Current university-industry links are 'under-developed,' report says
National employer association Ai Group is calling for stronger connections between universities and organisations to further develop Australia's workforce.
In a new paper, Ai Group said skills development needs a widespread approach where learning is immersed in work environments.
"There are many high-quality pockets of innovative work-integrated learning among our members where formal education and training is augmented in the workplace over time," said Ai Group chief executive Innes Willox in a statement.
"However, Australian university links to industry are under-developed by international standards."
According to the paper, universities and companies need to be "intertwined" as they share an interdependency when aiming for the right skills equation.
"Technology and work environment changes are accelerating, meaning changes to knowledge and skills are too, so the two sectors have to be intertwined," the paper read. "This is key to linking learning with current industry strategies and practices, and specialist, technical and generic skill needs."
What needs to be done?
Willox said strengthening the connection between companies and universities will need the involvement of both parties and the government.
"The action that is necessary to achieve this involves all parties: government resourcing and funding support; joint responsibilities between government, industry and universities; and further actions by universities," Willox said.
Among the recommendations outlined in the paper include the need to incentivise and promote cooperative models between industry and universities.
"Universities should be encouraged and incentivised to involve industry in multiple aspects of the learning framework: co-design, co-development of content, co-delivery, co-credentialling and co-assessment, in addition to work-integrated and work-based learning activities," the paper read.
The establishment of university or industry hubs, whether physical or virtual, can also foster cooperative cultures for skills development, it added.
"These collaborative industry-education sector metropolitan and regional hubs, like Centres of Vocational Excellence in Europe, develop strategies to meet local skill needs and assist large and small companies to create innovative solutions."
Willox said the Ai Group sees that paper as an "agitator for change" on industry-university connections in Australia.
"Our Centre for Education and Training is working to influence key areas for action recommended in the paper. We welcome approaches to the Centre from like-minded companies, agencies, governments, and individuals across the skills ecosystem," he said.
