Academe-industry collaboration of enterprises under the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Iloilo (CCII) enterprises

Abstract

The study described the status of collaboration between the enterprises that are members of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Iloilo (CCII) and the academic institutions in the local setting as experienced by the business firms under CCII. The descriptive method was used to analyze the responses of 30 managers or owners of business firms who participated. A questionnaire-assisted interview was employed to gather pertinent data which were analyzed using frequency distribution and the mean with a supplement of qualitative analysis for the prospects for future collaboration. The CCII firms are moderately aware that collaborating with the academic sector benefited them by providing the firms with well-suited graduates; giving them the opportunity to share expertise; giving access to facilities; getting needed participation in research; and by providing information in scientific developments. For the firms, collaborating with the academe is important. Collaborating, for CCII members, among others, is done primarily for the reason that it is an investment to attract the best employees from the graduates. However, the possible forms of collaboration between the CCII firms and the academic institutions are rarely practiced and are mostly limited to accepting student practicum and sponsoring the activities of schools. The CCII firms did not participate in the curriculum design of colleges and universities but will get involved with it if given the chance. Prospects on the partnership of academe and industry promise more and better collaborations which inspire more entrepreneurs, breed new course offerings, improve regulatory issues in the business sector and awaken a better social responsibility through the partnerships. Conclusions were derived: The possibilities for better and more forms of collaborations between the firms and the academe are great possibilities although hindrances on these collaborations need to be addressed. Firms have good reasons for collaborating with the academe. There is an opportunity loss which involves the unrealized value of the possible synergy between the two sectors if they have more and better arrangements of partnership. The curricula of the colleges and universities are still less responsive to the needs of the business world which is supposed to be the reason why students are educated. With the prospects for more and better partnerships creating synergistic results, the region can possibly attain knowledge-based economic development