Business Lunch Touts Education as Driver of Strong Economy
UNBC alumni participated in a panel discussion organized by the PG Chamber of Commerce this afternoon – photos 250News
Prince George, B.C. – “Higher education, stronger economy.”
That was the theme of a Chamber of Commerce luncheon today at the Coast Inn of the North.
It included speeches by University of Northern British Columbia president Dr. Daniel Weeks and Greg D’Avignon, president and CEO of the Business Council of BC. ,
Greg D’Avignon, president and CEO of the Business Council of BC
“I understand that our economy has certain demands on it, needs certain kinds of trades people and professionals in certain areas but we also have to be thinking about what are things going to look like 10, 20 years from now,” said Weeks.
“And universities play the long game, we’re in this for the long haul and we’re working on preparing our students for jobs perhaps that don’t even exist yet.”
He said preparing for the future includes adapting to the marketplace, as seen with the creation of the Wood and Innovation and Design Centre (WIDC).
“Absolutely. And again there’s a great opportunity there for our students, this is just the first step. The Wood Innovation program just launched this semester and we have big plans and big hopes for where that can go.”
D’Avignon added that post-secondary institutions like UNBC play a fundamental role in solving problems and advancing opportunities, for example when it comes connectivity.
“We see advancements in a myriad of ways. For example UNBC and Northern Health around health care,” he said. “Your ability to stay in your home with chronic disease rather than go to a hospital. The ability to scan and have your DNA loaded on a phone.”
D’Avignon continued: “Universities play a fundamental role in that research capacity and spreading it into the marketplace.”
But he also cautioned that in order for post-secondary institutions to continue to thrive, they’ll need to offer universal access for students.
“We’re entering into a generation, our education system, like UNBC, will be the deciders on whether we compete and prosper or don’t. We need to have the opportunity for First Nations to have access to knowledge and also share their knowledge with us.”
Comments
Higher enrollment in colleges has usually been an indicator of a slow economy. When people don’t have work they tend to go back to school if they can.
WTF? All of a sudden Christy Clark decides we need 1600 new full time nurses in BC. Is there an election coming?
I hope that the food was good at that business lunch because it sounds like the speakers had nothing to say other than “Get an education”.
If Newfoundland and Labrador can figure out where the problem lies . You’d think our politicos could also . But no . Let’s just keep raising the paywall of our educational industrial complex . Who needs merit when there is so much money to be made gouging student and making it unaffordable for adults trapped in the minimum wage leg hold . Is it any wonder that we lead canada in child poverty ? No , not at all .
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