Fostering meaningful relationships: Managing academia and industry interactions in project-based learning

Academia-industry collaboration in product development and innovation fosters significant enhancements in project-based learning (PjBL). PjBL, recognised for integrating acquired knowledge into real-life projects, benefits from active industry involvement by providing academia with contemporary industry challenges, connecting to prevailing market trends and impactful course outputs. This symbiotic relationship bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, providing students with relevant industry exposure while granting industry access to innovative minds shaping its future. However, to harness the full potential of this synergy, efficient management of these relationships is crucial, involving complexities such as mutual benefits, intellectual property issues, time commitments, and role clarity. Based on interviews with 54 educators from 33 global institutions within the Design Factory Global Network (DFGN), this qualitative study explores four key activities of academia-industry relationship management: expectation management, ongoing communication, network building, and value-adding events. Effective expectation management clarifies mutual benefits early, while regular communication aligns academic and industry objectives. Building robust networks and hosting value-adding events strengthen these partnerships, contributing to sustained growth and innovation across educational and industry spheres. Through the key criteria revealed in these activities, the study provides insights into forming and maintaining effective industry relationships, enhancing project-based learning, and contributing to broader innovation progression.