Business Leaders Create Action Plan to Sustain U.S. Competitiveness

Expressing concern over the nation's ability to sustain its scientific and technological superiority throughout the 21st Century, 15 leading business organizations have released an action plan that aims to double the number of science, technology, engineering and mathematics graduates by 2015.

The report, Tapping America's Potential: The Education for Innovation Initiative, identifies several troubling indicators that the U.S. is losing its innovative edge. For example, the percentage of students planning to pursue engineering degrees declined by one-third between 1992-2002, and funding for basic research in the physical sciences as a percentage of the gross domestic product has declined by half since 1970.

Other indicators reveal measurable declines in patents and scientific articles in the U.S. However, one key statistic - the finding that more than 50 percent of engineering doctoral degrees awarded by U.S. engineering colleges are to foreign nationals - draws particular attention. Recommendations for reversing this trend and boosting the number of graduates in these fields are outlined across five core areas, including:

• Building public support to make improvements in these fields a national priority by launching an awareness campaign;
• Motivating students and adults to study and enter careers in these disciplines, with a special effort geared toward those in underrepresented groups through scholarship and internship opportunities, and the expansion of undergraduate retention programs;
• Upgrading elementary and secondary teaching in math and science to foster higher student achievement;
• Reforming visa and immigration policies to enable the U.S. to attract and retain top science, technology, engineering and math students from around the world to study and stay to work in the U.S.; and,
• Boosting and sustaining funding for basic research, especially in the physical sciences and engineering.

Following each recommendation are specific steps geared toward achieving each goal and addressed to the groups who should be in charge of implementing them. These groups include the federal government, business leaders, state officials, district leaders, and the higher education sector. Recognizing that the private sector can and must do more, the report states that the business community will lead in building public awareness and support for greater interest, investment and performance in science, technology, engineering and math.

To double the number of graduates, the report states that business leaders will work with the administration, Congress, governors, educators, colleges and universities, and member companies to identify special legislative, regulatory, programmatic and corporate philanthropic vehicles to adopt the outlined recommendations. The report is available in full at: http://www.businessroundtable.org/pdf/20050803001TAPfinalnb.pdf