Collaborative strategies to strengthen the linkage of the University to support MSMEs

Abstract

Trade liberalization in Mexico, mainly since 1994 when Mexico signed free trade agreements (NAFTA) and joined the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), has placed firms in global competition that pushes them to achieve international productivity standards. The relationship between academia and the productive sector has helped companies to achieve this objective. Herein we present a case study of a public university where strategies have been developed to create and maintain strong linkages with the productive sector, not only through sharing knowledge and skills of the higher education community, but also through their educational model which are designed to train students as knowledgeable professionals in solidarity with real-word economic and social issues. Such strategies are presented in this paper.