Collaborative university-industry linkages in Pakistan

Abstract

To assess the current situation of collaborative university-industry (U-I) linkages in Pakistan, a questionnaire was disseminated to both public and private universities and industries, checking the propensity for such linkages. The results show multiple constraints imposed on collaborative U-I linkages from both sides. Factor analysis allows comparing whether both universities and industries identify the same constraints or not. Apparently, engineering departments exhibit more collaborative U-I linkages than other disciplines, while humanities departments are awarded the minimum of such linkages. The paucity of proper arrangements, procedures, mechanisms, and structures for collaboration seems to be one of the most important impediments to collaborative U-I linkages. Furthermore, on the one hand, university people see the lack both of time, owed to a heavy workload, and of laboratory facilities for research and development work, as predominant constraints to U-I interactions. On the other hand, industry people cite as prominent barriers the low commercialization potential of university research and the lack of interest among academics to collaborate with the industry. Despite its qualifications, the study concludes with practical policymaking recommendations and future research suggestions.

Responsibility of the University in Employability: Development and validation of a measurement scale across five studies

“…In this context, universities are also engaged in positional power struggles that shape the life chances of their university students through interventions that seek to enhance the reputation of the institution. Universities also engage with institutional employability strategies that seek to influence the employability of their students through the educational interventions of their teaching staff along with other interventions such as matching activities with employers (Ashraf et al, 2018;Bridgstock & Jackson, 2019;Sin & Amaral, 2017). By these interventions, there would be a competitive advantage that has an impact on student employability (Ashraf et al, 2018).…”

“…Since it is employers that decide which graduates to hire, universities set up collaborative arrangements with them in order to fulfil their responsibility to offer relevant education and skills to connect students with the labour market, making them more employable (Ashraf et al, 2018;Donald et al, 2018;Sin & Amaral, 2017).…”

Lack of Academic-Industrial Liaison in Pakistan – A Quantitative Study

“…This happens because they are not just producing products, but can create their trends. Meanwhile, large companies that stick to traditional assumptions eventually only become followers and slowly begin to be abandoned (Ashraf et al, 2018). Also, current technology is developing rapidly and science continues to develop so that, it becomes clearer the importance of cooperation between universities and industry.…”

“…Currently, the changes in the state, its disengagement and encouragement to move into a contracting society open up the possibility of public-private partnerships in the most open areas and the university-business partnership makes it a prototype. Indeed, the changes in higher education place universities and institutions that fall under a strategic position as an actor of economic development (Ashraf et al, 2018). The opening of the university to the socio-economic world is essential to the achievement of all its scientific, educational and cultural objectives.…”

Building Bridges Between Industry and Academia: What Is the Profile of an Industrial Doctorate Student?

“…This resulted in a broadening of its missions to include, beyond teaching and research, the 'third mission'. The third mission presupposes that the produced knowledge contributes to social and economic development (Pinheiro, Langa & Pausits, 2015) and one of the consequences has been the reorganisation of the operations of the university as an 'entrepreneurial university' (Clark, 1998) in many institutions in developed countries (Ashraf et al, 2018).…”