One idea might be to expand how curriculum is designed by including a CBE (competency-based education) model. At the core of the design is a robust assessment strategy that is based on an active and authentic interaction with industry partners to define workplace success and the criteria of success being used in the workplace. Getting the industry partners into the teaching space (f2f,online, other group settings) could be the beginning of the professional network and communities you highlight. One small step but a beginning perhaps!