St. Peter’s University Dean Mary Kate Naatus co-authored and a co-presented a white paper titled, “Universities as Place-Markers in the Local Economy” at the International Association of Jesuit Business Schools’ (IAJBS) 24th Annual Conference. Together with GCSEN Foundation President and Founder Mike Caslin, the lecture addressed the role colleges play in the sustainable economic development of local communities as anchor institutions.
The term “Place-Marking” comes from an economic development strategy. A community takes its existing public amenities, like colleges, and intentionally uses them to fuel economic progress. Under this context, colleges give instruction on social entrepreneurship and business, enabling students and adult learners to engage in career paths within the local economy by overseeing social ventures and business internship opportunities.
“I am so pleased to be able to represent St. Peter’s University at this conference at to be able to collaborate with GCSEN Foundation and its 4P Social Entrepreneurship framework at arguably one of the most effective conferences taking place today anywhere in the world,” said Naatus. “It is palpable, it is real, it is compassionate, and it is possible to move our world to a better place via universities as place-makers in the local economy.”
The lecture and its whitepaper is based on research from GCSEN and inputs from St. Peter’s University regarding what college students need when trying to find meaningful employment. It also covers the benefits colleges receive when they provide innovative educational experiences.
The theme of World Forum was “College Innovation for Sustainability” and brought together faculty representing over two hundred colleges and universities in the Jesuit Association, as well as other institutions of higher education from many countries.
