A new report by top state policy and business leaders says South Carolina has a lot of higher education work to do to meet future workforce needs and economic success.
The “Competing Through Knowledge,” which was released today, outlines several goals and strategies for the state to meet several coming higher education needs. It was offered by a group that includes two former governors, a former House speaker and top business leaders.
“South Carolina’s workforce challenges are clear, and the leaders on this task force came up with a targeted set of measures to address them,” said former Gov. Jim Hodges.
Former House Speaker and Ambassador David Wilkins, who currently chairs the board of Clemson University, added, ““There certainly is a strong consensus about moving the state forward. This is an opportunity for our South Carolina to be a national leader in business-higher education collaboration and workforce development.”
Among the goals outlined in the report:
- Increasing the number of graduates in STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — fields.
- Creating more higher-education public-private partnerships.
- Training 44,000 more health care professionals who are needed by 2030.
- Boosting college financial aid for low-income and middle-class families.
The report says the state will produce more than a half million new jobs from economic expansion in the next 15 years. Just over half will require college degrees. State businesses will face an annual shortfall of 2,588 workers who need associate’s degrees and 4,149 positions for people who need bachelor’s degrees, according to a 2013 study.
“We identified the need for over 110,000 more degree recipients in the next 15 years to fill workforce needs,” said Jim Morton of Greenville, the retired vice chair of Nissan North America. “It is important that business and higher education work with policymakers to develop a plan to address these critical needs.”
The report also detailed several strategies to improve higher education:
- Funding performance incentives for higher education institutions;
- Tuition rebates for students who pursue degrees in areas of high economic demand;
- Better online access to college-level courses and degree programs;
- Increased state funding for colleges and universities that agree to limit tuition increases;
- Allowing colleges and universities the flexibility to operate like businesses; and
- Funding colleges and universities on a formula tied to the level provided by other states in our region.
To learn more, visit CompetingThroughKnowledge.org
We Can Do Better, South Carolina!