Page 40 - A Handbook for Academia, Industry and Policymakers: Reinforcing the Innovation-Employability Nexus in the Mediterranean

40 REINFORCING THE INNOVATION-EMPLOYABILITY NEXUS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN REINFORCING THE INNOVATION-EMPLOYABILITY NEXUS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN 41

contribute to entrepreneurial-driven economic involved with internships, which traditionally Policymakers which can be produced through HEIs. Policies
growth while at the same time dealing with the have been left up to the student. that encourage partnerships between industry
skills mismatch? There are fundamental issues about the right to and academia and support initiatives that
Communicating their efforts to address skills education and education as a public good that improve the frameworks for innovation through
Since both digital skills and soft skills are development to the academic community and are difficult to address at a national level when entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship can lay
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overarching skills, that is, they are not confined to society will reinforce these efforts. This will in considering potential global consequences . a strong foundation upon which the subject of
a discipline and apply across all fields, universities turn help create input and connections for further These are long-term discussions and must be skills can be addressed collectively. The Start-up
can address them in programmes that are also opportunities for collaboration. addressed at a regional and even global level. In Act programme in Tunisia is an excellent example
interdisciplinary. Closer ties between HEIs and the meantime, the interest of governments is to of policymakers providing concrete advantages
industry to establish flows of information about Industry ensure that skill shortages and skills mismatch and incentives to entrepreneurs, investors and
needs in specific sectors is an approach taken by Hiring and retaining skilled employees has do not inhibit growth and that individuals are students and recent graduates to address the
the ‘Higher Education on Food Security and Rural a direct effect on a company’s productivity equipped with the skills to adapt to future change need for a change in mindset towards taking
Development’ project, labelled by the UfM and run and competitiveness. It is in their interest to and avoid the risk of job loss. To achieve these initiative to innovate, whether for a start-up or
through the International Centre for Advanced see that existing employees continue to learn goals, they need reliable and relevant data, within a job in an organisation.
Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM) and stay relevant and that entering graduates
education and training courses for professionals. are supported with an orientation of the
This project directly addresses food security and working environment and expectations. In the
rural development and provides scholarships to Mediterranean region, the European Bank for
Southern and Eastern Mediterranean students. Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is a
Details about CIHEAM can be found at the end of good example of working with stakeholders to
this chapter. Many universities provide soft skills support skilling up employees through education
through extra-curricular workshops conducted programmes. Details about EBRD can be found
by Career Services (see Chapter 8: Career at the end of Chapter 9: Knowledge Exchange.
Services). They can also be brought into each Reaching out to universities to formalise these
classroom by each professor so that, in the case kinds of programmes through an accreditation
of digital skills, the class uses technology through mechanism would benefit all parties: the
learning tools, and in the case of soft skills, employer by providing strong content for skill
assignments require teamwork and uncertainty development, employees by gaining a recognised
to strengthen student skills in these areas.
credential for their studies, the partner university
by establishing a contact for feedback on
To be employed skill needs, and opening an avenue for future
interactions, such as area experts speaking at
is to be at risk, to be the university.

employable is to be Companies can also provide internship
secure 33 opportunities that can bring current skills into

their organisations through young students
and provide the students with work experience.
Working with policymakers to facilitate this
Interacting with industry and policymakers process would relieve the pressure on academia
in co-creating curriculum that develops real (both students and academic staff) to manage
expertise in skills for employability requires data this process unilaterally. Optimally, industry can
and communication between the stakeholders. get involved with curriculum development or
The process of gathering this data can itself participate in HEI advisory boards (see Chapter 4:
be a mode of strengthening the collaborative Teaching and Learning).
approach, involving students and academic staff.
Establishing a thread from traditional study
programmes through continuing education Companies and
and life-long learning can also help involve governments have a
the working world and the community in the moral obligation
academic setting. With an updated incentive
structure, faculty can be encouraged to engage to educate workers better
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with industry though subject experts and getting than they do now