The Value of Textile Education and Industry Partnerships

Abstract

Textile research/industry partnerships have recently gained momentum in New Zealand. This paper makes a preliminary account by focusing on the benefits of the collaboration to Massey University Master of Design postgraduates, companies, and the academics. The students work on a significant problem faced by a company to rejuvenate business or to produce solutions for a particular or a set of problems. The company gains access to new university research and discoveries and faculty members complement their own academic research by securing funds for graduate students. During a one-year period, the students receive a government-funded scholarship and industry mentoring. The aim is to steer success across the textile value chain from economic and environmental perspectives while balancing academic requirements. Typically, the industry-centered design is developed using iterative processes with a strong emphasis on the role of technology, often requiring the acquirement of new software skills to design with industry equipment. The model establishes best practice to share resources and experiences within the thrust of daily industrial life and the demands of a Master of Design degree. This paper aims to gage the benefits of, and challenges in a range of wool-centered collaborative projects from yarn development to sustainable dye to bedding product development to the revitalization of a weaving mill innovative waste to blue sky solutions for a tannery. The research of novel ideas and process innovation leads to enhanced job placement opportunity and new exports.