An Ecosystemic Approach to Graduate Students’ Employability and Sustainability: A Sino-British Joint University in China Case Study. Education and Training

Purpose – This article highlights the impacts, and necessary components, of an industry-higher education institution syntegrative model of education which connects students with industry/employer expertise. The purpose is to define good practice, evaluate components required for this ecosystemic “Education 3.0” model, and locate this model in the larger field of higher education learning model innovation.
Design/methodology/approach – Students, faculty and industry stakeholders involved in a syntegrative model of learning across four Academies at a Sino-foreign university were interviewed individually and in focus groups to evaluate their experience in an ecosystemic model. Evaluation of the university’s “Education 3.0” model documentation was also carried out to define this model in the wider higher education model literature.
Findings – The main findings point to several critical components for this ecosystemic approach: shared understanding between partners, long-term commitment to value co-creation, role restructuring to help faculty and professionals build the skills to operate in this space, building learning agency amongst students, and a clear emphasis on employability and career adaptability as key outcomes.
Originality – The core of the “Education 3.0” model is not new, as it speaks to existing practices of industry-higher education involved learning. This paper examines a specific syntegrative model of this in a Sino-foreign institution that has designed multiple Academies, from the university’s start, to use this model which is unique.