Category: Higher Education

At its heart, commercialization moves ideas with impact into the lives of people who benefit most. Right here on campus, our students are going beyond improving lives; they are cultivating a lifelong passion for discovery that leads entrepreneurism in our region and our country.

At the UW, we are committed to fostering commercialization because we know it can change the landscape of learning. How do we do it? Through programs like the Environmental Innovation Challenge (EIC), the Center for Commercialization (C4C) and the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship. These programs equip students with the skills and tenacity to navigate our rapidly advancing world and encourage Huskies to think expansively, challenging them to be the first in their fields.

PolyDrop is a great example of our students daring to do. As one of 18 UW startups launched this year, PolyDrop began as a senior design project for two of our chemical engineering students. Their innovative technology is now revolutionizing the airline industry, a process supported from the start by the C4C. More than a year after taking home the top prize at the 2013 EIC, the students — now UW alumni — are working with PolyDrop full time and preparing the company to enter the market. With help from UW programs such as these, students gain exposure to experienced business and research talent, engaging them to pursue their ideas and make a difference in our world.

Our students’ passion is why we lead collegiate commercialization and their work has given the UW much to be proud of. Our New Ventures Facility was listed among the world’s top 10 business incubators in 2014, and we spun out a record-breaking 18 startups in the past fiscal year alone. In fact, we have had two successive years of record-breaking startup launches. We possess the most signed technology licenses among universities in the nation. UW startups also average 60 employees per company, increasing the opportunities for students to find a job after graduation.

Looking to the future, the UW is poised to become an epicenter for collaboration, innovation and experiential education. By providing unparalleled experiences and support for students, we believe that our culture of commercialization will transform higher education.

A person can get a lot of mileage out of a dash of optimism, and the University of Washington has more than 150 years of history to prove it. From the bold actions of early visionaries who built the Territorial University to the remarkable achievements of subsequent generations who discovered the cure for tuberculosis and pioneered the human genome, an optimistic outlook — a believe-it-in-our-bones mindset that good things will happen if we pursue them — has taken us a long way. Successfully navigating a century and a half of sweeping, sometimes turbulent, change has further affirmed our upbeat institutional worldview. We are seasoned and sager, and we go boldly toward a great future.

Plenty of recent UW achievements invigorate our optimism today. First and foremost, our faculty are 21st-century leaders passionate about discovery, as evidenced by their capturing of competitive research funding that grew by $100 million in the aftermath of the 2007–09 recession. We’re equally encouraged by current rankings, which place the UW among the top five universities in the nation for research commercialization.

Our partnerships with stakeholders are stronger than ever, our undergraduates are thriving thanks to a transformed Husky Experience and the UW has just been named a great college to work for in a 2014 national survey by The Chronicle of Higher Education. And, we just closed fiscal year 2013–2014 with a record-breaking $482,452,318 in private support —exceeding last year’s total by more than $140 million.

Growing the economy is another area in which the UW delivers in a big way. All kinds of data tell us that a college degree increases one’s earning potential, but the news is even better on our campus: UW graduates consistently are among the top earners of all college graduates, according to PayScale’s 2014 college salary rankings widely reported in The Economist and The Atlantic. Perhaps less well known is the connection between per-person earnings (the individual good) and the health of our broader economy (the global good).

Between UW alumni earnings, research funding, commercialization and other outreach, including our regional and global contributions to human health, the UW’s impact on our economy is real and long lasting. Our contribution of more STEM-educated graduates than any other institution in the Pacific Northwest, a commitment we are working to grow rapidly with Seattle’s booming tech sector, shows the direct correlation between producer and product to the economy. And more broadly, growth in our capacity to partner through health care, and research and scholarship with industry, agencies and other universities on the discoveries that will shape our world is expanding the combined impact of us all.

If ever on tough days we question whether college is worth it, or whether the great public universities of our country truly address the complex challenges of the world, the answer is a resounding yes. I’ll say it again: yes, yes, and yes. The University of Washington — in partnership with our great state — sees the future through the eyes of the next generation and those who are shaping it. And we are more optimistic than ever.

It has been a banner year at the University of Washington. For our fiscal year ending June 30, donors contributed a record-breaking $482,452,318 in private support, a tremendous show of confidence in the University’s outstanding students, faculty and staff. This news demonstrates in a spectacular way the momentum of the University and the deep strength of our philanthropic partnerships.

The unheralded generosity of 108,696 donors supports everything from student scholarships to scientific breakthroughs. Notably, 40,398 of those donors gave gifts of $99 or less. Those smaller gifts, which included donations to KEXP and Husky athletics, added up to a big number: $1.4 million in Excellence Funds that help Huskies.

The loyalty and vision of our alumni and friends is humbling and heartwarming. Last November, the UW was the beneficiary of the trust of UW alumnus and local philanthropist Jack MacDonald. His $56 million gift to the School of Law will support faculty, programs and student scholarships for generations to come, and made history as the largest ever in the school’s 114 years, as well as the largest ever estate gift to the UW.

Our momentum is also fueled by continuing support from our foundation partners. These organizations gave $117 million to the UW to support research grants, faculty, students and programs at home and around the world; this is only the second year in history the UW has received more than $100 million in foundation gifts.

The UW remains on a course of excellence thanks to the shared vision of our supporters and their gifts, large and small. The outstanding work of our Advancement staff, deans and faculty in every college, school and department has propelled this historic achievement. Thank you for your work in inspiring our community to support the boundless opportunities at the University of Washington.

As the academic year comes to a close, and graduates are seeking employment or considering their next move, my expectations for success of UW students and graduates are unparalleled — not only for those leaving here with computer science and other technical and professional degrees, but also for graduates of humanities and other liberal arts programs.

Recently, I met with the chairs of the humanities departments in our College of Arts & Sciences to discuss the benefit of humanities study for students of all majors. As the cornerstone of traditional liberal arts colleges, the humanities have enjoyed a special place in higher education as institutions expanded their offerings to meet the needs of enterprise and industry.

A study by the Association of American Colleges and Universities surveying employers about what they want in the ideal employee concluded that more than 90 percent of employers want someone who has a broad knowledge base and who can collaborate to solve complex problems, debate, communicate and think critically — all skills that humanities programs expect students to acquire before they graduate. And our terrific students do!

Other desirable qualities that employers listed are also integral to humanities degree requirements: ethical judgment and integrity, intercultural skills, the capacity for continued new learning and applied knowledge in real-world settings. And 80 percent of employers agreed that, regardless of their major, all college students should acquire broad knowledge in the liberal arts and sciences.

The UW is committed to providing a transformative experience for our students to ensure each one’s preparedness for life after college. Majoring in a humanities discipline or taking a course or two to complement another major will benefit students as they venture out into our interconnected world, where having an understanding of the tenets of humanities — language, literature, film and the history of ideas — is an advantage to succeeding in our modern, diverse and global economy.

Every year, more than 7,000 undergraduates participate in pioneering research at the University of Washington. The UW’s unique focus on undergraduate research allows our young Huskies an unprecedented opportunity to work in tandem with some of the top minds in their fields.

In Japan, 120 alumni, parents, donors, partners and friends turned out at the Tokyo American Club for a Husky reception on April 15. The event was part of our weeklong goodwill visit to Taiwan and Japan. Below is the official transcript of his remarks from the event.

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I want to tell you about a very long-lived and rewarding partnership between researchers at the University of Washington’s marine laboratory in Friday Harbor, Washington, and marine laboratories in Japan.

For decades, a fruitful exchange has occurred between Friday Harbor Laboratories and the Misaki Marine Laboratory, and the Sugishima Marine Laboratory at Nagoya University. This arrangement has recently been formalized as the Edward Sylvester Morse Institute through the dedication and philanthropy of faculty, individual donors, and the Mikimoto Pearl Company.

We are delighted to have among our guests two very important supporters of this effort, Professor Motonori Hoshi and Dr Makoto Omore (the latter received his Ph.D. from UW Oceanography). Thank you for all you have personally and professionally contributed to the ES Morse Institute.

This year, 2014 we are celebrating the UW Alumni Association’s 125^th anniversary with Huskies here in Japan. In 1889, a small group of UW alumni organized themselves to better support the University. Ever since, alumni chapters have cropped up around the world. In fact, there are organized alumni chapters dotting 13 countries around the globe, from Peru to the United Arab Emirates. And the UWAA Japan is one of our strongest. Alumni in Japan have played a vital role in keeping their fellow Huskies connected, informed and involved with the University. I want to thank all of the gracious volunteers and alumni involved with the Japan Huskies, who make events like tonight, special and keep the Husky spirit strong across the Pacific.

Before I give you an update about some exciting things happening at UW, I’d like to share a few points of pride. National Taiwan University ranks us 1^st in scientific research among American public universities. And we are the 13^th best university in the world according to U.S. News & World Report. I’ve been in higher education for a while now, and I’ve learned that the best universities have the most engaged supporters. And as we can see by these rankings, the UW is among the best universities not only in the United States, but in the world.

You are a key reason for that success. In this room tonight there are business people, civic leaders, educators, artists, parents and alumni. And though we come from different backgrounds, our common bond is purple and gold; we are a community of people joined together by how deeply we care about the University of Washington.

When alumni, parents, donors and friends invest in the UW, more Huskies can focus their unbridled energy on their studies instead of worrying about making ends meet. In fact, in the last fiscal year alone, we were able to create 37 new undergraduate scholarships, 33 graduate fellowships and 59 funds that help our students.

It’s because of private philanthropy that our students, faculty and researchers are able to thrive and bring their innovations out of the classroom and into the real world. The UW produces good global citizens, and we graduate the thinkers, doers and innovators who are making our world a better place. And we are succeeding thanks to the support of our closest friends and alumni.

Last week we were in Taiwan to attend the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) Asia Conference in Taipei. I was honored to give the AUTM Conference keynote address on innovation and entrepreneurism in higher education based on the UW’s long-standing success in commercialization.

In 2013, the UW had a banner year, placing us among the top five schools in the United States for startup formation by producing a record 17 new companies through our Center for Commercialization (C4C). The UW is first in the number of licenses issued as well as first in different types of licenses, such as biotech, metadata, etc. And we intend to top our record in the coming years, thanks to 80 robust projects in the startup pipeline through our C4C New Ventures Program.

Universities contribute to society in a number of ways. One of the most important contributions we can make is to transform our research into new products, treatments, cures, and devices, etc. that will have a positive impact. In order to do that, we have created an innovation ecosystem at the UW to provide space and systems to support faculty, researchers, students and entrepreneurs to have the best chance to succeed. And the results are extraordinary.

Job Creation

• On average, 60 jobs created in new companies
• Kaufmann Foundation study (Economic Impact Report 2010) – 80% new jobs were created by companies 5 years old or newer
• Job opportunities for UW grads

Economy Boosts

• Developing new companies in state/region and attracting investors from out of state increases tax base
• Creating wealth, leading to more investment, commitment to state/region
• Attracting / retaining faculty members
• Translationally directed – ability to make an impact through teaching and basic research / and rewarded financially for entrepreneurialism (who could make more money in private industry) because they get best of both (academic research and commercial enterprise).

Global Collaboration

As a first-tier world university, it is incumbent upon us to be engaged with our international partners so that we can extend the extraordinary work of our faculty and students to places where it can do the most good. During our visit to Taiwan, we were guests of Taiwan’s Ministry of Education to tour National Taiwan University, National Chung Hsing University and National Chiao Tung University.

• International education/research campus with promising Asian and European universities and potential private partners.
• Exciting new ideas and plans for bringing the UW to the world and the world to the UW.
• Opportunity to create on a larger scale

What’s Next?

• UW is 2^nd only to Microsoft in creating spin-offs in software
• UW has life sciences and technology research pipelines for potential commercialization
• Exciting opportunities for new innovation, commercialization, growth, etc.
• Mutual benefits for local, regional, state, national governments.
• Benefit to UW as well, but not exclusive
• Collective interest in providing support for the best chance of positive outcomes

Many of our startups are based on UW research that is funded by private support. We are able to do this because of you. The UW is especially grateful for the support we receive from our alumni, family and friends. We can accomplish so much when we put our minds together toward common goals. Thank you for your gracious hospitality. It truly is great to be with you here in Tokyo.

Michael K. Young
UW President

Wherever I travel and meet Huskies, I am reminded what a special place the University of Washington truly is. The UW educates global citizens who are innovators and entrepreneurs working together to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. Their work is strengthened by our partnerships at home and abroad; we can better meet the needs of Washington state and the world through international collaboration.

Our meetings and events in Taiwan and Japan have fortified existing partnerships and initiated new ones. We have a memorandum of agreement with Waseda University to partner on its new Center for Teaching, Learning & Technology. I was welcomed by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education on a tour to strengthen our relationships with that country’s top universities. And I made some wonderful connections before and after my keynote address at the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) Asia Conference in Taipei.

The trip was notable, too, because it was an opportunity to help the UW Alumni Association celebrate its 125^th anniversary with so many Huskies overseas. In 1889, a small group of UW alumni organized themselves to better support the university. Ever since, alumni chapters have cropped up around the world. In fact, there are organized alumni chapters dotting 13 countries around the globe, from Peru to the United Arab Emirates.

I was honored and humbled to spend time with some of the most ardent UW alumni and friends in Japan and Taiwan this week, and I am extraordinarily heartened to see how deeply Husky pride spans the Pacific. Together, we are building a stronger future for our state, our nations and our world.

 

It is an especially exciting day for Huskies! Today I signed a memorandum of agreement to formalize a brand new partnership with Waseda University, Japan’s most prestigious private institution. Together, we’ll build Waseda’s new Center for Teaching, Learning & Technology.

This is a truly international partnership. It builds upon the UW’s existing innovations in technology to transform the learning experience of students; it moves the UW from training Waseda faculty on our Seattle campus to partnering together in Tokyo; and it allows us to do collaborative and comparative research on innovative uses of technology in education in both the U.S. and Japan.

The long-term student learning outcomes from the new center will have a meaningful impact on classrooms in both of our countries. This is the type of research collaboration that will benefit the UW, Washington state and our world.

The partnership was made possible, in part, because of the UW’s long-standing history with Japan. In 1894, our first Japanese student, Jinta Yamaguchi, arrived in Seattle. Since then, hundreds of Japanese students have made the journey over the ocean and UW students have joyously made the reverse-trek. Japanese is the second-most studied language at the UW, and today the demand for the study of Japanese history, culture and language has never been stronger. This warms my heart more than ever as my affection for Japan has only deepened since I first traveled there more than four decades ago. I am delighted and eager to continue this legacy of educational exchange between the UW and our Japanese friends and partners at Waseda University.