Extended Abstract: Competencies and Connections: Toward Bridging the Academic-Industry Gap

Bridging the gap between practitioners and academics of technical communication is crucial for ensuring that students are well-prepared for their careers as well as for advancing the field. Literature suggests some strategies that can help address this challenge. In this talk, Ranade and Swarts will discuss case studies from their respective institutions on how they used a combination of strategies to build bridges between their departments and industries in an attempt to close the gap. The case studies will provide practical insights and highlight challenges of implementing the strategies mentioned above along with opening discussions on how to tackle such challenges.