On Industry-Academia Relations in the Arab Gulf States: Steps toward Building Strategic Partnership

Current industry-academia relationships in the Arab Gulf States are minimal, and do need to be strengthened and improved. The paper calls for increased "relevancy" of engineering education, with greater industry-academia collaboration on many fronts. It was inspired by a round table discussion, where engineering graduates of the region\´s colleges have suggested ways to develop viable and enduring connections between local industries and the academic institutions of the region. Activities perceived as effective in closing the gap between academia and industries are outlined. The paper focuses on: the mission, the nature, and some relevant strategies that could lead to collaboration. Slanting curricula towards industrial relevance and the "practice", helps equip graduates with the "tools of the trade", thus lessening the burden on industries, in having to prepare and train employees at the start of their career