University Enterprise Collaboration During a Pandemic Outbreak

Kinkini Hemachandra, Dilanthi Amaratunga, Richard Haigh

Research output: Contribution to conference typesAbstractpeer-review

Abstract

Introduction and Objectives: University-enterprise collaborations play a major role in many fields, including disaster management. The importance was further highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic, during which university-enterprise collaborations have ramped up the race to fight the disease. Even though Asia is the highest affected region from hazards across the world, the level of university-enterprise collaborations for disaster resilience is not even across the countries in the region. Therefore, a study was proposed by some higher education institutions in Asia with financial support from the European Union to strengthen university-enterprise collaboration for strengthening disaster resilience in the region. At the initial stage of the study, a literature review was conducted to develop a relational framework that will guide future university-enterprise collaboration for a resilient society.

Method: The literature review was conducted using peer-reviewed academic papers. The academic papers were selected according to their relevance and the period. The data was thematically analysed to highlight the importance of university-enterprise collaborations for disaster resilience, specifically during the pandemic. In addition, data were analysed to identify the factors affecting university-enterprise collaborations, identify existing collaborative frameworks, and emphasise the importance of a relational framework for strengthening university-enterprise collaborations.
Results: The study presents the existing Triple Helix model, which demonstrates governments, universities and enterprises as key stakeholders of university-enterprise collaborations. In addition, the study identified communities and technical agencies as additional stakeholders for such collaborations. Twenty-four challenges were identified from the literature review and categorised under four thematic areas of structural, material, relational and cultural. Similarly, more than 16 enablers were identified and categorised under the above thematic areas.

Conclusions and recommendations: The study concluded the importance of a relational framework over existing frameworks for strengthening university-enterprise collaborations. The study identified the strategies based on the literature review and presented them under three different layers of micro, meso and macro-levels. The value-addition of the study is to provide an innovative relational framework with three layers and additional stakeholders who will contribute to strengthening university-enterprise collaborations.
Original languageEnglish
Pages170-171
Number of pages2
Publication statusPublished - 16 Mar 2022
EventInternational Research and Innovation Symposium on Dengue amidst the Pandemic - Colombo, Sri Lanka
Duration: 16 Mar 202217 Mar 2022

Conference

ConferenceInternational Research and Innovation Symposium on Dengue amidst the Pandemic
Country/TerritorySri Lanka
CityColombo
Period16/03/2217/03/22

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