Abstract
Context: The Hong Kong government aims at promoting the development of the cultural and creative industry. The dynamic cultural and creative industries need talents in art and technology to meet the rapid technological changes and multimodal immersive consumer experience. Potential creative industry employees should have access to latest industry development through work integrated learning experiences. Educational institutes offering vocational education are keen to engage industry partners to improve their quality of education. However, recruiting and retaining industry partners can be challenging due to the time commitment and manpower resources.
Approach: A qualitative study was conducted by interviewing four staff at a local university who participated in recruitment and day-to-day management of industry partnership in the CLAP-TECH Education Pathway. The purpose was to examine their strategies and processes in recruiting and nurturing industry partnerships. The CLAP-TECH Education Pathway recruited over 35 industry partners as of February 2025 to provide work integrated learning opportunities to over 1,300 high school students taking the Applied Learning courses titled “Tech Basics” and “Multimedia Storytelling.”
Findings: The institute staff employed their professional as well as personal networks, university’s alumni networks, and current industry partner’s professional networks to recruit industry partners. The process involves approaching strategic industry practitioners, targeted pitching, personal touch, and tight follow-ups. Systematic and regular program communication can strengthen partnership relations. Staff encounter challenges such as personnel turnover, change in industry capacity or management decisions, scheduling difficulties, and low mentee enthusiasm.
Conclusions: The paper concludes with recommendations for educational institutions in recruiting and retaining industry partners. These include developing formal communication channels, strengthening industry partnership network, strategic partnership recruitment, and raising the visibility of students’ achievements.
Approach: A qualitative study was conducted by interviewing four staff at a local university who participated in recruitment and day-to-day management of industry partnership in the CLAP-TECH Education Pathway. The purpose was to examine their strategies and processes in recruiting and nurturing industry partnerships. The CLAP-TECH Education Pathway recruited over 35 industry partners as of February 2025 to provide work integrated learning opportunities to over 1,300 high school students taking the Applied Learning courses titled “Tech Basics” and “Multimedia Storytelling.”
Findings: The institute staff employed their professional as well as personal networks, university’s alumni networks, and current industry partner’s professional networks to recruit industry partners. The process involves approaching strategic industry practitioners, targeted pitching, personal touch, and tight follow-ups. Systematic and regular program communication can strengthen partnership relations. Staff encounter challenges such as personnel turnover, change in industry capacity or management decisions, scheduling difficulties, and low mentee enthusiasm.
Conclusions: The paper concludes with recommendations for educational institutions in recruiting and retaining industry partners. These include developing formal communication channels, strengthening industry partnership network, strategic partnership recruitment, and raising the visibility of students’ achievements.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Towards Inclusive and Egalitarian Vocational Education and Training: Key Challenges and Strategies From a Holistic and Multi-Contextual Approach |
| Subtitle of host publication | Proceedings of the 6th Crossing Boundaries Conference in Vocational Education and Training |
| Editors | E. Quintana-Murci, F. Salvà-Mut, B.E. Stalder, C. Nägele |
| Place of Publication | Palma, Spain |
| Publisher | Universitat de les Illes Balears |
| Pages | 124-133 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9798282482645 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 21 May 2025 |
| Event | 6th International VET Conference Crossing Boundaries 2025 - University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Mallorca, Spain Duration: 21 May 2025 → 23 May 2025 https://vetnetsite.org/conferences/2025-crossing-boundaries-in-palma/ (Conference website) https://vetnetsite.org/papers-crossing-boundaries-proceedings-2025-palma/ (Conference papers) https://zenodo.org/records/15333114 (Conference proceedings) |
Conference
| Conference | 6th International VET Conference Crossing Boundaries 2025 |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Spain |
| City | Palma, Mallorca |
| Period | 21/05/25 → 23/05/25 |
| Internet address |
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User-Defined Keywords
- youth employment
- information technology
- creative media
- work-integrated learning
