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by dr. robert e. myers, president, daniel webster college, nashua, nh
Educate, Train and Retain: A Regional Partnership OF BUSINESS
and Higher Education to Create the “Workforce Academy”
Address to the High Technology Expo Millyard Technology Park
Nashua, New Hampshire
September 14, 2005
Good afternoon everyone. And my
sincere thanks for inviting me to speak to you today about a subject that
is near and dear to my heart, and that is what I think are some of the
roles and responsibilities of institutions of higher learning for regional
workforce development.
First, let me say just a few words
about how I came to have a bit of a passion for this subject.
In one earlier iteration of my career,
in another state somewhere to the south of here, I recall joining a
lobbyist from another university to provide testimony to state legislators
on workforce development, and I recall this lobbyist proclaiming with
pride that his institution’s single largest contribution to meeting the
local workforce needs was called a “commencement,” when his university
graduated a fairly large number of young men and women. I found this a
bit less than a stellar contribution since just about every college or
university I’m aware of, at the very least, graduates its students – or,
at least, it had better.
And it fairly collided with the highly
proactive partnerships my university was engaged in to enhance workforce
development. It was one occasion when I was happy to be following another
speaker.
In the same state, I had the privilege
to periodically rub elbows with a true visionary of workforce development,
Dr. Rita Colwell, who almost single-handedly created the I-270 Technology
Corridor just northwest of Washington D.C. and was the godmother, if you
will, of establishing Maryland as one of the nation’s premier locations
for biotechnology. It was, of course, a mighty forging of university
talents, expertise and vision with the talents and needs of the region.
Some of you may recall that Dr. Colwell went on to head the National
Science Foundation during the Clinton administration.
Later, and just before I came to Daniel
Webster College as President, I spent three years at Embry-Riddle
Aeronautical University, where I presided over one of three campuses that
obsessively focused on helping the aviation and aerospace industries
address their workforce development and training needs.
So, I’ve had just enough experience to
cause me to be smitten with both the power and the opportunities
associated with higher education working closely in partnership with the
region’s employers to help enhance economic development. Of course, I
brought that infatuation with me as a newcomer to the greater Nashua
metropolitan area, and it is with that as part of my background that I’ve
observed with a newcomer’s eyes and with great interest what appears to be
the lay of the land here.
I think as most of you know, there are
some unique demographic challenges unfolding here in the greater Nashua
area. First, if memory serves correctly, while the state of New Hampshire
has a high proportion of its high school students graduating, only about
50% of those who graduate go on to college. And of those who do, more
than 50% of them leave the state of New Hampshire to attend a college or
university. Consequently, and this is most prevalent among the
independent schools here in New Hampshire, the majority of
college-attending students are from outside of New Hampshire, which isn’t
in itself necessarily a bad thing, but once they graduate most of them
leave the state. So, in many ways, the state is subjected to a net “brain
drain” of, not only
our
best and brightest, but also
of those who come from
other states for their education, and then leave. In both
cases, they are taking their workforce skills elsewhere.
Couple this with the fact that, as the
“baby boom” generation retires or nears retirement, there also is a
declining population of youth coming up through the K-12 ranks to feed the
pipeline for college. This, of course, leads to declining populations now
and potentially in the future of skilled employees. And that, in turn,
means that fewer numbers of young, highly skilled and well compensated
families will be called upon to shoulder greater financial and health care
responsibility for an aging population.
There is, thankfully, an influx of
population to the area, some of which can be traced to the quality of jobs
offered by regional employers, but we also know that substantial numbers
of immigrants or first-generation Americans come to the area needing
training or retraining in basic skills such as English and math competency
to take their legitimate place in a productive society here.
So, we are lacking no shortage of
interesting challenges and opportunities. I’m heartened by the flurry of
activity by the major proponents of economic development in the state,
their regional public roundtables with citizens and business leaders, and
their inclusion of higher education in the equation of solutions
providers.
I also follow the various national
trade associations to see what they’re saying about workforce
development. Let me share with you a couple of insights from just one,
the Aerospace Industries Association. When asked what they see as the
biggest challenge to the U.S. from foreign competition in a global
marketplace, they responded “a skilled workforce.” And their concern is
not narrowly focused on the specific industries of aerospace, but all
industries in this country that depend upon creativity, innovation, and
the sciences … much of which made this country a global leader in the
first place. We are losing out to other nations when we fail to focus our
investments and attention on teachers and youth to stimulate science,
math, and the excitement of careers in all things technology. Certainly
these are concerns that impact the greater Nashua region, as well.
So, now, I think it is time for the
area’s colleges and universities to step up to the plate in a robust,
coordinated fashion. By that, I mean we college and university presidents
ought to be discussing on a regular basis how we can unite and, in turn,
work as partners to identify targeted opportunities for a range of
training and education programs that are uniquely tailored to work in
conjunction with economic development plans. Through a systematic process
of employer needs assessment, I believe we in higher education can develop
together
a better understanding of workforce needs and customize education
solutions based on those needs. And
together
I believe we can achieve a critical mass to improve linkages, research
funding, internships, and apprentice programs that are geared to serve the
needs of the regional business environment.
It doesn’t matter what we call this
partnership. What matters is we build it
now.
Our regional economy is no different from the nation’s economy in that we
all need to be concerned about an agile workforce, and a united higher
education partnership with business is about effectively responding to
that need.
At Daniel Webster College, we can do
our share by educating purposeful young men and women in preparation for
careers in aviation, business, engineering, technology, and the social
sciences. But I invite you to imagine for a moment if all of the region’s
higher education institutions worked collaboratively to mount the
equivalent of a “workforce academy,” each bringing its unique mission and
talents to a single table with a single agenda – to build the regional
workforce of tomorrow.
I further invite fellow leaders of
higher education in the region to join in this effort.
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