The World's Eyes are on Ohio For Advanced Education;
DATELINE: COLUMBUS, Ohio Aug. 28
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- More international students are choosing Ohio as an ideal location to pursue advanced degrees in education, according to the Ohio Business Development Coalition (OBDC), the nonprofit organization that markets the state for capital investment. The OBDC, citing a report from the Institute of International Education, says Ohio ranks among the top ten states in the nation for number of international students enrolled in colleges and universities.
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Ohio ranks ninth nationally, attracting more than 18,000 international students who come to the Buckeye State due to its global recognition in advanced materials, advanced design and advanced manufacturing degrees -- three industries that demand the technical knowledge taught in Ohio's rich array of higher education institutions.
"Today's top graduates often want more than a challenging career; they are also looking to lead a fulfilling personal life without compromising one for the other," said Ed Burghard, executive director for the Ohio Business Development Coalition. "Ohio is unique in the fact that it offers international students access to both larger, metropolitan cities as well as smaller, micropolitan cities. This easy access provides the resources and time for students and executives to achieve the balance they seek. Ohio truly is the state of perfect balance."
After graduation, Ohio's international students compete for world-class jobs located within the state. Ohio ranks No. 1 in the U.S. for plastics and rubber products employment, No. 1 in production of plastic, No. 1 in number of automobile suppliers, No. 1 in frozen specialty food production, No. 1 in production of electrical equipment and appliances, and No. 1 in production of metal working equipment.
"In Ohio, we think the basic formula for success is fairly straightforward: Innovation + Talent = Prosperity," said Shaun Yoder, director of the Business Alliance for Higher Education and the Economy (BAHEE).
The BAHEE is currently working across the private and public sectors to implement strategies to double the number of students graduating with bachelor's degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines from Ohio's higher education institutions by 2015.
Collaboration is also the goal of Ohio Governor Ted Strickland's new 10- year plan encouraging the state's 13 four-year and 24 two-year public universities and colleges to share a common goal: providing a quality, affordable education. Each college will become part of the new University System of Ohio.
Strickland and Ohio lawmakers froze tuition for two years and earmarked an extra $150 million for higher education in the state.
"The goal is to provide all Ohioans with access to a high-quality and affordable education," said Strickland. "The University System of Ohio will allow our public colleges and universities to build centers of excellence, while using improving technology to make better use of existing resources. A reenergized system of higher education in Ohio will lead the way in helping Ohioans compete in the 21st century."
"The big winners will be the Ohio companies who will be able to recruit even more employees from a growing pool of Ohio's graduating students," said Yoder. "Not to mention the graduates themselves who will find the balance they seek between professional and personal success in Ohio."
About the Ohio Business Development Coalition
The Ohio Business Development Coalition is a nonprofit organization that provides marketing strategy and implementation to support Ohio's economic development efforts. For more information, visit http://www.ohiomeansbusiness.com/ .
CONTACT: Dace de la Foret of Paul Werth Associates for Ohio Business
Development Coalition, +1-614-224-8114, ext. 235, delaforet@paulwerth.com
Web site: http://www.ohiomeansbusiness.com/
SOURCE Ohio Business Development Coalition