Keywords
Citation
(1999), "Links with industry strengthen", Education + Training, Vol. 41 No. 8. https://doi.org/10.1108/et.1999.00441hab.002
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 1999, MCB UP Limited
Links with industry strengthen
Links with industry strengthen
Keywords: Higher education, Industry, Partnering, Research
The scale, number and variety of joint activities between industry and higher education continue to grow, say researchers at the University of Manchester.
The Policy Research in Science, Engineering and Technology report entitled Industry-Academic Links in the UK shows that universities and colleges are working with industry to conduct research, exploit the results of that research, and to provide consultancy, education and training.
Research funding by industry in higher-education institutions, and income from exploiting intellectual-property rights, are growing. They totalled £183 million and £11.1 million, respectively, in 1997. More than 60 institutions had "spin-out" companies set up to exploit their research commercially.
Universities and colleges are also increasing their efforts to meet the demand for people with higher degrees relevant to the needs of industry. Some 86 per cent of higher education institutions which responded to the survey had work and project placements for postgraduate students, and more than half had industrial sponsorship for their research students.
More than half also had Masters courses specifically tailored to meet the needs of a particular company or group of firms.
Many institutions are forming consortia to identify, co-ordinate and deliver research and training to industry. Partnerships with industry are also developing more widely, and evolving from one-off contracts to long-term strategic partnerships.