A comparative study of university-industry educational collaboration in engineering and business MSc theses
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22436852 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Lars Bengtsson (0000-0002-9494-9625, Lund University, corresponding author), Carl-Johan Asplund (Lund University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 5 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Publication date | 2026-05-04 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Discover Education (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2731-5525 • E-ISSN: 2731-5525 |
| Publisher | Springer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1007/s44217-026-01559-x |
| OpenAlex | W7160296322 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 29 |
This study examines the incidence and knowledge-transfer patterns of university–industry educational collaboration through MSc theses in engineering and business faculties at a major Swedish university. Using a mixed-methods design combining a census of 945 theses, a survey of 150 collaborating firms, and interviews with 14 study directors, the results show a significantly higher collaboration rate in engineering (64%) than in business (6%). Engineering collaborations primarily support recruitment and early-stage innovation screening, whereas business collaborations are mainly relational. The findings highlight how institutional norms and research orientation shape educational collaboration and its socio-economic impact. Implications for universities and their leadership to increase the incidence of collaborative MSc theses with industry are discussed.
Census · Engineering education · Higher education · Postgraduate research · Survey research · Doctoral Education Challenges and Solutions · E-Learning and Knowledge Management · University-Industry-Government Innovation Models
| Highly cited | No |
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