BUSINESS SCHOOL-INDUSTRY COLLABORATION: WHAT MOTIVATES THEM?

Abstract

Business schools and industry collaboration helps the business schools to produce relevant research, resolve industrial issues, and enhance knowledge and skills of students of management education programmes. However, questions have been raised regarding weak ties of business schools with the industry, which then questions about the quality of management graduates and research outcomes. Many theorists have thoroughly studied university-industry collaboration for over two decades. Similar theoretical studies in the context of business schools need to be explored. Previous studies on business school and industry collaboration are mainly conducted in Western and developed nations, and the implications are irrelevant to Asian business schools. This study uses qualitative interviews to explore the motivations for collaborations. Three business schools in Malaysia are selected, and research participants include deans, faculty members, administrators, and industry partners of the selected business schools. Findings highlight four primary motivations of the schools to foster collaborations, namely relevance, sustainability, networking, and exposing students of management education. The industry partners are mainly interested in grant projects, management education for their employees, and they show little intention to support the schools in enhancing the relevance. The weak ties with industry are instigated by the business schools. Thus, the study provides recommendations for business school leaders, policymakers, and faculty members.