How can effective university-industry partnerships be developed?

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to present the concept of a "university learning laboratory" as an example of providing experiential learning opportunities as part of a vocational degree programme. It presents a model of how to extend industry participation in degree programmes beyond internships and work placements and demonstrates the benefits of including knowledge transfer as part of the curriculum design of vocational degrees. Design/methodology/approach - This paper adopts a qualitative case study approach to share experiences of a university based in the UK. Findings - Vocational degrees that develop the concepts of the discipline within the context of where they are applied are providing "work ready" graduates for industry. Practical implications - This paper summarizes the key benefits of engaging industry more extensively in the design and delivery of vocational degree programmes. It highlights a new type of stakeholder partnership and a collective responsibility for vocational curricula in higher education. Originality/value - This paper draws on Michael Eraut's work on the transfer of knowledge between education and the workplace.