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The document discusses the need for stronger collaboration between higher education institutions (HEIs) and industry in the 21st century knowledge economy. It proposes the DesMod (Design Model) as a framework for an interdependent relationship between practice, education, and research. There are currently lacunae in how well Indian universities meet industry demands. The document suggests adopting aspects of the Cambridge-MIT model to establish long-term mutually beneficial relationships between stakeholders in education, research, technology, and business. This would help transform instruction methods, curriculum, student and faculty development to better align higher education with industry needs.

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Roy Shaunak
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51 views

Notes

The document discusses the need for stronger collaboration between higher education institutions (HEIs) and industry in the 21st century knowledge economy. It proposes the DesMod (Design Model) as a framework for an interdependent relationship between practice, education, and research. There are currently lacunae in how well Indian universities meet industry demands. The document suggests adopting aspects of the Cambridge-MIT model to establish long-term mutually beneficial relationships between stakeholders in education, research, technology, and business. This would help transform instruction methods, curriculum, student and faculty development to better align higher education with industry needs.

Uploaded by

Roy Shaunak
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Background Observation

 The 21st century, in which we presently belong, is a knowledge-driven society, characterized by a quantum leap in higher education.  The era of globalization and economic liberalization, more prominently, the LPG era, has given rise to a hyper-competitive market which necessitates strong industry-academia collaborations.  The obligation thus has to be shouldered by the HEIs to build strong institutional collaborations.  Enrichment in the quality of education, which when guided by research, helps in satisfying industrial requisites.

DesMod (Design Model)


 This leads us to the DesMod or design model, propounded by American design theorist, Jay Doblin, in the year 1982.  It is a cyclical embodiment of practice, education and research as interdependent elements. When practice leads to research, Knowledge is being developed and in the reverse process from research to practice, knowledge is being utilized.

Lacunas in the existing system


There are certain lacunae existing in the present system.  Majority of the Indian Universities have not lived up to the transforming demands placed by the industry.  The industry calls for skilled and specialized workforce from among the graduates. It is an aspect that is lacking among many a few graduates.  Dilemmas occur when there is a conflict in principles that govern the existence and operations of the industry and the universities.  Academicians have a sound ability to conceptualize and implement a problem it is an aspect woefully lacking in the industry, which fails to conceptualize routine problems day-in and day-out.

Cambridge-MIT model
 The Cambridge Model was developed by Dr. Edward Acworth, Prof. Edward Crawley and Prof. Michael Kelly in the year 2005.  It encompasses the following six stages.  In a nutshell, a plan or detailed research on the organization s background, key stakeholders is done, and with the unanimous consent of all stakeholders concerned, a draft strategy is formulated and finally, the programs are deployed in full scale for commercial use.

Cambridge-MIT model
 Ours is an adapted version of the model. This is a working prototype of the CMI model.

Uniqueness of the model  The model accommodates a host of companies, focussed on socially beneficial research and its commercial execution.  The CMI model, very importantly highlights the personal interactions and mutually beneficial long-term relationships with all concerned stakeholders.  It is the consequence of a well-devised strategy for various entities and evolves into a controlled network for enhancing the efficiency of the entire economy.  The interplay of myriad educational institutions is linked with high commitment levels and policy support.  The model operates primarily on the domains of science, technology and business.

A few propositions
1) Instruction methods  There has to be a metamorphosis from the archetypal rote learning to work based learning marked by critical thinking, analytical skills and logical reasoning.  The members of the academic fraternity need to interact with the industry to get a clear picture of the on-going changes and appropriate teaching strategies need to be devised accordingly.  The industry s role is to simulate a work ambience by furnishing real-life case studies and news on technological advancements, thereby nurturing communication and team-building skills among students.

2) Curriculum Design and Development  Partnership initiatives with technology or IT giants in the likes of Microsoft, Oracle among others can be made use of and globally recognized certifications such as CCNA, CCNP, MCSE, MCSD etc. can be derived.  Apt translation of the DesMod by the employers guided by the academic community enriches the curriculum and maximizes confidence level of students. 3) Enriching Student Profile  The industry calls upon students who are multi-tasking and can work in groups with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds.  The portfolio of students should encompass various extra-curricular activities other than academics.

4) Promoting Entrepreneurship  It is the joint responsibility of the Industry and HEIs to promote entrepreneurship.  Incubation centres, Testing labs, technology parks can be developed by the industry to enhance entrepreneurship. 5) Enhancing the learning process  Teachers are desirous of the fact that students proceed from rote learning to conceptual learning .Employers can help strengthen this process. 6) Leadership and Team work  Internships and dedicated projects help develop team-building skills.  Industry can create opportunities for students to interact with other classes of people, from various resources to strengthen leadership skills. 7) Building Successful Research Careers  Opportunities can be created by the industry for research and research scholars within their organizations.  It is, once again, the joint responsibility of the industry and the HEIs. 8) Training and Guidance  Industry could provide training to researchers in areas such as health and safety, ethics in an industrial setting, and customer satisfaction  Industry and HEIs have a larger responsibility towards the well-being and progress of the society.

Conclusion
 To transform India into a global powerhouse in research and innovation, increased dependence of the industry and the academia, through various engagement modes require fructification  Such engagements resultantly transpire from a strategic interplay amidst several interest groups and organizational competencies  Whilst such initiatives gain momentum, pioneers of the industry and members of the academic fraternity need to evolve a student-centric approach to imparting knowledge aptly be supplemented by research and practice.  It would accelerate academia-industry engagements by augmenting competitiveness enhancing the pace of economic development

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