THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNANCE AND INDUSTRY EDUCATION INTEGRATION AND INSTITUTIONAL PERFORMANCE IN APPLIED ENGINEERING UNIVERSITIES

Abstract

The growing complexity of technological and industrial development has intensified expectations for applied engineering universities to enhance their institutional performance through effective governance systems and strong collaboration with industry. This study investigates the relationships between governance institutional positioning, industry-education integration, and institutional performance within applied engineering universities. A quantitative research design was employed to examine these relationships through statistical correlation analysis. Data were collected from 300 respondents comprising full-time faculty members, administrative staff, and selected industry partners who actively collaborate with universities. The research instrument consisted of four sections, including demographic information and three main constructs measured using a five-point Likert scale: governance institutional positioning, industry-education integration, and institutional performance. Prior to data collection, item evaluation and reliability testing were conducted to ensure the quality of the questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographic characteristics, while Pearson correlation analysis was applied to test the hypotheses regarding the strength and significance of the relationships among the variables. The results revealed that the majority of respondents were male, younger than 30 years old, had less than five years of work experience, and represented industry partners. Hypothesis testing showed that governance institutional positioning demonstrated a strong and significant relationship with institutional performance. Similarly, industry-education integration exhibited a very high and statistically significant correlation with institutional performance. These findings highlight the pivotal role of governance structures and industry collaboration as key determinants of institutional success. The study provides empirical evidence that can guide policy formulation, strategic planning, and partnership development for applied engineering universities striving to enhance their overall performance.