The national employer association, Ai Group, has today released a position paper that argues the case for strengthening new relationships between industry and universities in which learning is immersed in work environments.
The Paper prepared by the Ai Group Centre for Education and Training – Connecting to maximise knowledge and skills: Companies and universities working together – draws a connection between learning and the constantly changing industry strategies and practices, and technical and generic skill needs.
Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, said: "There are many high-quality pockets of innovative work-integrated learning among our members where formal education and training is augmented in the workplace over time.
"However, Australian university links to industry are under-developed by international standards. Collectively we must significantly upscale learning and work interactions between companies, universities and students during a student's learning journey.
"Our position paper explains why closer connections between industry and universities are so crucial to the workforce.
"It describes the breadth of work-integrated learning forms – from micro-placements through to degree apprenticeships.
"It explores how companies can work more closely with universities.
"It demonstrates how some companies are experiencing, and benefitting from, close connections with universities.
"Finally, the paper discusses what still needs to be done to embed and evolve the practice of work integrated learning.
"The action that is necessary to achieve this involves all parties: government resourcing and funding support; joint responsibilities between government, industry and universities; and further actions by universities.
"Ai Group sees the paper as an agitator for change around industry-university connections in Australia.
"Our Centre for Education and Training is working to influence key areas for action recommended in the paper. We welcome approaches to the Centre from like-minded companies, agencies, governments and individuals across the skills ecosystem," Mr Willox said.
Link to full report: Connecting to maximise knowledge and skills Companies and universities working together
