Purdue president urges action to combat technology deficit

Martin C. Jischke

"We are at a crossroads in our nation as we enter a century that we know will be dominated by science, engineering, technology and education," Jischke said to the Lafayette Rotary Club.

Jischke, who also is chairman of the Association of American Universities and chair of the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors, participated in a two-day summit on international education sponsored by the U.S. state and education departments earlier this month. Jischke was one of six university presidents quoted on the state department's site. He also participated in the National Summit on Competitiveness in December.

"There is a convergence of science, technology and engineering taking place," Jischke said. "And this convergence is about to change the world.

"And yet, at a point in time when science, technology and engineering are opening all these incredible potentials, the United States is falling behind in the production of graduates in these fields. Indeed, if current trends continue, by 2010, only four years from now, more than 90 percent of all scientists and engineers in the world will live in Asia.

"This is a technology deficit. It is being called a 'gathering storm.' Just as people on our Gulf Coast must prepare for a gathering hurricane before it makes landfall, we must address this technology deficit before it is too late. The force for change in this gathering storm lies in education."

Jischke noted that throughout the second half of the 20th century, the United States led the world in education and technological innovation.

"But we have lapsed, and lapsed dramatically in a remarkably short period of time," he said. "Twenty years ago, the United States, Japan and China each graduated a similar number of engineers and more than twice the number coming out of South Korea.

"By the year 2000, Chinese engineering graduates had increased 161 percent to 207,500; Japanese engineering graduates had increased 42 percent to 103,200; South Korean engineering graduates had increased 140 percent to 56,500. Credible and, in fact, very conservative estimates place India's production of engineers at more than 100,000 per year.

"Meanwhile, U.S. engineering graduates have declined 20 percent to 59,500.

"We are falling behind in the production of people in science, engineering, technology and math, which is at the core of all three."

Although acknowledging the world's changing technology landscape, Jischke said the United States can continue to be a world leader.

"In spite of all these concerns, American higher education continues to be the best in the world," he said. "We can maintain our worldwide lead even as other countries invest heavily to build up their own high-technology sectors.

"But to succeed, we will need a national consensus, just as we needed popular support for the Land Grant Act, the G.I. Bill and the National Defense Education Act. We can inspire a whole new generation of young people to the incredible opportunities in science, engineering, technology and math.

"And the return on our investment will be gigantic. It will be a stronger nation and a world filled with breathtaking advances in medicine, science and engineering — breakthroughs that are beyond our dreams today."

Writer: J. Michael Willis, (765) 494-0371, jmwillis@purdue.edu

Source: Martin C. Jischke, (765) 494-9708

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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