Industry partnerships are vital for higher education institutions to enhance their relevance, reputation, and impact. However, communicating the benefits of these collaborations to various stakeholders can be challenging. In this article, we will explore some effective ways to convey the value of industry partnerships in higher education, such as:
One of the first steps to communicate industry partnership benefits is to align them with the strategic goals of your institution. This will help you to identify the key messages, outcomes, and indicators that demonstrate how the partnership supports your vision, mission, and values. For example, you can show how the partnership contributes to your academic excellence, student success, research innovation, community engagement, or social responsibility.
Estes objetivos já est?o alinhados. A universidade é o ber?o da indústria, sobretudo a indústria de alta tecnologia, t?o dependente de ciência avan?ada fundamental. O que realmente falta, ao menos no Brasil, é interlocu??o profissional e séria. A indústria n?o pode ter a impress?o de que o cientista só quer matar uma curiosidade com o dinheiro do investidor em R&D, mas tem que compreender que a atividade fim da universidade é a busca pelo conhecimento. O cientista deve demonstrar ser capaz de identificar um problema real e propor solu??es factíveis e escalonáveis.
Another way to communicate industry partnership benefits is to use storytelling techniques to showcase the human and emotional aspects of the collaboration. This will help you to capture the attention, interest, and empathy of your audience, as well as to highlight the challenges, solutions, and impacts of the partnership. For example, you can share stories of how the partnership has improved the learning experience, career prospects, or personal growth of your students, faculty, or alumni.
Desde que o storytelling n?o comprometa a objetividade da apresenta??o de metas e resultados quantificáveis. Deve-se também tomar cuidado com a técnica de storytelling para n?o criar uma comunica??o que ofenda a inteligência dos interlocutores na indústria.
Storytelling is so powerful and can create extremely catchy headlines to sell your services with, especially in short-form advertising on social media. Be careful that what your organisation is promising can be achieved by the many and not just a few success stories - this will ensure your audience/client base does not become disillusioned
A third way to communicate industry partnership benefits is to leverage multiple channels to reach and engage your diverse stakeholders. This will help you to tailor your communication strategy to suit the preferences, needs, and expectations of your audience, as well as to increase your visibility, reach, and influence. For example, you can use online platforms, such as websites, social media, blogs, podcasts, or newsletters, to share your partnership news, events, achievements, or testimonials. You can also use offline platforms, such as brochures, flyers, posters, banners, or newsletters, to promote your partnership activities, opportunities, or outcomes.
Leveraging multiple channels, especially digital storytelling, significantly boosts engagement with industry partnership benefits. In my experience, short, engaging videos showcasing student and faculty projects with industry partners have a profound impact. For instance, mini-documentaries on student-led innovations or live Q&A sessions on social media with industry experts can make the collaboration benefits tangible and relatable, enhancing the community's understanding and appreciation of these partnerships.
Em uma era na qual temos infindáveis meios de comunica??o, é fácil se perder e fazer com que a comunica??o seja ineficiente e, por vezes, inútil. Escolher um bom canal de comunica??o, com efetividade, é vital para um relacionamento com a indústria. Mas nada substitui um network sólido, construído “tête-à-tête”.
A fourth way to communicate industry partnership benefits is to involve your partners in your communication efforts. This will help you to build trust, rapport, and credibility with your audience, as well as to showcase the mutual and reciprocal value of the partnership. For example, you can invite your partners to co-create, co-deliver, or co-evaluate your communication materials, such as case studies, reports, presentations, or videos. You can also encourage your partners to share their perspectives, experiences, or feedback on your partnership through their own channels, such as websites, social media, blogs, or newsletters.
Enhancing communication on industry partnerships in higher ed, a personal touch is key. From my experience, integrating real student and faculty testimonials about how these partnerships have impacted their education and careers can be powerful. It personalizes the benefits, making the abstract tangible. For instance, a video testimonial from a student who interned at a partner company, highlighting their growth and job offer post-graduation, resonates well. This approach not only showcases success stories but also humanizes the partnership, making it more relatable and impactful.
A fifth way to communicate industry partnership benefits is to seek feedback and improvement on your communication strategy. This will help you to monitor, measure, and improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and relevance of your communication efforts, as well as to identify the gaps, challenges, or opportunities for enhancement. For example, you can use surveys, interviews, focus groups, or analytics to collect and analyze data on your communication performance, such as reach, engagement, satisfaction, or impact. You can also use feedback loops, reviews, or consultations to solicit and implement suggestions, recommendations, or best practices from your stakeholders, such as students, faculty, staff, partners, or community members.
To further enhance industry partnership benefits communication, integrating experiential learning opportunities can be transformative. Imagine incorporating internships where students apply classroom knowledge to real-world projects. This not only showcases the tangible benefits of partnerships but also fosters student engagement and skill development. For instance, my alma mater's partnership with a tech firm offered internships, leading to job offers for many graduates, illustrating the practical advantages of such collaborations.