University-Industry collaboration: A Digital Collaborative Platform for Enhancing Communication Between Students and Companies

Supervisors: Narek Andreasyan, Edy Portmann

Contact person: Narek Andreasyan

Student: Imane Essaghir

Project status: Finished

Year: 2024

Project Abstract

In this thesis, we have investigated University-Industry Collaboration (UIC), focusing on its interactions and various forms. Our goal was to examine potential barriers that might impede the engagement between universities and companies in research project partnerships. To achieve this, we conducted a literature review to identify key factors that facilitate successful collaboration, as well as to uncover best practices documented in the literature. These insights are intended to benefit researchers, practitioners, and students, seeking guidance on effective collaborative work methods and achieving positive outcomes. We have subsequently organized these identified best practices into a more structured framework, which is presented as a UIC model. After analyzing the factors on which University-Industry collaboration relies, a comprehensive framework was elaborated, encompassing all the necessary components and considerations for effective collaboration between universities and companies. This framework contributes to the body of knowledge regarding how to effectively manage collaborations. One of the key factors for successful collaboration is communication. Numerous papers have emphasized the importance of communication channels among stakeholders, a component that many collaborations lack. Thus, we developed a digital collaborative platform for our case study involving the collaboration between the Human-IST institute of the University of Fribourg and the Swiss-Post company. This platform was created to connect students, researchers, and practitioners, while enhancing communication to foster collaboration.

Keywords: University-Industry Collaboration (UIC), Best Practices, Theoretical Framework, Collaborative Platform

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