Forbes commentary from Bruce Katz describes how universities and colleges can spur metropolitan growth by relocating graduate programs and research institutions into the core of cities. A university’s move into the city both stimulates the local economy and can drive public investment to remake whole areas.
An excerpt from the article says, “The urbanization of higher-ed also has the potential to mitigate the impact of brain drain, where, post-graduation, students simply pick up and leave. University programs that connect to regional industry ecosystems are more likely to leave their students with strong local professional networks, providing them with increased opportunity without needing to search elsewhere. At the same time, changing demographic preferences have made it clear that highly educated graduates prefer to live in cities and urban environments, so locating in one offers a stronger chance that alumni remain post-graduation.”
Read the full Forbes article here.