2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

This article explores the collaboration between universities and industries in the field of engineering education, with a focus on a case study conducted at Beihang University in China.The study examines the motivations and interaction channels of university-industry educational collaboration, highlighting the impact of such collaboration on engineering education. The findings indicate that educational involvement in university-industry collaboration can contribute to innovation and knowledge creation, and enhance the effectiveness of long-term interactions between academia and industry.

Drawing on insights from field research and semi-structured interviews from university (n=8) and industry (n=5), combining with 4 focus groups with both sides, the findings reveal that both universities and industries have distinct motivations for engaging in educational collaboration. The motivations for universities and industries to engage in university-industry educational collaboration include joint research motivation, human capital flow motivation, policy resonance motivation, human capital accumulation motivation, organization learning and development motivation, and educational passion and social responsibility motivation. These motivations are identified from both the organizational and individual perspectives of universities and industries.

In terms of interaction channels, a synergistic approach called "STEP" (project threads driven by joint mentor groups) has been identified as a key interaction channel at Beihang University. This approach involves joint supervision, technology trends, enterprises, and research projects to synergize collaborative efforts for educational purposes.

The educational involvement in university-industry collaboration contributes to innovation and knowledge creation in engineering education by integrating students as knowledge creators and innovators in the industrial implementation and innovation process. This approach not only enhances educational collaboration but also contributes to the innovation of university-industry relations.