INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP FOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT Niaz Latif Department of Industrial Technology

Industrial partnership Criteria for identifying key industry partners and the role and responsibilities of such partners Roles and responsibilities of active industrial advisory boards for program improvement, Integration of employer’s input for continuous improvement of program Characteristics of student and faculty internship in industry and integration of such internship program in the curriculum.

objectives effective participation by an industrial advisory board continuous improvement through employers’ input establishment of key industry partners faculty and student development through internships in industry.

MOTIVATION FOR CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM To sustain preeminence of the program To create an academic environment that is conducive to student learning To provide skills, values, and attitudes to students to enable them to be good employees and good citizens

Role of industrial advisory board Advise on issues related to the learning, discovery, and engagement. Initiate and develop mutually beneficial partnerships between the department and business, industry, and government. Develop resources in the form of scholarships, endowments, and gifts-in-kind for student Provide opportunities for internships and co-op positions and employment opportunities for our graduates. Contribute in some financial manner to the department. This can be in a variety of capacities, e.g., grants, scholarships, work projects, etc.

Employer input integration To evaluate: –Students mastery of competencies in the field To identify –Industry needs and required skill sets of graduates –Areas of improvement To introduce –New and emerging topics

Key industry partners Assist with curriculum improvement through their representative Provide internships for our students and faculty Provide funded research projects for our faculty and graduate students Donate gifts-in-kind for laboratories Donate cash gifts for student and faculty development, and for student scholarships

Faculty/student internships in industry identify an industry that is willing to provide an internship opportunity to the faculty member allocate resources to replace the regular faculty member with an adjunct faculty member for one semester of teaching Defined projects that results in cost saving Student internship is integrated in the curriculum, however it is not a requirement

Some examples Three new laboratories (Technology Education Biometrics; Supply Chain Management) Complimentary training of faculty and students to implement new software for the Industrial Distribution program A faculty internship for one semester (industry cost savings of $300,000) Several funded graduate student projects Continuous upgrading of existing laboratories Participation of guest lecturers Endowment for students scholarships

Summary Accountability of academic administrators Active industrial advisory board Engaged industry partners and long term partnerships Regular input from employers on graduates’ competencies Continue to pursue real life experiences through industry internship