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The purposefulness of this research is to identify the university-industry (U-I) activities and linkages that enhance student skills and employability. Gleaned from Pakistan, data were collected and analyzed from 405 students and faculty members, from the COMSATS Institute of Information Technology and employees from pesticide companies. The Mann Whitney U-test and the Kruskal-Wallis test help identify crucial U-I activities and linkages that enhance student skills and employability. The results show that internships and particularly international ones, along with stipends are most pertinent, especially in developing countries. Also important are joint projects, along with industrial involvement in curriculum development. Despite its qualifications, the research contribution is significant, as a few studies conducted in Pakistan can truly help policymakers in the development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the current situation of collaborative university-industry (U-I) linkages in Pakistan, a questionnaire was disseminated to both public and private universities and industries, checking the propensity for such linkages. The results show multiple constraints imposed on collaborative U-I linkages from both sides. Factor analysis allows comparing whether both universities and industries identify the same constraints or not. Apparently, engineering departments exhibit more collaborative U-I linkages than other disciplines, while humanities departments are awarded the minimum of such linkages. The paucity of proper arrangements, procedures, mechanisms, and structures for collaboration seems to be one of the most important impediments to collaborative U-I linkages. Furthermore, on the one hand, university people see the lack both of time, owed to a heavy workload, and of laboratory facilities for research and development work, as predominant constraints to U-I interactions. On the other hand, industry people cite as prominent barriers the low commercialization potential of university research and the lack of interest among academics to collaborate with the industry. Despite its qualifications, the study concludes with practical policymaking recommendations and future research suggestions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]