University-industry knowledge collaborations in emerging countries: the outcomes and effectiveness in Vietnam

Abstract

University-industry knowledge collaborations (UICs) significantly influence countries’ innovation capabilities and future workforce development. For a developing country like Vietnam, the goal of developing a knowledge-based emerging economy puts even higher expectations on UICs. However, UICs in Vietnam have not kept up well with the country’s ambition to survive and thrive in the new context. This study investigates the current status of the outcomes and effectiveness of knowledge exchange mechanisms as perceived by different stakeholders, including faculty members, students, and industries. Results show that UICs’ social and institutional outcomes are dominant in Vietnam. From the university side, the areas of training, university locations, and university types could affect UICs’ outcomes and effectiveness. However, there are discrepancies between faculty members and students in the perception of UICs’ effectiveness. Firms’ ownership types and locations also affect UICs’ effectiveness.