Visiting Industry Professional (VIP) Scheme: Involving industry experts in tertiary education

 

Futureintech provides funding for senior professionals from technology, engineering and science-based industries to spend up to three weeks in a tertiary institution. Their role can be teaching, advising on research and curriculum, or a mixture of both.

Futureintech is an initiative of the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ) and is funded by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. Futureintech's aim is to promote careers and lift tertiary enrolments in technology, engineering and science.

The purpose of the VIP Scheme is to encourage ongoing partnerships between industry and education. Top professionals sharing their industry expertise with tertiary students and staff is expected to have many benefits.

• Academic staff will learn about developments in the private sector – knowledge which could help improve teaching and research programmes.
• Students will be given a sense of what to expect in the workforce once they graduate, and information on what skills employers are looking for.
• Tertiary staff will become more knowledgeable of, and stronger advocates for, careers in technology, engineering and science.

Preference is given to New Zealand-based professionals.

Application Guidelines.
Applications are submitted by tertiary institutions and should be made using the online application form.

The following information is required with each application:

1. Name of the professional and a brief account of their background. (To ensure tertiary institutions get maximum benefit, we are looking for industry leaders with substantial knowledge and experience. They don’t necessarily have to be academically well-qualified, but they should be eminent professionals with demonstrated credibility.)
2. Contact details of a referee outside the institution – preferably of senior rank e.g. a CEO, or an academic from another tertiary institution.
3. What exactly the applicant proposes to do in the VIP role – such as teaching, research, course planning, guest lectures and/or tutoring. What is their subject area? (Projects do not have to be described in detail at this stage.)

As this is a pilot programme participants will be required to briefly describe and evaluate their involvement.

Futureintech staff will also case-study and publish examples of successful applications to promote the Scheme.

The VIP Scheme is managed nationally by Futureintech.

Applications for the current round of funding will close on Friday, 14 October 2011.

Funding Available
Futureintech will fund industry involvement in tertiary programmes up to a maximum of $5,000 per project (including tax). Funding is paid directly to the tertiary institutions involved.

Further information
If you have any questions or need help with your application, please contact Madeleine Rashbrooke:
04 473 2026

writer-researcher@futureintech.org.nz