FEEDBACK BETWEEN UNIVERSITIES AND COMPANIES

There is no doubt that University is a constant source of knowledge that ultimately has a direct impact on companies based in a country. However, it cannot forget the fact that companies, through its collaborative teaching work with universities also play a fundamental role in the training of professionals, which come back to such companies, become thus closing a cycle of generation and application knowledge. To meet these challenges, specific policies are needed to encourage and facilitate closer understanding and joint working between universities and companies.

Nowadays, most universities have agreements with different companies in order to train students for their future career. In the opposite direction, companies have a direct connection with universities to transfer the research results in order to improve their productivity and competitiveness. The main objective of the present study is to know the current situation of the interconnection University-Company-University, since this fact is vital to improve the performance and growth of business network. So, the study is focused in Granada where the business network needs of a continuous and constant growth to match the rest of its neighboring communities.

From Company to University, the collaboration is mainly focused in “Practices in Companies”. This program let the students obtain a professional experience in a company as well as practical training where they apply the knowledge acquired. Companies interested in hosting trainees must establish a collaboration agreement with the University through which normalizes and regulates the student-company relationship. The Center for Employment Promotion and Training (CPEP) under Vicerrectorate of Students of the University of Granada is the organism responsible for managing these connections. The offered programs include national and international practices for pre-graduate or post-graduate students. The statistics published by this University show that the operating results are highly satisfactory, fact that is supported by obtaining quality certification UNE EN ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.

From University to Company, the Research Results Transfer Office (OTRI) under Vicerrectorate of Scientific Policy and Research is the responsible to improve the social and economical development through the knowledge transfer to the companies. For this purpose, OTRI provide technical support and advice in the negotiation, processing and management of research contracts or technical assistance, and helps in the preparation of proposals to different calls for research projects in collaboration with companies. Moreover, OTRI offers to companies specialized databases in various fields, support for projects that contain a high content of I+D+i, advising on funding sources for innovation and technology transfer available, while facilitating their exchange of staff with university groups. As for CPEP, results from OTRI are also supported by the quality certification UNE EN ISO 9001:2008.

Finally, in an intermediate point between CPEP and OTRI, the General Foundation University of Granada-Company (GFUGR-C) is found, a private foundation which aims to promote relations between the university and the socioeconomic environment, using both communications channels: teaching from the companies and research transferring from the university. As a quality guarantee, GFUGR-C has UNE EN ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.