What can the University do to support long-term economic growth in Wisconsin?
A conversation with UW-Extension Interim Chancellor Marv Van Kekerix and Wisconsin Department of Commerce Secretary Cory Nettles
Van Kekerix: The link between education and economic development is clear. States where more people have college degrees have higher per-capita incomes. We can, and should, do more to grow the economy in Wisconsin.
Nettles: Education produces the workers, managers and business owners of tomorrow. Economic development creates employment and investment opportunities for those workers, managers and business owners. It's our job to meet future challenges in both areas.
Van Kekerix: This boils down to a question of access - to UW degree programs, and access to all of this university's resources and knowledge. We have an obligation to all 5.3 million Wisconsin residents to help them apply the best research to everyday problems.
Nettles: Governor Jim Doyle often says that every state in the nation envies the Wisconsin educational system. Wisconsin families, for the most part, can send their children to safe, high-quality neighborhood schools. Graduates can pursue a college degree or technical training at the finest public and private universities and technical colleges. In addition, the Department of Commerce works with the university to help entrepreneurs tap into the specialized training and counseling they need to launch and grow successful businesses.
Van Kekerix: Working with federal, state and local partners in this way is a longstanding tradition in Extension. If you look at almost any major industry in Wisconsin - including agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and biotechnology - the university has played a major role in helping these sectors grow and thrive.
Nettles: In recent years, however, with increased competitive pressures from the global economy, Wisconsin has seen a loss of manufacturing jobs. Clearly, we cannot afford to rest on our laurels. Governor Doyle's "Grow Wisconsin" plan directs our efforts toward the high-end, where Wisconsin is most competitive. To create the family-supporting jobs of the future, we must build on our strong manufacturing base and establish a new entrepreneurial culture in Wisconsin. That will require signiÞcant investment in both education and business.
Van Kekerix: To know if those investments are paying dividends, we'll need to focus on the real outcomes of our work. By consistently evaluating and analyzing the practical value of our outreach education and applied research, we'll know which programs are most successful.