Some Criteria for Achieving Effective Industrial/University Co-Operation at Postgraduate Level for Training Manufacturing Engineers

Universities are coming under increasing pressure to ensure that their courses are relevant to the real needs of society. Although, much of the criticism relating to ‘Ivory Tower’ situations is ill founded, it cannot he denied that within Universities there is a continuing debate concerning the best form of education for future Professional Engineers. This paper relates to the training of Postgraduate Industrial, Engineers and it is demonstrated that collaborative ventures between Industry and the Universities are an excellent development for all the parties concerned. a number of case studies, relating to the authors' direct experience, are described, together with an acknowledgement of the pioneering efforts within this area of Professor F. Koenigsberger, Mr. G. A. B. Edwards and Professor R. H. Thornley. Finally a list of ten factors, which have a major bearing on the success of co-operative ventures, is detailed.