Long-term impacts and benefits of the use of communication and collaboration technology in university-industry collaborations from an academic perspective

Abstract

This thesis examines, from an academic point of view, the broader benefits and effects associated with communication and collaboration technologies (CCTs) in university-industry collaborations. CCTs play a crucial role in university-industry collaborations. This research examines different types of CCTs utilized, their impacts and benefits on collaboration dynamics, and the most highlighted problems linked with the utilization and adoption of CCTs, based on an analysis of past literature on CCTs and interviews conducted with 20 participants of various academic and industrial organizations. The study followed a qualitative research methodology with twenty participants of several academic and industrial organizations. For this research the semi-structured interviews were conducted and collected interview data was analysed utilizing the thematic analysis.

The main findings of this study show that different tools such as Zoom, Slack and Microsoft Teams, are essential in managing projects effectively and sharing data positively improve CCTs communications. Similarly, long-term benefits for academic researchers include improved communication, digital literacy, enhanced job opportunities for students, and extended professional network. Also, results show that CCTs are an essential tool for strengthening communications and cooperation by allowing immediate interactions regardless of geographical distances. However, issues linked with these tools, such as data security worries, uneven levels of digital literacy, and resistance to transformation, issues were negatively affecting both user engagement and satisfaction toward the usage of CCTs for effective collaboration. The study underscores the importance of institutional support that extends training sessions and provides useful resources to address these challenges effectively.

Overall, the findings of this study highlight how digital collaborations work in UICs and offer stakeholders practical suggestions on how to improve these collaborations. This thesis contributes to the collection of existing literature. Future studies should investigate emerging tools and technologies that are being integrated and the adaptability of best practices for institutional support to take further steps in university-industry collaborations.