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Q&A with Jim Oblinger, chancellor of N.C. State University

Submitted by: John Warner on Oct 17, 2005 at 9:08 pm Tagged with: Miscellany Source:

NCSU joins quest for techies
Q&A with Jim Oblinger, chancellor of N.C. State University

Oblinger says teacher training, retention are needed also.

By TIM SIMMONS, Staff Writer

N.C. State University Chancellor Jim Oblinger is one of 11 university and business leaders recently named to a new national coalition looking for ways to produce more science, technology, engineering and math graduates.

The work of the Coalition for America's High Tech Future is driven by the rapid decline in the share of U.S. graduates worldwide within those fields. In the 1990s, the U.S. share of engineering graduates dropped from 12 percent worldwide to 6 percent by the year 2000. Many of the world's science and math graduates now come from China and Japan, according to a 2004 report by the National Science Board.

Oblinger spoke recently with staff writer Tim Simmons.

Q: Why does it matter if U.S. universities produce fewer graduates in these areas?

Rest at The News Observer