A Case for Utilizing Outreach Opportunities to Improve Faculty Performance

Most companies in manufacturing and service industries have identified professional development as a means for their staff to improve operational performance and to develop a competitive advantage. However, many companies approach development via coordinated hourly workforce training or tuition assistance for salaried staff, leaving professional continuing education as an ad hoc endeavor. A win-win opportunity exists for academic programs to fulfill these professional development needs while simultaneously obtaining feedback and direction from industry about the knowledge and skills expected of their graduates. This paper provides an overview of how a college-industry partnership born of the complementary goals of academia and industry can be realized through faculty outreach.