Innovation or employability: University – Industry partnership for sustainable economic development
In partnership with the Ministry of Education and Training, Vietnam and UK Higher Education International Unit
Date: 16 and 17 June 2016
Venue: Novotel hotel, 167 Hai Ba Trung, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Summary
The British Council education policy dialogue brings together key policy-makers and influencers to reflect on, and debate the challenges and opportunities facing international higher education domestically, regionally and globally. In June 2016, the British Council Vietnam was working with the Ministry of Education and Training and UK Higher Education International Unit to organise a forum to debate how to promote bolder and more effective university industry partnerships able to respond to the growth of the knowledge economy.
This forum facilitated dialogue between government organisations, universities and industry with contributions and perspectives from a network of leading thinkers. Participants considered the role, responsibility and expectation of higher education institutions in creating innovative industry solutions and an employable workforce.
As major producers of research and innovation universities are significant contributors to economic growth. As governments seek to maximise this, universities are under pressure to increase both research output and its relevance to business. How are countries’ research and innovation strategies addressing this? How are university-industry links developed? Can international networks contribute?
Universities are critical players in developing highly skilled and talented workforces – from graduates to young researchers. How are they doing this in different countries? What constitutes an employable graduate? How universal are the knowledge, skills and attributes needed – and how do university programmes, curricula and student experience develop these?
At this event senior representatives from the UK, Vietnam and across the region shared their practical experience of working to meet these challenges and seek to address the above questions.