UNICA Rectors’ Seminar University-business collaboration

1. http://www.eurochambres.eu UNICA Rectors’ Seminar University-business collaboration

2. 45 National Chamber Organisations, and 1 Transnational Chamber Organisation OurNetwork +1,706 Chambers of Commerce THE NETWORK +19,860,565 Enterprises 120,000,000 Employees

3. Our members 45 National Chamber Organisations andOne Transnational Association

4. Mandatory Affiliation Voluntary Affiliation EU 27: 994 Chambers of Commerce Number of Chambers

5. Mandatory Affiliation Voluntary Affiliation NON EU: 712 Chambers of Commerce Number of Chambers

6. Our Business Community • 19.9 mln member companies • of which 99% are SMEs • 97% < 50 employees

7. Some figures/ Education & training • 2.7 million people trained per year, including 1.9 million young and 800 000 adults in life long learning courses • More than 1,000 training centres managed by European Chambers.
 • 17,000 teachers, professors, and trainers.

8. Some Figures/ Education & training • In nearly 95% of European Chambers, businesses are involved in determining the educational content provided.
 • In some countries, Chambers of commerce and Industry are the second most important provider of training after the public sector.


9. Chambers’ involvement in academia-business cooperation 2 best practice examples... • Austrian ‘Fachhochschulen’ ( WIFI- WKÖ)  demand and acceptance analyses are a prerequisite for accreditation of the programmes

10. Austrian ‘Fachhochschulen’( WIFI-WKÖ) • business representatives as “consultants” on content and pedagogical orientation of the programmes • business representatives in the board and councils of the “Fachhochschule” • Students write their final thesis often with the company, mandatory placements

11. Grandes Ecoles ( Paris chamber of Commerce) • CEOs contribute to the design and to the follow-up of the strategy of the 12 educational institutions • Each one of them is chaired by a CEO and managed by a board composed of CEOs. • Advice on content and pedagogical orientation of the programmes • 89% of students are hired within 6 months after graduation.

12. What do companies expect from a collaboration with Universities? • Keep up with research developments • Access to special knowledge • Building networks • Meet potential future employees • Reputation for company to cooperate with • University (HE- institution) • Possibility to advice on curricula better • qualified personnel

13. Challenges • Companies ‘think’ in competences, Universities in qualifications or diplomas • Different planning horizons ( short term versus long term, universities not always able to respond) • Different expectations, lack of trust

14. Challenges • Universities too much focused on knowledge and not on skills ( consequence: industry develops own supply of training as response to lacking skills) • Legal status of universities/ ( Autonomy in Administration/ Finances)

15. Recommendations • Accurate dialogue between universities and business guarantees employability of graduates. • Opening governance structure of universities to the world of business ( it’s about synergies not about managing universities like enterprises) • Set up platforms/ networks with SMEs • Encourage initiatives for start-up business

16. Recommendations • Joint exploration of curriculum requirement • Guidance and counselling together with companies • Guest lecturing from business side • Keep in touch with alumnis for identifying skills needs • Human resource policy is key- it’s all about people

17. Conclusions • Strategic alliance between universities and business should be in the interest of...students! • Human Resource management is key: appointed persons at university level who are in charge of university-business cooperation

18. Thank you for your attention! • Contact us: EUROCHAMBRES Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry Avenue des Arts 19 A/D 1000 Brussels-Belgium http://www.eurochambres.eu Mail: Margarete Rudzki rudzki@eurochambres.eu