to support learning

Papparazzi. Bringing in an expert guest to your university classes can help with student attention

Capturing students’ attention can be a challenge for teachers. We propose bringing the real world to the classroom through expert guests, say Gabriela Espínola Carballo and Mariana Elizondo

Reading time

3minutes

By miranda.prynne, 26 October, 2021

Preparing students for an uncertain future through career planning

Advice on getting students thinking about and preparing for their future careers

Lessons in engaging students in future career planning and preparation as part of their university studies, shared by Stephen Warrington, Katherine Cameron and Matt Vickers