Abstract:

The convergence of technological innovations that have given rise to Industry 4.0 are also having profound effects on higher education, not least because job profiles and the skillsets required at the workplace are changing more rapidly than the capacity of higher education institutions (HEIs) to respond and adapt to the constant transformations. In this context, there is a pressing need to formulate and implement strategies to strengthen the collaboration between academia and industry to deliver the kind of educational programmes that will meet workforce needs and propel economies to higher value-added production activities in line with global trends. Yet, while the need to bridge the collaboration gap between both entities has been acknowledged, few academic studies have addressed university-industry collaboration for the creation and delivery of relevant educational programmes to enterprise. To fill that gap, this study analyses the current collaboration strategies implemented by HEIs and the aerospace industry in Mexico for the purpose of training aerospace engineers.

The objectives are:
(1) to identify the extent to which these strategies contribute to meeting the human capital needs of the sector and
(2) to propose actions for improvement of outcomes in the context of Industry 4.0.

The research methodology consisted of in-depth interviews with representatives of HEIs and aerospace companies. The study describes the current situation and explains the factors that either inhibit or facilitate university-industry collaboration in the design, development, delivery and evaluation of educational programmes aimed at industry. Further, additional advantages of collaboration beyond the initial objectives of both entities were identified. Finally, the study proposes a collaboration framework and specific strategies to optimize outcomes. By implementing them, HEIs and industry can improve the management of their collaborative relationships in the training function.

Keywords:

Upskilling, reskilling, education management, workforce learning, professional education, aerospace.