Abstract

An important aspect of higher education is a continuing need for strong links to industry with a view to develop a curriculum that is more relevant to contemporary workplace practices in order to produce employer-ready graduates. While this is desirable, considerable challenges exist in its realization due to several factors, including costs and availability of resources. Yet, teachers need to remain abreast of industrial developments to make education relevant, and one way to achieve this is through Teacher Placement in Industry (TPI) opportunities. TPI is an agreement by which a teacher is seconded to a firm for a defined period of time to perform predetermined tasks. TPI experiences should lead to enhanced teaching practices and the forging of deeper long-term links with industry. This article reports on an exploratory study of the views of Australian business managers on the value of TPI. Because industry partner support is integral to creating TPI opportunities, the extent to which TPI is desired and supported by business managers is explored. The findings indicate there is in-principle support for TPI initiatives, but that there are also challenges in materializing opportunities. Despite these problems, Australian business managers see potential value and benefits for their organization, the educational institution, and the teacher. The conclusion is that for TPI to be sustainable, it should be regarded as integral to the continuing professional development of higher education teachers. In order for TPI to be successful, appropriate resourcing and the development of strong industry networks are vital.