The Growing Importance of Industry–Academia Partnerships: Reflections from ECEDHA and APEC

Industry and academic leaders come together at ECEDHA to exchange ideas, strengthen partnerships, and shape the future of engineering education.

Over the past couple of months, I’ve had the opportunity to spend time with academic leaders, educators, and students, including important events in our industry, the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Heads Association (ECEDHA) Annual Conference and IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition (APEC). These conversations left me both energized and reflective.

What stood out most wasn’t just the technology; it was the people.

At ECEDHA, I connected with department heads and faculty shaping the future of engineering education. At APEC, I saw something even more telling - a noticeable increase in student and educator participation. That shift matters. It signals a growing demand within academia for access to the tools and expertise needed to support designs that are pushing the boundaries of power electronics.

Today’s challenges of wide bandgap semiconductors, higher switching frequencies, tighter efficiency requirements are no longer theoretical. To study, validate, and innovate in this space, students and researchers need access to modern, high-performance test and measurement solutions.

During ECEDHA I had the opportunity to speak about this very topic, and it helped reinforce a key belief I’ve carried throughout my career.

Partnership as a Force Multiplier

From my time as a student at Texas Tech University to my work at National Instruments and now at Tektronix, I’ve believed deeply in the value of investing time and expertise into the next generation.

In order to have a strong industry, university partnerships are no longer optional but essential.

The most effective research programs today are built on collaboration. Industry brings real-world insight, validated measurement approaches, and advanced instrumentation. Academia brings curiosity, innovation, and fresh thinking.

I’ve seen how powerful this can be. In our collaboration with Texas Tech, close partnership helped strengthen research proposals, accelerate validation, and better prepare students for real-world engineering challenges. That’s how innovation moves from concept to impact.

Listening to Academia, and Building for It

At Tektronix, partnership with education isn’t new; it’s foundational. More than 80 years ago our first customers was a university. Since then, we’ve stayed closely connected to academia because we know what happens in the lab today shapes the industry tomorrow.

What I heard at ECEDHA and APEC reinforces both the need and the opportunity.

Educators don’t just need equipment. They need solutions that are:

• Real-world and relevant
• Easy to learn and teach
• Built on proven, reliable quality

That’s why we design and manufacture equipment specifically with education in mind, guided by direct input from the academic community.

Beyond the Bench: Enabling Modern Learning

Today’s lab extends far beyond the bench, and so do we.

We’re building a connected ecosystem with tools like TekScope, TekDrive, and KickStart that enable:

• Remote learning
• Easier collaboration across teams
• Extended analysis beyond the instrument itself

As learning models evolve, this flexibility is critical. Our goal is simple, to make powerful measurement and analysis accessible wherever learning happens.

Supporting the Full Academic Journey

Partnership also means showing up beyond the product.

We work alongside universities to help design labs, support research programs, and contribute to grant efforts. Keeping labs running and enabling new initiatives is just as important as the equipment itself.

Because when educators succeed, students succeed.

Staying Ahead: AI at the Bench

Another theme that came up often is the growing role of AI in engineering workflows.

My colleague Rick Kuhlman, GM of Tektronix Software, presented a keynote at the ECE AI Accelerator Symposium focused on using AI in T&M workflows. The response was incredibly positive and reinforced something we believe strongly - educators need to stay ahead of these shifts, and we aim to help them do that.

If you'd like to explore more, the webinar is available to watch on demand. You can also watch this video to see AI-controlled test equipment demo in action.

Rick Kuhlman, GM of Tektronix Software, delivered a keynote on advancing AI-driven test and measurement workflows at the ECE AI Accelerator Symposium

Investing in the Next Generation

If there’s one takeaway from ECEDHA and APEC, it’s that the next generation of engineers is ready. They’re curious, engaged, and eager to tackle complex challenges.

Our responsibility, as an industry and as individuals, is to give them the tools, support, and opportunities they need to succeed.

For me, that’s personal. And for Tektronix, it’s a legacy we’ve carried for more than 80 years, and one we’re committed to continuing. Because when we invest in education, we’re not just supporting students. We’re shaping the future of technology.

Contact us today to learn how we can support your education or research lab needs.