Developing Closer Ties with Business

Developing Developing Closer Closer Ties Ties

with with BusinessBusiness

Michael Burgess & Mike TurnerMichael Burgess & Mike TurnerMichael Burgess & Mike TurnerMichael Burgess & Mike Turner

An Avenue An Avenue for Lifelong for Lifelong

Learning for Learning for South East South East

Asian Asian UniversitiesUniversities

About The AuthorsAbout The Authors• Michael Burgess and Dr. Mike Turner:

• Lecturers and Business Consultants.• In Vietnam, Australia, Mongolia, Hong Kong.

• Research Areas:• Michael Burgess: Organisations in Vietnam.• Mike Turner: Entrepreneurship in Vietnam / Mongolia.

Closer Educational Ties with BusinessCloser Educational Ties with BusinessBurgess & Turner :Burgess & Turner :

Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline

• Problem Identification• System Constraints• Higher Education Challenges• Organisational Changes• The Trans Pacific Partnership• The Role of the Educator• Education Constraints• Structure Changes


• Before any action can be taken to solve a problem, one needs to recognise that a problem exists.

• How do we see a problem?• Globally?• Nationally?• Locally?• Culturally?

• We all see things differently.

Problem IdentificationProblem Identification

Closer Educational Ties with BusinessCloser Educational Ties with BusinessBurgess & Turner :Burgess & Turner : Source: Nature 1 July, 2010, Vol. 466(7302): p.29.

• What might be a problem for Business Education in Vietnam?• Globally

• The low Global Competiveness Index (GCI).• Nationally

• Great strides forward but the GCI increases do not yet parallel.

• Locally

• Possible Structural Constraints.

Problem IdentificationProblem Identification


• Every system must have at least one constraint otherwise it would be a perfect system. • The concept of the ‘weakest link’.

• A constraint:• Anything that might limit a system from achieving

higher performance versus its goal.• The existence of a constraint is not negative:

• It represents an opportunity for organisational development and improvement.

System ConstraintsSystem Constraints


• Academics and Administrators:• The development of a collaborative culture; • Both groups understanding and accepting that

commercial practice is a necessity;• Gaining agreement that a competitive advantage is

the key to the sustainability of the enterprise.

• Perhaps a Constraint:• To be understood;• To be addressed in context.

Higher Education ChallengesHigher Education Challenges


• The Transfer of Knowledge:• Inside;• Alongside;• Outside.

• The need to develop structures that allow:• Internal flow between:

• Academics and Administrators; and

• Students, Academics and Administrators.• External flow between:

• Educators, business and all other stakeholders.


Higher Education ChallengesHigher Education Challenges

• We live in a world of relationships, not a world of things.

• Industrial management emphasises a trusting environment: • Growth and empowerment of the individual are the

keys to unlocking corporate success.

• The education market cannot continue in isolation from the influences and ever changing needs of the labour market: • Both markets are interdependent.


Organisational ChangesOrganisational Changes

“ “ If you don’t have a strategy youIf you don’t have a strategy you will be . . . part of somebody will be . . . part of somebody else’s strategy.” else’s strategy.”

Alvin Toffler(Author)


The Trans Pacific PartnershipThe Trans Pacific Partnership• 9 Country agreement being discussed NOW:• Australia• Brunei• Chile• Malaysia• New Zealand• Singapore• United States• Vietnam• Japan and South Korea

are also interested


• This Partnership is designed to:• Enhance trade and investment among

the TPP countries; • Promote innovation; • Promote economic growth and development;• Support the creation and retention of

employment.


The Trans Pacific PartnershipThe Trans Pacific Partnership

• The TPP represents great potential for changes to commercial alliances in the Asia-Pacific region:• Especially for nations such as Vietnam seeking

deeper integration into the world’s economy.

• The key to a successful future means the shaping of commercial relationships: • But before this can be undertaken on a global macro-

level, it also has to be undertaken at the micro-level. • This also means educational change.


The Trans Pacific PartnershipThe Trans Pacific Partnership

• As educators, we have three prime tasks:• Design the organisation and its architecture:

• To encourage the learning process;• Be the stewards of the vision:

• That inspires staff and students and is transmitted to others; and

• Teach learning and critical thinking:• Developing systematic understandings of how to

approach and exploit change.


The Role of the EducatorThe Role of the Educator

The Role of the EducatorThe Role of the Educator• The challenge for the education system in

Vietnam, and in all South East Asian countries, is to: • Understand that interfacing with industry requires

tools, concepts and flexibility derived not only from learning, but also from understanding…

• Of interest, this matches the 2010 Directive of the Prime Minister of Vietnam, that states:• ‘…it is necessary to grasp thoroughly the perception:

developing higher educational scope must be parallel with ensuring and enhancing training quality.’


• Teachers of Technical and Vocational Subjects:• Must be both skilled workers and experienced

teachers before taking a post as a trainer.• This will help meet market needs;• This will re-inforce quality education;• This also helps remove errors in teaching;• Increases competency based skilled workers.

• Must keep up with technological changes while in service.

• Essential professional development.


Education ConstraintsEducation Constraints

• Techniques, like skills, may depend on the context within which they are interpreted.

• Organisations can grow by:• Developing and allocating human resources;• Investment in research and development; • Embracing technological advancements; • Continuous learning at all levels.

• Education and Business benefit from relationships with each other in contexts of research, growth and sustainability.

Education ConstraintsEducation Constraints


Structure ChangesStructure Changes• How to structure against constraints?• The key word is ‘organise’

• Activities need to be performed that are simultaneously orientational and instrumental.

• The process of acquiring experience which shapes judgement:• Can be facilitated by creating flexible structures with

business; and• Working with those who have already demonstrated

qualities of judgement in business.



• Typical hierarchy structure:• A rigid structure;• In this example 5 people, only 4

interactions (one way);• No horizontal communication

opportunities;• ‘Do as I say’ mentality.

• Moving to…

Structure ChangesStructure Changes

• Relationship structures:• In this example, 5 people, 10 combinations of

interactions;• Vertical and horizontal communication;• Opportunities for functional, not rigid leadership;• Open channels of communication and idea flows.

• Co-ordination Vs Control:• Which is preferable?

Structure ChangesStructure Changes


ConclusionConclusion

• For some 20 years, Vietnamese education has undergone complex renovation and reform.

• The next step is further integration:• With the educational needs of the labour market

structure (both nationally and internationally); • Anticipating changes in economic, education and

other relationships

• for example, arising from the Trans Pacific Partnership

As Vietnam continues its economic transition.


• Education in Vietnam is a complex matrix system:• Further achievements may be achieved by considering

the structures at the local level; and• Having regard to the requirements of the Government of

Vietnam.

• A systemic view that will allow:• Educators to identify the relationships that are important

to success both internally and externally;• An integrative, system-focused approach to educating,

and associating productively with business.

ConclusionConclusion


Thank You


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Developing Closer Ties with Business