Leaders in the Wisconsin community gathered to address the need to keep UW System alumni in state after graduation and widen the positive domestic reputation of UW-Madison in a forum held Wednesday night at the Kohl Center.
The forum, titled \Educational Assets: Strengthening Wisconsin's Economy,"" included UW-Madison Chancellor John Wiley and UW System President Kevin Reilly.
The panelists discussed creating a knowledge-based economy in Wisconsin with more professional and technological jobs. Reilly said a tolerant atmosphere in the state is key in accomplishing this goal.
""We call this the three T's: talent, technology and tolerance,"" Reilly said. ""How can the university be used to create a tolerant economy of people of all different backgrounds?""
Roberta Gassman, secretary for the state's Department of Workforce Development, said education is vital to helping the economy.
""The importance of the connection of knowledge to future jobs is amazing,"" Gassman said. ""We in Wisconsin are looking at two roads, and I think the high road is knowledge ...That has the potential to spark high amounts of jobs and research ...I'd say that's very much our future, and we can thrive if we are a state of tomorrow, not of yesterday.""
Wiley said the state's economic reliance on tourism and manufacturing is detrimental to keeping graduates in state, as they often find higher-paying jobs elsewhere.
""We fail to attract enough people from other states to come to Wisconsin and take jobs here,"" Wiley said. ""To the extent that we over-rely on [tourism and manufacturing] is a problem we have.""
A need to spread the reputation of UW-Madison as one of the top schools in the nation was also of high importance to the panelists. Gassman noted UW-Madison is more well known as a top school internationally than in the United States, discussing how Gov. Jim Doyle, in his travels abroad, learned of overseas recognition of UW-Madison's accomplishments.
""The governor spoke with leaders in Japan, and they knew about the University of Wisconsin [and its research],"" Gassman said.
Reilly said he felt the topics addressed at the forum are important issues in Wisconsin.
""The WAA and WisPolitics invited us, and the panelists are all interesting speakers,"" he said. ""The WAA is doing more, including getting involved in the economic benefits of the state ...I think if we make the university viable in the future, it needs to be one of-if not the-main economic vehicle in the future.\
