The HERE study visit to Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK), Finland, took place on 3-4 September, 2024. It highlighted the institution's approach to developing, organizing, and nurturing partnerships between academia and industry. Participants acquired a thorough understanding of how the university employs various forms of industry collaboration to address distinct objectives: collaborative models for curriculum development, work-integrated learning , along with initiatives like learning labs and applied research centers.
Objectives of the study visit
To receive an overview regarding strategic university-industry collaboration at TAMK, contextualized in its environment.
To observe practical examples of university-industry collaboration for teaching and learning and for research and innovation.
To explore how Higher Education institutions (HEIs) can contribute to local employability and sustainability goals and develop long-term partnerships to achieve these objectives.
To identify strategies and best practices for implementing similar collaborative models in the contexts of HERE countries.
Attendance
The study visit was attended by 43 participants, consisting of 28 HEREs from 16 countries. Additionally, there were SPHERE team members and local speakers, representing not only TAMK, but also the city of Tampere. The HERE members had different profiles, including rectors, vice-rectors, ministry representatives, heads of Quality Assurance departments and International Relations units, etc.
Conclusions
The HERE study visit “Enhancing University-Industry Collaboration for current and future employment, innovation, and Sustainable Ecosystems” hosted by the Tampere University of Applied Sciences offered participants practical knowledge and novel perspectives on cooperation with industry and municipalities. The study visit involved presentations of the university vision and its role in the city, ongoing related projects and collaborations, laboratory visits, meetings with City of Tampere representatives, and discussions with TAMK staff and students. The feedback from HEREs highlights a high level of relevance for individuals, institutions, and, in many cases, national higher education systems. While some differences were noted due to local regulatory and structural barriers that Finnish universities enjoy, the visit was largely considered meaningful and inspiring.
University-industry collaboration is heavily depending on specific economic and political environment and Finnish experience could not be directly copy-pasted in most of the HERE countries: level of industry development, readiness of business partners to cooperate, degree of university autonomy, availability of financial resources, possible legal restrictions – all these factors may strongly affect collaboration between universities and industry. But at the same time TAMK study visit provided HEREs with valuable models of cooperation, which could be adapted and used in other environments too.
Key HERE takeaways
Importance of structured collaboration: The event reaffirmed that partnerships between universities and industry are key for aligning educational programs with labor market needs. HERE members stressed the role of building trust, supportive regulations, and clear frameworks to facilitate sustainable collaboration.
Practical learning environments: Visits to Living Labs and examples of TAMK’s applied research projects demonstrated the value of integrating real-world industry challenges into academic settings. These examples underlined how hands-on learning environments improve students' employability and strengthen links with industry. Other methodologies included programs for service support to industry, industry-oriented summer schools and continuous professional development
Role of Alumni Networks: Alumni engagement was repeatedly mentioned as a powerful mechanism to bridge gaps between universities and the labor market, providing opportunities for partnerships and feedback on curricula.
Shared benefits and clear agreements: Participants emphasized that successful collaboration requires transparent agreements on goals, responsibilities, and benefit-sharing mechanisms between institutions and industry.
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