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Industrial Liaison Bureaux in U.K. Polytechnics and Universities

Industrial Liaison Bureaux in U.K. Polytechnics and Universities Industrial Liaison Bureaux Industrial Liaison Bureaux in U.K. Polytechnics and Universities W. J. Fulwell Tertiary education, though much dis­ same time; however, in some cases it was cussed by the cognoscenti, is little under­ possible for the two services to operate stood by the vast majority and for good alongside one another to good effect. reason; it is an area we do not all ex­ Each institution has chosen the methods perience, still the preserve of a minority. Not best suited to its own means and the needs of so long ago, what lay beyond secondary edu­ its local industry. In some cases, the cation was university, but with the gradual emphasis is on the utilisation of the expertise development of the so-called public sector, of staff and specialist resources, leading to the emergence of 32 polytechnics has opened consultancy or other sponsored work. In up an element of choice. The whole sector others, liaison with industry is encouraged to has been developed in close consultation support the academic work of, in particular, with business, commerce, and industry. the Schools of Engineering and Natural Many polytechnic students are sponsored by Science. In some cases, centres of expertise industry, and many more seek their careers have been developed from the interests of in that sector. particular individuals; examples at the Hatfield Polytechnic are the Numerical In a number of respects, the universities Optimisation Centre, the National Repro­ have had a head start over the polytechnics, graphic Centre for documentation, and the but increasingly that is a position they will Physical Methods of Analysis Unit. have to defend. About thirty years ago, a government department known as the All the Industrial Liaison Officers can be Department of Scientific and Industrial Re­ said t o be involved to a greater or lesser extent search (DSIR) was charged with re­ in four areas: information services, consul­ sponsibility for government research—both tancy contacts, access to testing equipment, the Stations, like the National Physical and research sponsorship. Overall, the in­ Laboratory, and the Establishments, for ex­ dustrial liaison bureaux have succeeded in ample the Royal Radar Establishment; the forging links between education and industry Department also had responsibility for the in a way which would have been difficult to forty or so Research Associations, like the achieve without their existence. Although Furniture Industry Research Associations. this relationship is certainly not without its Some of each have fallen by the wayside, but problems, it does make a significant contri­ broadly speaking the framework remains bution to fostering understanding and co­ intact and it has always been understood operation between the two, in a way which is that they had a great deal to offer industry. to their mutual benefit It was in this context that DSIR and its The author is Head of HERTIS Industrial successor the Ministry of Technology ('Min- Services, based at the Hatfield Polytechnic, P.O. Box 110, College Lane, Hatfield, tec') beat out what became an ever more Hertfordshire AL 10 9AB . insistent message that education and in­ dustry were too far apart Gradually, after pilot schemes in a few places, a pattern emerged, and individuals selected for their broad experience of industry were appointed as Industrial Liaison Officers. Funded mainly by central government, they offered a free service, in particular to the small and medium size manufacturing companies. They were admirably supported from the centre, both technically and in the management of the units, and eventually over seventy units were functioning, each based in a university, polytechnic, or major college. Much more than a simple problem- solving agency, the Industrial Liaison Officers used their own knowledge to build on the expertise of the staff of their insti­ tution, and increased their own experience through an extensive programme of indus­ trial visits. It was this active rather than passive role which distinguished the indus­ trial liaison officer from an information officer in one of the many technical infor­ mation services which grew up at much the http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Management Research News Emerald Publishing

Industrial Liaison Bureaux in U.K. Polytechnics and Universities

Fulwell, W.J.
Management Research News , Volume 1 (4): 1 – Apr 1, 1978
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Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
Copyright © Emerald Group Publishing Limited
ISSN
0140-9174
DOI
10.1108/eb027712
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Abstract

Industrial Liaison Bureaux Industrial Liaison Bureaux in U.K. Polytechnics and Universities W. J. Fulwell Tertiary education, though much dis­ same time; however, in some cases it was cussed by the cognoscenti, is little under­ possible for the two services to operate stood by the vast majority and for good alongside one another to good effect. reason; it is an area we do not all ex­ Each institution has chosen the methods perience, still the preserve of a minority. Not best suited to its own means and the needs of so long ago, what lay beyond secondary edu­ its local industry. In some cases, the cation was university, but with the gradual emphasis is on the utilisation of the expertise development of the so-called public sector, of staff and specialist resources, leading to the emergence of 32 polytechnics has opened consultancy or other sponsored work. In up an element of choice. The whole sector others, liaison with industry is encouraged to has been developed in close consultation support the academic work of, in particular, with business, commerce, and industry. the Schools of Engineering and Natural Many polytechnic students are sponsored by Science. In some cases, centres of expertise industry, and many more seek their careers have been developed from the interests of in that sector. particular individuals; examples at the Hatfield Polytechnic are the Numerical In a number of respects, the universities Optimisation Centre, the National Repro­ have had a head start over the polytechnics, graphic Centre for documentation, and the but increasingly that is a position they will Physical Methods of Analysis Unit. have to defend. About thirty years ago, a government department known as the All the Industrial Liaison Officers can be Department of Scientific and Industrial Re­ said t o be involved to a greater or lesser extent search (DSIR) was charged with re­ in four areas: information services, consul­ sponsibility for government research—both tancy contacts, access to testing equipment, the Stations, like the National Physical and research sponsorship. Overall, the in­ Laboratory, and the Establishments, for ex­ dustrial liaison bureaux have succeeded in ample the Royal Radar Establishment; the forging links between education and industry Department also had responsibility for the in a way which would have been difficult to forty or so Research Associations, like the achieve without their existence. Although Furniture Industry Research Associations. this relationship is certainly not without its Some of each have fallen by the wayside, but problems, it does make a significant contri­ broadly speaking the framework remains bution to fostering understanding and co­ intact and it has always been understood operation between the two, in a way which is that they had a great deal to offer industry. to their mutual benefit It was in this context that DSIR and its The author is Head of HERTIS Industrial successor the Ministry of Technology ('Min- Services, based at the Hatfield Polytechnic, P.O. Box 110, College Lane, Hatfield, tec') beat out what became an ever more Hertfordshire AL 10 9AB . insistent message that education and in­ dustry were too far apart Gradually, after pilot schemes in a few places, a pattern emerged, and individuals selected for their broad experience of industry were appointed as Industrial Liaison Officers. Funded mainly by central government, they offered a free service, in particular to the small and medium size manufacturing companies. They were admirably supported from the centre, both technically and in the management of the units, and eventually over seventy units were functioning, each based in a university, polytechnic, or major college. Much more than a simple problem- solving agency, the Industrial Liaison Officers used their own knowledge to build on the expertise of the staff of their insti­ tution, and increased their own experience through an extensive programme of indus­ trial visits. It was this active rather than passive role which distinguished the indus­ trial liaison officer from an information officer in one of the many technical infor­ mation services which grew up at much the

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Management Research News – Emerald Publishing

Published: Apr 1, 1978

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