Industry-Oriented Education has been applied to vocational education.
Until 2004, it was only offered to sub-degree education and industry training. Industry-Oriented Education has been introduced to undergraduate degree and Master’s degree since 2004.
Definition
Industry-oriented education is an method of learning from an industry perspective. With traditional technical teaching methodologies in educational environments, the conventional pathway is to build the foundation learning through subject based teaching of maths, physics and science independently. Subjects based on the knowledge needed for the discipline usually follow on from this. The problem with this traditional methodology of learning is that there is no close relationship with industry requirements.
Examples
Students may well graduate with no industrial-oriented learning experience prior to their first job. Industrial-oriented methodology is an approach to learning from an industry perspective. As an example, the course of Electronics Technology in the Bachelor of Applied Technology is directly associated to industry and the focus is on an industrial product such as a Switch-mode power supply. Initially students will receive a demonstration and the product enclosure will be opened to investigate inside. The internal components form the topics for study: this covers the mechanical design for the enclosure, electronic design including the PCB (Printed Circuit Board) and embedded software design. The focus for learning is product design, application and operation of electronic components and circuitry. The industrial product will be activated under simulated industry conditions where students will obtain invaluable insight of design technology, operational procedure and programming techniques. All foundation skills can be attained within these studies and the students are well prepared to develop further knowledge and skills required for their industry project required in their final year through cooperative education with industry. Mathematics is not taught here as an independent course of study, but totally integrated into the compulsory technical courses. As an example, the course of Electronics Technology taught in the Bachelor of Applied Technology uses Fast Fourier Transform series to explore the method of Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) in Switch-mode power supplies. Initially students will receive a demonstration and the product which is a commercial product, will be opened for internal investigation of the enclosure. The internal components form the topics for study: this includes the mechanical design for the enclosure, electronic design including the PCB (Printed Circuit Board) and embedded software design. The emphasis for learning is product design, application and operation of electronic components and circuitry.
An example in post-graduate program is a “bridge” technology course designed for the first year students in Master of Design program before they start their projects. It is to allow a Bachelor of Design graduate to enter this technology oriented program.