BUILD-IT partnerships sustainability review

BUILD-IT’s goal is to leverage industry-university partnerships that link technology and engineering universities to the needs and capabilities of industry partners (IPs), to produce graduates who can become thenext generation of leaders of inclusive, technology-based growth. This Sustainability Review assesses the sustainability of BUILD-IT’s partnerships and provides recommendations to enhance the gains that BUILD-IT has made in establishing university-industry partnerships (UIPs). Focusing heavily on qualitative methods, including key informant interviews (KIIs), focus group discussion (FGDs), and Reflection Sessions with key university and industry stakeholders, the review identified key valuable aspects such as industry advisory boards (IABs), industry-supported project-based learning opportunities for students, focusing especially on females, and funding for enhanced laboratory and research facilities. Less valuable aspects, such as English for Engineering Concepts (EEC), focusing more on Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) than ASEAN University Network–Quality Assurance (AUN-QA) accreditation, and facilitating training with only ASU staff (rather than local experts more familiar with the Vietnam context), may be less sustainable. These resources may be redirected to developing more innovative project-based learning (PBL) and reaching more student beneficiaries with PBL opportunities. BUILD-IT has made substantial contributions to participating universities’ progress in achieving accreditation and autonomous function; however, universities need to exercise more control over the UIPs directly and to apply the concepts learned in the capacity building training to establish and manage their own UIPs going forward