Summary   |   Background  |   AeA Positions for 2005 Legislative Action  |   Key Contacts

Summary

The high technology industry believes higher education is vital to a strong national and state economy.  It provides individuals with the skills necessary to access and succeed in fulfilling and economically rewarding careers. 

As our world becomes a smaller place due to improved communication and travel options, businesses are forced to compete in a global market.  Countries across our planet are making dramatic steps forward to improve their educational resources and are providing more of their citizens’ access to excellent higher educational opportunities than ever before.

The United States and Washington State specifically must make education, both K-12, and post secondary education a top priority.

Background

The high-technology industry relies on the innovation of new products and processes to meet the demands of customers.  This innovation is the product of highly educated and creative individuals, with specialized skills in math, engineering, and science areas.

Unfortunately, predictions by both government and business representatives alike indicate that as we move farther into the 21st Century the United States will see a serious shortage of educated individuals to fill job openings.  Due to a retiring baby boom generation and lower birth rates we may face a skilled worker shortage of 14 million individuals by 2020. 

Meanwhile other countries are stepping up to the challenge and investing in their economic future by providing greater higher education opportunities to their citizens.  The United States awards only 17% of bachelors degrees in engineering and science while China confers 58% in the same areas, Taiwan 34% and Germany 31%.  From 1987 to 2001 the raw number of American students receiving PhDs in science, math, and engineering disciplines declined while the number of Asian citizens earning PhDs in those fields rose by a factor of five.

For our nation and State to remain a leader in innovation it is vital to that we provide the opportunity for students reach their full academic potential.

AeA Positions for 2005 Legislative Action

For over 20 years the AeA Washington Council has been associated with advocacy for higher education opportunities.  As an association, AeA advocates policies which:

• Increase the number of scientific, engineering, mathematics, and technical graduates through the exploration of ideas such as; differentiated tuition rates for high costs programs, improved academic preparation and articulation, and increased retention rates.

• Grow the number of graduates across all disciplines to provide students with a high quality education to further their life goals and assist companies in innovation and growth.

• Enact performance contracts between public higher education institutions and the state that outline specific institution priorities, clear goals of all parties involved including the state and the schools, and quantifiable measures of success.

• Explore resource options to assist institutions in matching competitive research grants in technology related fields.

• Increase the efficient transfer of university technology to commercial applications by enhancing a rich base of research, expanding resources for commercialization, and providing cooperative intellectual property policies.

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Key Contacts

Public Policy Director
Nancy Atwood
(206) 949-8844

Executive Director
Terry Byington
(425) 497-1707

This page was last updated on 08/09/05.  
Copyright © 2005 American Electronics Association.  All rights reserved.