Most of the top tech companies hire talent from the top engineering colleges in the country. The big advantage is that this talent is raw and can be easily molded into the organization culture and technical needs as per requirement.
Over the years, the function of University Marketing has transformed into University Relations. This aims at harnessing the latent potential of campuses, with professors who are subject-matter experts and students who are eager to work on industry relevant problem statements.
In this article, I would like to share 5 things that go a long way in strengthening the industry academia collaboration.
1. Liaising through the campus ambassadors: For any relation to flourish, we need that one person who has vested interests in the success of both the institutions. This campus ambassador, typically a senior leader & also an alumnus from the target college, serves as the key connect between the industry and the academia and frontends the engagement. The students at the college too are delighted to see their super senior assuming a high office within the company.
2. Kindling the passion for Engineering & making the students industry ready: Very often we ‘complain’ that the students are ill prepared to face the challenges presented by the industry. By participating in the Board of Studies, we have a chance to influence what gets taught as part of the curriculum. Through a Faculty Development Program, the industry can equip the faculty with industry relevant examples and use cases. To catch them young, branding the engineering profession in middle school and enabling student visits to the company premises is required.
3. Virtual engagement: While the pandemic took away the luxury of face to face interactions with the student community, the rapid advances in digitalization have ensured a virtual engagement.
Tech Talks, virtual marketplaces, hackathons have become quite common. The entire recruitment process too is virtual with proctored written tests and video-based interviews.
4. Co-creating solutions for the future: Most of the professors on the campus are doctorates & are subject matter experts. Their expertise can be used to solve the industry relevant problem statements thereby paving the path for co-creation.
5. Giving back to society, together: There are numerous problems faced by society which can be addressed from technological solutions crafted together by the academia and the industry. This way the industry is able to fulfil its corporate social responsibility and also the students are able to work for a greater cause.
There is immense potential to be harnessed if the campus and corporate come together and engage in a more structured way.
Author: Mohan Bellur, General Manager HR, and Head - Learning & Development & University Relations