Fereja, Temesgen (PhD)Woldie, Alemu2022-07-212023-11-052022-07-212023-11-052021-10http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/32320The purpose of this study was to investigate the practice and challenges of university-industrial park linkage in public universities in Addis Ababa. The site of the study was Addis Ababa Institute of Technology-AAU and Addis Ababa Science and Technology University. To this effect, both primary and secondary data sources were used. A set of questionnaires and key informant interviews were also employed. School/college deans, department heads, chairs and instructors have filled in the questionnaires. Besides, interviews were conducted with university-industry linkage office directors, Industrial Park Development Corporation and Industrial park representatives to consolidate the quantitative data. Simple random sampling method was used to select the instructors and purposive sampling technique was applied for the other respondents. Likewise, descriptive survey research approach was used. Moreover, the study used mixed methods to triangulate the information gained by quantitative and qualitative data. The information obtained through quantitative data, questionnaires, was analyzed using descriptive statistics and independent sample t-test using SPSS version 24 (at alpha = 0.05). The responses gathered through interviews presented with descriptive and narrative statements. The major findings of the study indicate that the universities had limitations to plan, implement and evaluate the UIL plan jointly. The stratum of the linkage between the universities and industrial parks was found at infant stage which is below the required level. There was gap in aligning the skills of graduates and the needs of industrial parks. The local universities have limitations in their capacity to get the trust and confidence of the industrial parks. The efforts made by the university academic staff were not well coordinated and systematized. In turn, the industrial parks lack willingness to interact and to disclose their researchable problems to the universities. The dominant barriers that affect the linkage were poor communication, program misalignment, inadequate leadership support, lack of competitiveness among industries and participatory leadership, absence of guidelines, lack of need assessment, follow up and incentive mechanisms. The existing coordination among government, university and industry can be categorized as laissez fair model configuration. To realize effective linkage between the universities and industrial parks, the universities advised to focus on win-win strategies and attract the industrial parks to enhance the sense of initiative and strive to get the trust of industrial parks. Therefore, the universities should enhance involvement of the people of industrial parks in UIL plan, and other related key linkage activities. On the other hand, the industrial parks shall be willing and open their doors to interact with the universities ultimately to realize mutual benefits. Besides, the government bodies are expected play a pivotal role in the formation of triple helix model of interaction among the government, the universities and industrial parks. It is also expected to narrow the gaps that limit the linkage. Key words: University-industry linkage, Industrial parks, university and opportunity.enUniversity-industry linkageIndustrial parksuniversity and opportunityThesis