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USAID
and Higher Education: Partnering to Meet Development Goals |
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| Click here to return to the main conference page Private Sector Cooperation The discussion on private sector cooperation centered around three points, perceptions, pitfalls and best practices. Participants discussed how efforts to include private sector cooperation appear to others on campus, as well as how the private sector views cooperation with higher education. The overriding perception of higher education by the private sector is that academic institutions are slow to respond to emerging needs. A participant argued that this can be countered by institutionalizing needed training: by giving corporations a sustainable source for new workforce, the university may grow a reputation as being useful, which would also attract new students. On a more positive note, one participant suggested that the perception remains that higher education is still considered a good source for unbiased information, and that many firms turn to institutions as a place to get the bigger picture. It is important, however, that institutions remain subjective in order to maintain this perception, which may mean turning down some resources that may carry too many restrictions. Several pitfalls were also discussed. These include the fact that the private sector pays more, that faculty can be recruited away for the academy. Many institutions are currently working to develop policy for faculty off-campus work to address this problem. Also discussed was the need to clearly demarcate where institutional and corporate interest intersect, and ensuring that institutions maintain their independence by building a wall between them and the money trying to affect academic direction. The session closed with a discussion of best practices in higher education–private
sector cooperation. One participant indicated that it is very import to
embark on a slow process of building linkages. It is impossible to go
out and simply ask for resource without first laying the groundwork through
networking and relationship-building. Another participant suggested institutions
should embrace the private sector as a partner, by building joint research
parks, and helping corporations engage social issues traditionally absent
from the boardroom. |
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ALO collaborates with USAID through Cooperative Agreement: HNE-A-00-97-00059-00 This publication was made possible through support provided by USAID. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID. © 2002-2006 Send questions to ALO. |
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