University/industry cooperation in teaching and cooperative education assignments

The author examines how both industries and universities can work together to enhance the teaching of technical communication and to develop cooperative education assignments. He examines the strengths of each group and considers how they might best be meshed to gain maximum benefits for both groups as well as the technical communication profession. Because teaching, education and training are required in both industry and academia, the range of possible fruitful collaborations includes teaching assignments at universities by members of industry and teaching assignments in industry by members of academia. Some examples of each type are given. Also considered are the benefits of cooperative education and internship assignments