Evolving Partnerships for the Future of Higher Education

By Rick Muma, President, Wichita State University

The way universities work with industry is changing. Companies no longer want to be limited to sponsoring a project or hosting a career fair. They want to be true partners — sharing space, solving problems and shaping the future of the workforce.

In my book, Student Centered, Innovation Driven: A Guide to Transforming Higher Education, I describe how higher education must evolve to meet this moment. The shift is away from transactional relationships and toward long-term partnerships that prepare students for careers while meeting the needs of business and industry.

At Wichita State University, we have seen what this looks like in practice. Our 120-acre Innovation Campus was built on the idea that industry belongs at the center of the university experience.

Today, a diverse array of companies located on our campus — industry and agency leaders like Deloitte, Boeing, NetApp and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives — work alongside our students and faculty. Together, they are advancing applied research and driving applied learning that equips students to fill critical talent gaps for employers.

Last year, our students participated in roughly 9,000 paid applied learning opportunities, earning almost $36 million in wages while building the skills and experience employers need most.

This approach aligns with NACRO’s position that corporate engagement must be strategic, comprehensive and intentional. It is about building ecosystems that serve students and communities. The recent partnership between NACRO and the Association of University Research Parks highlights the importance of designing spaces and strategies that make these connections possible.

The challenges facing higher education are clear: affordability, workforce alignment and public trust. By rethinking industry engagement, universities can meet those challenges directly. We can create strong partnerships that strengthen regional economies to give students the skills they need to thrive.

Holistic partnerships are essential to the mission of higher education — and to the future of our communities.

Rick Muma, PhD, MPH, PA-C, is President of Wichita State University.