Outside Activity: Lessons Learned from the Researcher Guidebook
July 2, 2024
—In research partnerships, there are myriad ways for individuals to engage with potential partners. Gifts, sponsored research projects, and consulting activities can help build new and sustain existing collaborations. Outside activity, such as consulting, joint employment, or industry sabbaticals, can allow companies access to the brightest minds in a very effective manner. These types of collaborations can help bring the benefits of a well-rounded researcher to all partners, fulfilling company needs while giving faculty insight into company practices they can apply at their home institution and more closely within their own labs.
Types of activity
Several different types of outside activity exist in the realm of cross-sector partnerships. One common approach is consulting, in which university researchers share their expertise with partner companies for their research priorities. Many institutions encourage the consulting activities of their faculty to support partnerships with outside organizations (commonly referred to as the one-day-a-week rule). Additionally, consulting gives faculty the opportunity to keep apprised of contemporary priorities by having hands-on experience in the industry, enhancing their teaching skills, and even helping promote economic growth in the region through innovative outcomes.
Similarly, a relatively new approach has companies and universities sharing top researchers in high-demand areas through joint employment, which allows university faculty the opportunity to work for partner companies while maintaining their position at their home institution. Like consulting, joint faculty employment gives researchers exposure to industry needs, builds networks with industry researchers, and offers access to equipment and data otherwise unavailable in academia. UIDP has developed materials that describe this approach and how it is being implemented; learn more about joint faculty employment in this previous 3-Minute Read, or UIDP members can learn more about the ins and outs in the publication Joint Faculty Employment Between Companies and Universities.
A more traditional approach is a faculty member taking a one- or two-semester sabbatical. Some companies have formal sabbatical programs that invite university faculty to spend a specific time on a company site. This allows them to learn new skills and invigorate their professional careers while maintaining an understanding of industry needs and perspectives.
Benefits and considerations
Beyond the deepening of expertise and exposure to industry practices, one key benefit of outside activity is the potential for that relationship to develop into a more overarching, holistic partnership between the university and the participating company. Often, consultants or other researchers who have connections to companies can help initiate larger, strategic partnership opportunities. For companies, university researchers can bring outside perspectives and high-level expertise to research projects at the organization. Additionally, maintaining a relationship with faculty can provide career pathways for students and help cultivate a well-trained talent pool.
Faculty members must follow institutional policies to avoid potential or perceived conflicts of interest. Often, universities have guiding policies that help faculty navigate outside research activities to ensure that they don’t interfere with their institutional duties or conflict with university interests or missions. Conflict of interest, use of institutional resources, and intellectual property management are other issues that must be navigated to ensure a smooth partnership. A clear statement of work can help ensure the project is well-contained and does not overlap with any other faculty responsibilities, and open communication about organizational policies will help avoid any potential pitfalls surrounding rules and regulations for outside activities.
Why it matters
With so many ways for universities and companies to partner, it’s crucial to understand existing and emerging modalities that provide significant impact. Consulting and other outside activities can help build initial relationships that can grow into more strategic partnerships or help maintain existing collaborations.
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The 3-Minute Read is a UIDP member information piece and does not represent the opinions of our members or representatives. We welcome your comments on our LinkedIn profile.
This 3-Minute Read is part of a series based on the Researcher Guidebook, a public resource published by UIDP. Our members have access to a sequential learning path and Quick Guide developed to help researchers tap into our collective knowledge and clearly understand their pivotal role in cross-sector research partnerships.