Universities are receiving less and less public funding per student. In response, they are increasingly seeking out alternative sources of income – and Erasmus University is no exception. One such source of income is the private sector. Academics are commissioned to perform research on companies’ behalf or provide consultancy services. And various degree programmes solicit sponsoring or help companies to recruit students. However, collaborations of this kind may call the independence and integrity of institutions’ education and research into question.
In this dossier, we will be bringing together the various articles that we write about academic collaboration with the private sector. Do you have any questions, comments or tips about this subject? Feel free to send an email to Editor Tim Ficheroux.