Page 34 - EdSource Issue No02

34 Education & Skills Development

training pursuits; Industry-Academia agencies, and other critical actors defined and assigned interpretation
leakages are likely to overpower in development. of the traditional conservative
the linkages unless appropriate industry. The policy’s main aim is to
actions are taken. If there are Industry’s role in closing the leaking show the current industry trends to
potent linkages, organizations bridge between industry and allow training institutions to align
could compete for fresh graduates academia their curriculum with the identified
to obtain new knowledge and trends and emerging opportunities.
innovativeness. Covid-19 has One of the top solutions that have Therefore, a poorly defined policy
worsened the situation. been discussed for a while now is would limit its effectiveness. For
the industry’s role in improving instance, there are emerging
Every demographic has had its education outcomes and increasing occupations in recent times such as
own share of Covid-19 pandemic the transition rate of young people gig work, sports, digital economy,
effects. However, among all the from education and training to creative and blue economy and
demographics, the youth have been work. Industries perform this role social development. Consequently,
vastly affected despite their low by establishing an effective Industry- the policies and practice need to be
infection rates. For instance, the Academia linkage (IAL), showing clearly defined to reveal how such
lockdown measures have led to the the current industry trends that emerging trends can be addressed
rescheduling of their training and training institutions should follow. when creating the academia-
education, job losses, and mental Nonetheless, this function has industry linkage.
health and emotional challenges due a lot of complexities that have
to the health and social-economic made it difficult to implement. The Interpretation of IAL becomes a
shocks resulting from the pandemic. complexities range from definition, challenge when it’s taken as a linear
Reimagining solutions that can interpretation, and implementation process where young people start

reduce this impact is a top priority . with education and skills and then
for governments, policymakers, link to industry for work exposure.
private sector, education and Definition of IAL becomes a There is a symbiotic relationship
training institutions, development challenge when it is narrowly between industry and academia.

EdSource Quarterly | Oct-Dec l 2021