Assessing the Interplay of University, Industry, and Government

Abstract

In many developing nations, the connections between Education, Business, and Government (EBG) tend to be less robust. This study undertakes a comprehensive exploration of the complex dynamics and interdependent relationships among universities, industries, and government bodies. It specifically focuses on their collaborative interactions to bridge the existing knowledge gap regarding the connections between Pakistani higher education institutions, businesses, and the government. The primary objective is to gain insights into the current status of research and development (R&D) collaborations, information sharing, and resource pooling among academia, businesses, and government agencies. Quantitative research methods were employed in this investigation. The study involved surveying 827 university professors across disciplines such as social sciences, management sciences, and natural sciences. A self-developed questionnaire demonstrated strong internal consistency, reflected in Cronbach's Alpha values of 0.955 for the EBL scale and 0.931 for the EGL scale. Data analysis was conducted using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to derive meaningful conclusions. The survey findings indicate a moderate level of cooperation between universities, corporations, and governmental bodies in the domain of R&D. Collaboration levels between universities and industries varied among different academic institutions, whereas the collaboration between universities and governments appeared more consistent across the board. To enhance engagement in applied R&D with direct industry relevance, one proposed approach suggests evaluating and categorizing students based on their potential for such endeavors. Additionally, there's a suggestion for professors to encourage students to pursue research topics aligned with business interests and craft proposals aimed at attracting corporate sponsorship.