Universities Are Essential in a Tech-Fueled Society

In an op-ed published on September 21 for University Business, Vice President for Strategic Communications and External Affairs Nada Anid, Ph.D., advocates for increasing support for students who pursue critical technology skills needed by government and industry. “A highly trained and college-educated workforce, one grounded in the ethics of how to best harness new technologies to benefit humanity, is needed more than ever to tackle issues such as cyberwarfare and artificial intelligence,” she says.

Recognizing that the costs of a college degree can be daunting, Anid recommends that colleges and universities “better demonstrate the outcomes and return on investment that added knowledge brings—while also keeping costs down.” They must also stay a step ahead when it comes to academic offerings, addressing the need for knowledge and skills about blockchain, cyberthreats, and other emerging areas of interest.

The U.S. government also has an important role to play, says Anid. Noting the unfilled jobs in cybersecurity and increases in China’s efforts to develop artificial intelligence, Anid asks for more funding through the U.S. National Science Foundation for scholarships and research.

Anid surveys the educational and economic landscape in the United States and calls for “an ambitious program similar in scope to the GI Bill. American students should know that if they become qualified in tech skills, the government will help pay for their education. The private sector should match these efforts, offering to pay off loans for students who accept in-house security positions.”

“Higher education may be facing a crisis,” Anid concludes, “but it may lead to a greater opportunity for universities to demonstrate why they must remain a cornerstone of a society fueled by technology.”

Read more op-eds by NYIT experts.