Partnerships between postsecondary education institutions and employers, unions, professional associations, and other groups are discussed. The majority of examples are based on projects of the Education and the Economy Alliance, a program supported by the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education. Partnerships and joint, or collaborative, activities of colleges and these groups often involve research, economic development, and human resource development. Research partnerships may be basic or applied and may lead to new and profitable products. Economic development partnerships frequently concern community development, institutional development, and business development. Human resource development partnerships can be categorized as: entry-level preparation and orientation, technical skill development and maintenance, career transition preparation and skill enhancement, and career completion. The following basic factors involved in collaboration are considered: the organization's mission, the location within an organization of the partnership project, the level of leadership involvement with the project, and the depth of collaboration (i.e., how deeply felt are the values and practices of collaboration). (SW)