Strategic industry partnerships drive reform in vocational curriculum development

Purpose This study examines how the strategic industry–institution partnerships influence vocational curriculum reform and graduate outcomes. It explores the mechanisms through which sustained collaboration enhances curriculum relevance, institutional responsiveness and alignment with evolving labour-market demands across different industry sectors. Design/methodology/approach A mixed-methods design was employed, combining survey data from 25 vocational institutions with semi-structured interviews involving institutional leaders and industry partners across three sectors: advanced manufacturing, healthcare services and digital technologies. Quantitative analysis assessed patterns of collaboration intensity and curriculum adaptation, while qualitative insights were used to interpret institutional and sectoral dynamics shaping partnership effectiveness. Findings The findings indicate that deeper and more institutionalised forms of collaboration are associated with more frequent curriculum updates, higher perceived skill relevance and improved graduate employment outcomes. Mechanisms such as co-developed curricula, shared instructional roles and integrated training models were particularly influential. However, sector-specific regulatory constraints, resource asymmetries and organisational capacity differences moderated the effectiveness and sustainability of partnerships. Originality/value This study contributes to vocational education research by moving beyond binary conceptualisations of industry engagement and proposing a sector-sensitive analytical framework linking collaboration depth to educational outcomes. By integrating comparative empirical evidence with institutional and sectoral perspectives, the study provides actionable insights for policymakers and institutional leaders seeking to strengthen the responsiveness and resilience of vocational training systems.