The Industry-Academia Partnership Pilot Project (IAPPP) was undertaken by Huertas Junior College (HJC), in Caguas, Puerto Rico, to improve advanced technical education, enhance the competitive capabilities of the region, and reduce the region's unemployment rate. The project consisted of three basic components: professional growth opportunities for faculty; curriculum development through job-specific educational experiences for all program students; and program improvement through a job orientation and work experiences or internships. In all three components, staff from participating industries acted as consultants to faculty and as mentors to students. All students enrolled in IAPPP were minority students, 84% were from rural towns, and 99% came from families with incomes below the federal poverty level. The program was implemented in three stages, the first of which was implemented in the first 3 months of the project and consisted of coordinating professors' visits to industries to establish initial contacts. The second stage, implemented in the next 4 months, was dedicated to strengthening industry ties and scheduling students' visits. The final stage, lasting 4 more months, involved student internships. The program, which achieved a 100% retention rate, increased the employment outlook of participating students by 81%. Of the 23 participating students in the electronics program, 4 students were employed by the companies they had gained experience in, and 3 of the 9 students in the Computer Drafting program were employed by companies in which they practiced. (MAB)