How boundary spanners contribute to and create a collaborative culture for the HEI.
INTRO
Intersectoral mobility is at the core of knowledge transfer between the academia and industry. The aim with a Boundary spanner from the university placed at company, or the other way around, is to combine experiences from the industry with experiences from education and research.
ARGUMENT
Jenny Bäckstrand, Associate Professor in Operations and Supply Chain Management at School of Engineering at Jönköping University (JTH), had the opportunity to conduct an intersectoral mobility through a programme funded by the Swedish Knowledge Foundation. The programme allows an academic to work part-time in the industry and vice versa, hence offering academic merits for people active in the industry. In other words, an academic trades places with an industry professional.
Jenny spent three years working one day per week at Träcentrum, an Industrial Development Centre supporting SMEs in the wood and furniture sector. During her time as a boundary spanner, she actively supported Träcentrum’s business coaches and helped them navigate the JTH offerings to the industry, including research, student activities, events/networking opportunities etc. She also held courses for companies within strategic purchasing and resilient supply chains. Further, she was a part of Träcentrum’s projects and visited companies together with the business coaches. Throughout her mobility she actively worked to make for example research and student projects from JTH visible and accessible to the industry.
The intersectoral mobility resulted in many positive impacts:
For Jenny
- Knowledge of the industry
- Expanded network
- Understanding of challenges specific for SME manufacturers
- Research publications
- Competence development
- Time to reflect and to re-use knowledge from previous projects/teaching
For JTH
- Stronger relationship with the industry
- Increased number of student activities with industry
- A smaller gap between the academy and the industry
- Identified new research projects together with industry
For Träcentrum and the wood and furniture sector
- Access to students (for projects, theses etc.)
- New knowledge
- Easier access to JTH
- Visibility of the sector among academics and students
As a spin-off effect of the intersectoral mobility, a new research project, spanning over three years, was initiated. The project has attracted several guest professors who want to work with JTH simply because the opportunities of collaboration. The project also provided opportunities for introducing doctoral students and early-stage academics into a collaborative culture.
CONCLUSION
The intersectoral mobility has proven advantageous for the JTH brand. It has strengthened our position as a collaborative university. Not only do we build bridges between industry and academia, but we also attract academic talents that seek to be a part of our culture.