CALEB Postgraduate Role in Enhancing Academia Industry Partnership for Sustainable Development -Prof Oyedokun.pptx

Being a Sub-theme Paper Presented at Caleb University International Conference Held at the Multipurpose Hall from October 20 - 22, 2025.

1. Postgraduate Role in Enhancing Academia – Industry Partnership for Sustainable Development Prof. Godwin Emmanuel Oyedokun Professor of Accounting and Financial Development Department of Management & Accounting Faculty of Management and Social Sciences Lead City University, Ibadan, Nigeria Principal Partner; Oyedokun Godwin Emmanuel & Co (Accountants, Tax Practitioners & Forensic Auditors) Being a Sub-theme Paper Presented at Caleb University International Conference Held at the Multipurpose Hall from October 20 - 22 , 2025.

2. ND (Fin), HND (Acct.), BSc. (Acct. Ed), BSc (Acct & Fin.), LLB., LLM, MBA (Acct. & Fin.), MSc. (Acct.), MSc. (Bus & Econs ), Ph.D. (Acct), Ph.D. (Fin), Ph.D. (Forensic Acct.), CFA, CFE, ACS, ACIS, ACIArb (UK), FBR, MNIM, FCA, FCTI, FCIB, FCNA, FCFIP, FCE, FERP, FFAR, FPD-CR, FNIOAIM, FCCrFA , FCCFI, FICA, FCECFI, FTPL, JP Prof. Godwin Emmanuel Oyedokun Professor of Accounting and Financial Development Department of Management & Accounting Faculty of Management and Social Sciences Lead City University, Ibadan, Nigeria Principal Partner; Oyedokun Godwin Emmanuel & Co (Accountants, Tax Practitioners & Forensic Auditors)

3. Postgraduate Role in Enhancing Academia–Industry Partnership for Sustainable Development

4. Contents

5. Introduction Universities produce knowledge; industry transforms it into products and services. In many developing countries — notably Nigeria — a persistent divide limits this potential. Postgraduate students, through advanced research and applied projects, can act as the vital bridge to translate academic insight into sustainable, scalable solutions aligned with the UN SDGs. A concise exploration of how postgraduate students, supported by policy, institutional innovation and industry collaboration , can accelerate sustainable development across energy, manufacturing, and food systems.

6. Conceptual Clarifications Academia–Industry Partnership Structured collaboration spanning collaborative research, internships, tech transfer, innovation hubs and industrial fellowships to align academic output with market needs. Postgraduate Education & Sustainable Development Advanced study (masters, PhD, professional) focused on specialised knowledge, research competence and innovation capacity — central to delivering SDG-aligned solutions.

7. Theoretical Framework The analysis draws on three complementary theories: Triple Helix: dynamic interactions among university, industry and government, with postgraduates catalysing innovation. Knowledge Spillover: academic research generates entrepreneurial opportunities and industry growth. Systems Theory: sustainable development emerges when education, industry and society operate as interconnected systems.

8. Global Perspective: Models that Work Examples from high-performing systems demonstrate scalable practices: Industrial PhD (Sweden) Structured split-time programmes where doctoral candidates work on industry problems while pursuing academic rigour. University Spinouts (UK/US) Targeted support for commercialisation — incubators, seed funding, and mentorship turning research into ventures. Public–Private Research Centres (South Korea) Long-term consortia align national strategy, industry needs and academic expertise for sustained innovation.

9. Nigerian Context: Current State Nigeria faces structural barriers: postgraduate research often remains theoretical, innovation infrastructure is limited, and funding or industry sponsorship is scarce. Bureaucratic hurdles and weak IP frameworks further obstruct translation of knowledge into marketable solutions. Yet, strategic postgraduate engagement can reposition universities as engines of sustainable industrial growth. Funding constraints and limited industry R&D spend Insufficient industry–university communication channels Gaps in curriculum and industry-relevant supervision

10. Role of Postgraduates — Research & Innovation Postgraduate researchers can deliver direct, measurable value: Applied Research Problem-driven projects addressing industry pain points and SDG targets. Prototyping & Tech Development Creation of functional prototypes and pilot studies that de-risk adoption for industry partners. Co-funded Projects Joint funding models share risk and align incentives between universities and firms.

11. Role of Postgraduates — Knowledge Transfer & Capacity Building Postgraduates function as conduits for skills and know-how: Internships and placements embed students within firms to exchange tacit knowledge. Workshops and short courses jointly delivered by academics and industry experts upskill the workforce. Collaborative laboratories and living labs enable shared problem-solving .

12. Role of Postgraduates — Entrepreneurship & Policy Beyond research, postgraduates drive commercial and policy impact: Start-ups & Social Enterprises Founding ventures that commercialise research and deliver local employment and sustainable products. Evidence-based Policy Data-driven research informs regulations, incentives and national SDG strategies. Stakeholder Networks Postgraduates expand multi-sector networks that accelerate adoption and scale.

13. Challenges and Strategic Recommendations Key Challenges Weak collaboration frameworks and poor IP management Limited research funding and industry sponsorship Curriculum misalignment and supervisory gaps Brain drain and low postgraduate incentives Recommended Actions Create industrial PhD schemes and co-funded fellowships. Establish technology transfer offices with clear IP policies. Embed industry secondments and applied project requirements in programmes . Provide seed funds, incubators and mentorship pathways for spinouts. Align national policy to incentivise R&D partnerships and private sector R&D investment. Together, these measures position postgraduates as central architects of academia–industry collaboration — unlocking innovation pathways that advance sustainable development.

14. Strategic Framework (1): Policy & Institutional Reforms 1 Joint supervision & co‑funding Formalise co-supervision agreements and shared funding models so postgraduate projects address true industry needs while retaining academic rigour. 2 University–industry liaison offices Create dedicated liaison units and innovation councils to broker partnerships, manage IP, and coordinate internships and placements. 3 Incentives for industry engagement Introduce tax credits, matching grants and recognition schemes to encourage firms to sponsor postgraduate research aligned with SDGs.

15. Strategic Framework (2): Curriculum & Innovation Align with industry & SDGs Map curricula to industrial skill gaps and Sustainable Development Goals so projects produce actionable outcomes. Entrepreneurship & sustainability modules Embed practical modules—commercialisation, circular design and social impact assessment—within postgraduate programmes. Innovation labs & hubs Establish cross-disciplinary hubs where students prototype, pilot and test sustainable technologies with industry mentors.

16. Strategic Framework (3): Technology & Digital Platforms Leverage AI, cloud platforms and digital marketplaces to scale collaboration: virtual supervision, shared data repositories and remote industrial placements extend reach and reduce costs. AI-assisted research Use AI for literature synthesis, experimental design and predictive modelling to accelerate postgraduate discovery. Global connection platforms Online platforms match students with industry challenges, enabling cross-border projects and knowledge transfer. Data-driven innovation Shared datasets and secure data governance allow reproducible, industry-relevant research with measurable sustainability outcomes.

17. Case Study 1 — University of Pretoria & Sasol (South Africa) Focus: Renewable energy, carbon capture and waste‑to‑energy innovations supporting SDG 7 & SDG 13. Postgraduate role: Embedded Masters and PhD researchers co-designing CCU , biofuels and efficiency models within industry projects. Impact: Low‑emission fuel prototypes, patents, co‑authored papers and improved graduate employment in the energy sector. Lesson: Structured embedding and industry funding create reproducible pathways from research to industrial practice.

18. Case Study 2 — University of Cambridge Industrial PhD (United Kingdom) Model Doctoral researchers spend 50–70% time embedded in partner companies; projects are co-funded by research councils and industry. Outcomes 200+ industrial PhD partnerships, patents, spin‑outs and direct commercialisation of sustainable technologies. Lesson for Nigeria Adopting an Industrial PhD model creates market‑ready innovations and stronger industry uptake of academic research.

19. Case Study 3 — University of Ibadan & Nigerian Breweries (Nigeria) Focus: Food science, fermentation, local raw material optimisation and brewery waste-to-value systems. Postgraduate role: Industry‑sponsored theses, internships and joint supervision between academic and industry researchers. Impact: Substitution of imported inputs, waste‑management innovations and improved employability for graduates. Lesson: Even resource‑limited settings achieve high impact when clear collaboration frameworks and shared resources are established.

20. Summary of Lessons Across Case Studies Country Collaboration Postgraduate Role Impact South Africa UP & Sasol Embedded co‑researchers Low‑emission prototypes; capacity building United Kingdom Cambridge & industry Industrial PhDs Patents, spin‑outs, commercialisation Nigeria UI & Nigerian Breweries Industry‑sponsored research Local inputs, waste‑to‑value systems Key takeaways: Co‑funding, shared supervision, clear IP and long‑term commitments are essential. Aligning postgraduate research to industrial value chains accelerates SDG impact.

21. Policy and Practical Implications Government Offer grants and tax incentives for industry‑funded postgraduate programmes; create national frameworks to standardise partnerships. Universities Institutionalise industry participation in curricula, formalise liaison offices and streamline IP and contractual mechanisms. Industries Treat universities as strategic innovation partners: co‑design projects, fund students and provide mentorship and facilities. Postgraduates Embrace problem‑driven research, acquire commercial awareness and document impact paths from lab to market.

22. Conclusion — Strengthening Postgraduate Engagement for Sustainable Futures When underpinned by policy alignment, institutional support and mutual commitment, postgraduate–industry partnerships translate research into tangible sustainable outcomes. Prioritise co‑funded projects, digital collaboration, and clear IP pathways to bridge theory and practice. Next steps: pilot industrial PhDs in priority sectors (energy, agriculture, ICT), establish liaison offices, and launch a national incentive scheme.

23. Prof. Godwin Emmanuel Oyedokun Professor of Accounting & Financial Development Lead City University, Ibadan, Nigeria Principal Partner; Oyedokun Godwin Emmanuel & Co (Accountants, Tax Practitioners & Forensic Auditors) [email protected]; [email protected] [phone] & 2348055863944