| Universities are strategic partners for economic recovery |
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Op-Ed Universities are strategic partners for economic recovery By Stephen Toope, Michael Stevenson, David Turpin and Charles Jago The world is facing an unprecedented economic crisis. Canada and British Columbia are not immune and while it is expected that B.C. will be less severely affected than other jurisdictions, we must take strategic actions over the next few months. Now, more than ever, it is critical that we maintain our focus on the elements of success for B.C.'s economy of the future. It has never been more important to develop an educated populace and an innovation-based economy. The global scale of the economic crisis has demonstrated the depth of our integration in a world economy. B.C. must be able to compete in this increasingly globalized environment. It has long been recognized that well-educated people are critical to improving our competitiveness and quality of life. South of the border, president-elect Barack Obama, in announcing the appointment of the new secretary of education, stated, "If we want to out-compete the world tomorrow, then we are going to have to out-educate the world today." B.C.'s research universities are key strategic partners for governments, communities and businesses as we address the challenges of the next few years. Our institutions are focused on the development of both new talent and new knowledge for our economy and society. Our researchers are actively moving new knowledge into society. Whether it is developing new devices that can determine the quality of logs and maximize the value of each harvested tree or creating more profitable processes for refining copper, our researchers collaborate with companies around the province to keep us competitive. But, as importantly, we're setting the stage for the future with discoveries that will lead to economic opportunities down the road. Last year, the personal energy harvester developed by Prof. Max Donelan -- which produces energy through walking -- was chosen as one of Time magazine's Best Inventions of 2008. It is our students, however, who play the most significant role in knowledge transfer. Within universities, graduate students are the engine of the research process, contributing to the development of innovative ideas and technologies. Graduate and undergraduate students alike play an essential role in transferring this knowledge beyond the university to the business, public and non-profit sectors. University students and graduate interns are working with companies, the public sector and other organizations around the province on real-world problems as diverse as harvesting energy from ocean waves to improving flight safety systems using advanced computer visualization techniques. It is university graduates who will create and staff B.C.'s leading companies of the future. The provincial government deserves much credit for significant investments already made in our province's future. Over the past few years, we have seen an important expansion in post-secondary capacity and facilities. We have seen new support for graduate and undergraduate students and enhanced funding for research in genomics, health and climate change that has contributed to B.C.'s reputation as a leader in these areas. As provincial and federal governments consider measures for short-term economic stimulus, revitalizing university infrastructure built in the 1960s and 1970s should not be forgotten. Strengthening our universities contributes to the generation of new knowledge that can make our society more productive and prosperous in the long term. Investments in knowledge and education will help to ensure that our province is well-positioned to meet the challenges we face today and over the next decade. We have momentum on the road to the economy of the future. Let's keep moving. Stephen J. Toope is president and vice-chancellor, University of British Columbia; Michael Stevenson is president and vice-chancellor, Simon Fraser University; David H. Turpin is president and vice-chancellor, University of Victoria, and Charles Jago is interim president and vice-chancellor, University of Northern British Columbia. © Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun |
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