The University of Alaska: building 'people capital'.

• Author: Gorsuch, Edward Lee

With the new administration that took office in December, much of the New Year will be devoted to a thorough re-examination of how best to spur the state's economic development. As a former Alaska banker, Coy. Frank Murkowski will have a special affinity not only for fostering Alaska's infrastructure and resource development but also for encouraging Alaskans to get into business or to grow their existing businesses. Committed to youth, Murkowski also is likely to put a renewed emphasis on education and the importance of building Alaska's talent base and a new cadre of young entrepreneurs. The University of Alaska plays a vital role in both these arenas.

INSPIRING LIFELONG LEARNING

Business development starts with "people capital"--people with innovative business ideas equipped with the skills and knowledge to implement them. It is in the development of Alaska's "people capital" that the university plays an immediate and major contributing role to the future of Alaska. Our early childhood education programs encourage parents and child-care providers to nurture the natural curiosity of children and to nurture them with both affection and discipline. As children become older, our teacher preparation programs prepare students to become teachers and shows them how children learn. We emphasize intellectual and social development, helping children learn both concepts and reasoning--as well as how to work with other children, to take initiative, and to be responsible for one's actions. The social skills are not only critical to creating a civil society, they also teach children the values that are at the core of creating knowledge and wealth, a positive work ethic and an inquiring, informed mi nd.

UAA's Center for Economic Education helps elementary schools introduce children to an experiential learning program called "Mini Society." Children, under the guidance of teachers, learn to identify business opportunities and initiate entrepreneurial ventures to provide goods and services to their fellow students. The energy and creativity children bring to these exercises are both amazing and impressive. Without question such exercises have formative impact on their future interests and abilities to be entrepreneurial as an adult.

During ages 12 to 17, students learn the skills and characteristics needed to be successful entrepreneurs, including how to self-assess their own capabilities. They learn to generate and evaluate business opportunities and...