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| Urban universities are a major economic force in and for America’s cities. In fact, it is estimated that 90 percent of the economic power of colleges and universities is expressed in our cities and their immediate surrounding areas.* |
It is not hard to understand why, once
one begins to count the economic benefits
a region reaps from the presence of a public
research university like The University of Akron.
Among the most obvious – and frequently
overlooked – of these, are the direct
financial contributions institutions make to
the communities.
*(Neal Peirce, The Washington Post Writers Group, 2002) |
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| Today, a high school education is only the first stop on the road to a lifetime of learning. Perhaps more than at any other time in human history, one’s economic well-being depends upon one’s education. | The latest Census Bureau study illustrates the dramatic difference in earning potential between those who hold college degrees and those who complete only a high school diploma. | |
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Our economic future
as a region requires
us to think imaginatively
and act boldly. The
cooperation that will
allow us to bridge our
differences begins with
the acceptance of
our identity as a single entity.
Northeast Ohio has the necessary components to build a bridge of economic regional success. Like the Leonardo bridge, which unites four arches into a single graceful structure, so too, we can unite the communities of this region into a single, dynamic economic force. To flourish in a 21st century economy, we must think regionally and compete globally. The University of Akron is committed to regional alliances. We are expanding the talent pool, enhancing research and creating a rich environment for entrepreneurial success. |
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Great structures create powerful symbols.
What we build reflects who we are and
becomes a visual metaphor for our society.
One of the most compelling of these
symbols is the Leonardo bridge, a structure
that literally spans both space and time.
The bridge was first envisioned by Leonardo da Vinci more than 500 years ago. He correctly surmised that complex, diverse forces could be unified using simple geometric principles. But no one had the foresight or courage to trust da Vinci’s design until 2001, when the Leonardo Bridge Project in Oslo, Norway made his marvelous design a reality. |
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Northeast Ohio has the tools to build an economic Leonardo
bridge. Regional Clusters of Innovation in polymers, health care
services, electronics and other areas can generate new technologies
that, in turn, create new wealth and opportunities. Major
research institutions like Case Western Reserve University and
The University of Akron supply the technological knowledge and
infrastructure to generate such innovations.
If we are bold we can unify these and other complex and diverse economic forces, using the simple principles of shared identity and collaboration, to raise a single, encompassing economic structure that carries the fortunes and hopes of all of Northeast Ohio far into the future.
Dr. Luis M. Proenza
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The University of Akron is an Equal Education and Employment Institution. ©2006 by The University of Akron |
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