Bridging Academia and Industry through Information Technology Training and Coaching
Session
Information Systems
Description
Higher education institutions are increasingly required to act as dual hubs, combining the academic mission of knowledge creation with the practical demands of industry. This paper examines how Intelligent Information Systems (IS) can bridge academia and industry to strengthen employability and foster innovation. Drawing on three cases from UBT, the study highlights effective practices and challenges. The ALLED II Project integrated VR/AR technologies into schools, providing immersive learning and aligning digital education with labor market needs. The Digital Bootcamp offered intensive training in web design, ecommerce, and digital marketing, achieving high satisfaction rates and direct employability outcomes. The Mentorship and Coaching program for creative startups, supported by UNDP, enabled tailored one-on-one guidance, prototyping, and the development of sustainable business models. Lessons learned emphasize the need for continuous training, reliable infrastructure, hybrid learning methods, active industry participation, and tailored mentorship. The findings demonstrate that academia, industry partnerships, supported by intelligent systems, can significantly increase impact, accelerate innovation, and improve graduate employability.
Keywords:
Higher Education; Intelligent Information Systems; Academia, Industry Collaboration; Employability; Innovation; VR/AR in Education; Digital Skills; Startups; Mentorship; Kosovo
Proceedings Editor
Edmond Hajrizi
ISBN
978-9951-982-41-2
Location
UBT Lipjan, Kosovo
Start Date
25-10-2025 9:00 AM
End Date
26-10-2025 6:00 PM
DOI
10.33107/ubt-ic.2025.219
Recommended Citation
skenderi, Besnik and Skenderi, Diamanta, "Bridging Academia and Industry through Information Technology Training and Coaching" (2025). UBT International Conference. 6.
https://knowledgecenter.ubt-uni.net/conference/2025UBTIC/IS/6
Bridging Academia and Industry through Information Technology Training and Coaching
UBT Lipjan, Kosovo
Higher education institutions are increasingly required to act as dual hubs, combining the academic mission of knowledge creation with the practical demands of industry. This paper examines how Intelligent Information Systems (IS) can bridge academia and industry to strengthen employability and foster innovation. Drawing on three cases from UBT, the study highlights effective practices and challenges. The ALLED II Project integrated VR/AR technologies into schools, providing immersive learning and aligning digital education with labor market needs. The Digital Bootcamp offered intensive training in web design, ecommerce, and digital marketing, achieving high satisfaction rates and direct employability outcomes. The Mentorship and Coaching program for creative startups, supported by UNDP, enabled tailored one-on-one guidance, prototyping, and the development of sustainable business models. Lessons learned emphasize the need for continuous training, reliable infrastructure, hybrid learning methods, active industry participation, and tailored mentorship. The findings demonstrate that academia, industry partnerships, supported by intelligent systems, can significantly increase impact, accelerate innovation, and improve graduate employability.