Special Guest Article by Sara Scrafford

University of Michigan – Potential to Generate Jobs

It’s a tough time for the world what with the global crisis hitting people left, right and center. What a turnaround this is from a few months ago when the financial world was sitting pretty and money flowed freely. But with the very foundation of the industry falling down and jerking the rug from beneath their feet (because it was not strong enough), there’s a mad scramble for jobs, even the ones that pay ordinary salaries. A number of people have been left without a means to earn a living, and it’s for these that Michigan is offering some good news.

The state is a treasure trove of universities, most noticeable among them being the University of Michigan, the Michigan State University, and the Wayne State University. And it’s these venerable institutes of learning that are now promising new opportunities for the jobless. A recent report from the East-Lansing’s Anderson Economic Group has found that the three universities together were responsible for providing employment to 69,285 people and producing an economic impact of $13.3 billion over the last fiscal year.

With more layoffs looming large because of the proposed merger between GM and Chrysler, the report’s suggestion that there’s a need for an evaluation of how and where money allocated to the three universities from the Legislature is spent becomes more relevant. A proposal to budget separately for the three educational institutions is afoot, and if implemented, will be a major boost in the arm for the state of Michigan’s flagging economy.

The universities, especially their medical and engineering schools, are expected to generate jobs related to the research and development of new technologies (the state has achieved a high rate of success in the field of alternative energy) and through collaboration with local businesses.

Educational institutions have for long been considered hallowed portals of learning, places where you go to earn a degree so that you’re able to sustain yourself by means of a career once you graduate and leave. Today, in the state of Michigan, they’ve come full circle and are being regarded as a potential savior of those affected by the recent financial crisis and the subsequent recession.

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This article is contributed by Sarah Scrafford, who regularly writes on the topic of on line university. She invites your questions, comments and freelancing job inquiries at her email address: sarah.scrafford25@gmail.com.