University presidents and New Hampshire business leaders gathered Tuesday to encourage lawmakers to increase funding for public education. Education and business leaders have called for stronger partnerships with New Hampshire employers, increased student aid funding, and an extension of the five-year tuition freeze. Schools that are part of the University of New Hampshire system have been described as the connective tissue for businesses that partner with the state, and everyone All need to work together to help the economy grow. “We’ve been very lucky throughout the whole process,” said Ben Learned, human resources manager at Freudenberg-NOK. “The university system, especially Plymouth State University, it’s right in our backyard. University of New Hampshire graduates can have the skills employers want, business leaders say. “Give them the right experience when they’re in school, and make them more likely to be with us,” says BAE Systems’ Birtley Locke: “We’ll tell us later when they graduate. Tuesday’s event brought the University of New Hampshire, Keene State and Plymouth State together with businesses to discuss where they need to grow and push for more state funding to support keeping tuition low. “We want students to be able to afford can afford to attend our college,” said UNH President Jim Dean. “We want to help them thrive and be part of the state’s economic infrastructure. “Mike Skelton, president and CEO of the New Hampshire Association of Business and Industry, said the Granite State’s workforce has been significantly discounted over the past few years..1 Challenge Many businesses in New Hampshire are now facing labor availability,” he said. Workforce housing, training and child care are also issues. Demand is high and jobs are available, but the workforce isn’t where it should be, Skelton said. “We’ve had a lot of people leave the workforce and never come back,” he said. “Our legal immigration system has slowed down. Students are thinking about when to join the workforce.” State funding for the university system is smaller than it was in 2011, and the new requirement is to gradually increase funding.
University presidents and New Hampshire business leaders came together Tuesday to encourage lawmakers to increase funding for public education.
Education and business leaders have called for stronger partnerships with New Hampshire employers and increased student aid funding while extending the five-year tuition freeze.
The schools that are part of the University of New Hampshire system have been described as the connective tissue of the state’s collaborative ventures, where everyone needs to work together to help the economy grow.
“We’ve been very fortunate throughout the university system, especially Plymouth State University, which is right in our backyard,” said Ben Learned, human resources manager at Freudenberg-NOK.
Business leaders say NH graduates can have the skills employers want.
BAE Systems’ Birtley Locke said: “People who come out of school have given them the right experience while they were in school, which makes them more likely to work with us after graduation.”
Tuesday’s event brought together the University of New Hampshire, Keene State College and Plymouth State University with businesses to discuss where they need to grow and push for more state funding to keep tuition low.
“We want students to be able to afford our college,” said UNH President Jim Dean. “We want to help them thrive and be part of the state’s economic infrastructure.”
Mike Skelton, president and CEO of the New Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the Granite State’s workforce has been heavily discounted over the past few years.
“The number one challenge facing many businesses in New Hampshire right now is labor availability,” he said.
Workforce housing, training and child care are also issues. Skelton said demand was high and there were jobs, but the workforce wasn’t where it should be.
“We’ve had a lot of people leave their jobs and never come back,” he said. “Our legal immigration system has slowed down. Students are thinking about when to join the workforce.”
State funding for the university system is smaller than it was in 2011, and the new requirement is to gradually increase funding.