Abstract
University-industry collaborations are crucial for bridging the gap between academic learning and practical application, especially as organizations adapt to an AI-driven workforce. These partnerships encompass a variety of activities, including research, innovation, and work-integrated learning (WIL) initiatives like internships, which play a vital role in enhancing students’ readiness for the job market. Yet, despite their importance, there is a significant gap in understanding the motivations behind these partnerships, particularly from the perspective of Human Resource (HR) professionals. HR leaders are essential in aligning internship programs with organizational goals while ensuring that they meet educational and industry requirements. This study utilizes the Reasoned Action Approach (RAA) to investigate HR professionals' motivations in establishing and maintaining university-industry partnerships for internships, especially with a focus on AI-driven talent development. The RAA helps explain how beliefs influence intentions and behaviour, providing a theoretical framework to explore the decision-making process of HR professionals. Through interviews with fifteen senior and mid-level HR professionals, the findings highlight the motivations of HR professionals in university-industry collaborations for business internships and provide practical steps for HR managers to strengthen these collaborations with universities. The study also extends the Reasoned Action Approach (RAA) to organizational settings by emphasizing how these partnerships serve as a strategic and socially responsible tool for talent development and long-term collaboration between universities and companies. By applying the RAA, this study offers theoretical and practical insights for enhancing the effectiveness and sustainability of university-industry collaborations, benefiting both students and organizations in the context of an AI-driven job market.