Universities need business link | |
http://www.sina.com.cn 2004/07/26 11:38 Shanghai Daily | |
It is high time to change China's education model and strengthen interaction between universities and enterprises. This could turn research achievements into real profit. So far research achievements have often been confined to laboratories or put on the shelf. A big gap exists between research and market information. Professors either disdain dealing with the market or are no good at dealing with it. Consequently they often isolate themselves from market collaboration. On the other hand, enterprises don't take university research achievements seriously because they believe the results are too abstract. To solve this problem, firstly, universities should take a new approach and cooperate with enterprises in a reciprocal way. Take shanghai Jiao Tong University for example. The university has 13,000 graduate students. If they, plus their advisers, all did research in an ivory tower, even finding research topics would be a problem. Such a closed education model may partially account for academic plagiarism. Shanghai jiao Tong University is now implementing "Project Eagle," in which graduate students are sent to middle or large-scale state-owned enterprises like Baosteel. Enterprises support the students' study and research programs financially and hire excellent students directly upon graduation. Secondly, universities must direct scientific research toward market-oriented goals. There is just no point selling research results if they are not what enterprises need. Therefore, besides those original basic researches, universities must start working on technology that enterprises need but are unable to have. For example, if Baosteel is to move on to be the world's No. 6 or No. 5 steel manufacturer or China the world's biggest shipbuilding country, domestic enterprises will definitely encounter a technology embargo from foreign enterprises or countries. Thus an opportunity opens for universities. Last but not least, universities should play an important role in turning technology into a productive force. At present, most domestic enterprises are not on the cutting edge of technology innovation. For some advanced technology, universities can establish high-tech companies on their own. For comprehensive technology, engineering and technology centers or laboratories will be a good channel between universities and enterprises. In some mature areas, companies funded by the intangible assets of universities and social capital will be a good choice. Universities should also serve as a bridge which introduces technology from foreign enterprises to domestic companies.
| |
【英语学习论坛】【评论】【大 中 小】【打印】【关闭】 |