Some critics throw shade on the concept of university-business partnerships, arguing that it’s not the role of business to meddle in a university’s curriculum, and raising questions about academic independence.
Rideout examines that controversy in the conclusion of her book, and she feels sentiment is swaying more in favor of these partnerships due to the current economic climate.
“Educational institutions have these dueling priorities,” she admits. “You want to prepare young people to have a possibility in the job market. But you want to make sure no one is ever impinging on your freedom to come up with any conclusion and do empirical research that has not been compromised by some political agenda.”
What may be tipping the debate in favor of partnerships, applied research and practical education is the current state of the world economy, which is moving faster than ever. The U.S. could be left in the dust if it doesn’t respond and adapt.
“We’ve lost our blue-collar manufacturing,” she says. “What do we have left? We have innovation, and we have technology. We have inventions. And if we lose that, what do we have?”
Maria Wood is a journalist and writer for over 20 years, Maria Wood has reported on such diverse topics as the nursing profession in the U.S., commercial real estate and local politics in her home state of New Jersey. Follow her on Twitter @mariawood722. A complete version of this excerpted article can be found on SkilledUp’s B2B blog.
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