Blended system thinking approach to strengthen the education and training in university-industry research collaboration

Abstract

University-industry research collaboration (UIRC) is a major source for research and innovations and economic growth. Despite the extensive evidence on the importance of such collaboration in developed and developing countries, the literature related to strengthen such collaboration along with its innovation performance is still scarce. Scholars believed that the impact of education and training on researchers have a vigorous influence on research and innovations. Moreover, to enhance the competencies of education and training on researchers, it is mandatory to refurbish education and skills system in conjunction with technological infrastructure system along with their reinforcing factors i.e. knowledge sharing and research and development cooperation, respectively. In this paper, we evaluate the influence of education and skills and technological infrastructure system along with their corresponding reinforcing factors in the blended system thinking method to strengthen education and training. Evidence from UIRC in Malaysia provides empirical corroboration that the role of education and skills system and technological infrastructure system along with their reinforcing factors have a positive influence on education and training. Thus, the findings of this research suggest that intensifying the quality of education and skills system and technological infrastructure system with the reinforcing effect can enhance the effectiveness of education and training.