Raising our game: creating new learning experiences with research collaborations

Within the University sector, there has been concern expressed in recent years over the accreditation of alternative higher education providers to deliver degree programs. This presupposes that the two sectors would be in direct competition for the same students with providers offering similar programs and content, and catering to students with similar learning styles for comparable outcomes. Arguably, if a University is failing to provide a learning experience that is significantly more elevated and substantially different to one that is offered by an alternative higher education provider, then it should be re-evaluating its own practice rather than trying to eliminate the opposition. Product Design programs have undergone a contracted evolution since their academic inception following the Industrial Revolution. Therefore, they are arguably best placed to lead an evolution of University education as they are less hampered by the weight of historical expectation than traditional academic disciplines. This paper is a reflective opinion piece that proposes new practice to provide innovative, high order thinking learning experiences inspired by cutting edge collaborative practice between international University research partners. This partnership is based on an aspiration model of authentic collaboration between product design and engineering, in a health and wellbeing context. It suggests a way forward that clearly differentiates and enhances University Product Design education for a next generation research design education nexus.