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February 14, 2002 PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN BOISE STATE AND INEEL PROVES SUCCESSFUL Working with the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory’s rural development program, Boise State University business students are using the eastern Idaho communities of Arco and Mackay to learn firsthand about community development. Moving beyond textbooks to research the needs of the communities, a group of students proposed forming an agricultural co-op to transport products to consumers while providing low-cost goods to the community. Other students have developed marketing assessments of new technologies originated by lab employees, such as a targeted alpha particle therapy for cancer patients. In a strong economy, partnerships between universities and businesses can be a boon to both sectors. In tough times, when many established firms are hesitant to expand, those same partnerships can become a critical element in economic development. That’s because they encourage entrepreneurial activity even when other options are limited. Norris Krueger, a professor of entrepreneurship at Boise State, said a healthy entrepreneurial economy is based largely on the connectedness of people on both sides of the equation. "Partnerships by definition broaden and enrich that web of connections that is so vital," he said. "The breadth and depth of social networks predict a level of success." By partnering with existing businesses, students not only provide valuable services outside of the classroom, they also gain real-world experience in their areas of study. Across the nation, the idea of university partnerships is gaining greater acceptance both on and off campus. Krueger said the partnership with INEEL creates an ideal learning experience for students, who would otherwise be dealing with case studies. "The project is a chance for students to integrate and apply all their skills to projects that make a difference," he says. "Dealing with real people they’ve met or talked to not only adds reality, it adds a sense that their project will be valued." Chris Hertz, who works with the rural development program at INEEL, said the partnership with Boise State has helped both the students and the communities. "Simply throwing money at our rural problems will solve nothing," he said. "Money is only well spent when a community has a plan and strategy in place, and community members take ownership of that plan. The market assessments and feasibility studies BSU students have delivered to Arco and Mackay have helped these communities visualize the possibilities, while creating a critical mass of community members willing to take the risks and do the work." Contact: Media contact:
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