Universities And Businesses Should Work Together
Research from the CBI Higher Education Task Force says that businesses need to work more closely with universities, reports smallbusiness.co.uk.
The task force suggests businesses sponsor students who are studying courses such as science and technology. They also suggest businesses provide more opportunities for internships and provide financial support to new graduates.
The director-general of the CBI says that “businesses should engage more with universities, both financially and intellectually.” He says they should help in the design of courses and even pay for courses which would be of benefit to the current and future workforce.
Universities are being asked to make cuts by the government which means they will have to look for other sources of income and help with financing courses. Smallbusiness.co.uk also reports that while the number of undergraduates has increased since 1997 by 35%, the number of students studying science courses has dropped by 20% since 1999.
It’s important that businesses and universities discuss what skills they are looking for within the workforce and then work together to develop courses which satisfy that skill shortage.