INNOVATIVE, COLLABORATIVE HIGHER DEGREES

Abstract

Should higher education institutions keep
building new infrastructure and expertise to keep up with
shifting demands from industry and government and
changing student requirements? Or, should institutions
become more expert in their own specialist areas, and
collaborate with other institutions with innovative
collaborative degree structures.
New approaches are needed to help cope with the effects of
globalisation, cultural diversity and innovative technology.
This paper outlines an innovative Masters degree course
developed in 2007, as well as a course design for a
Professional Doctorate focused on collaborating with other
institutions. The focus of both courses is to use the best
expertise from collaborating institutions, while at the same
time engage with industry to determine their requirements,
and also provide students with opportunities for employment
in new innovative growth areas.

Index terms ⎯ Professional Doctorate, Master Degree,
Industry collaboration, Industry engagement