Meeting the needs of a new generation of students while preparing them for a competitive and evolving workforce are just a few of the challenges discussed during the Partnership’s fourth annual State of Education event this week.  The region’s education leaders and influencers gathered to hear from one of Houston’s most prominent higher education leaders, Renu Khator, Chancellor of the University of Houston System and President of the University of Houston. Chancellor Khator shared some of the knowledge she’s gained through her impressive career, including the years she’s spent advancing the University of Houston, the city’s largest public university.  During her keynote address, Khator reminded attendees that a strong education system is essential to Houston’s ability to remain competitive with a talented workforce and is directly tied to long-term success. “Education is the best opportunity and promise we can make in order to make a socially just, equitable society,” she said. Under Khator’s leadership, UH has joined the Big 12 and recently celebrated the opening of the new Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine. Khator spoke on the ways she is ensuring the University of Houston is working to drive innovative education solutions that are critical not just to our region's workforce, but also the broader future of our community. She said she’s also focused on breaking financial barriers for students to provide high-quality, accessible education and is working toward changing perceptions of higher education.  With three Tier One universities offering premier learning education opportunities, it is no surprise that students seek out Houston. Khator said Houston’s strong higher education system is evident as more students than ever are staying in Houston postgraduate, evolving into industry leaders who will shape our city in the years to come.  In addition to the success of this progression, Khator discussed some challenges, such as finding ways to engage with younger generations and reaching individuals who debate whether higher education is an option for them. Efforts such as Houston GPS help offset challenges by providing resources for public schools and addressing achievement gaps early on, particularly in low-income neighborhoods. Click to expand “Higher Education is needed more today than at any time in history,” Khator said. “We know that higher education provides the best opportunity for transforming lives and generations.”  Despite challenges, the mission for higher education remains consistent: to prepare students not just for the workforce, but a competitive workforce. And to not just teach students but prepare them for a career that will help them make a positive impact on their communities.   From energy transition initiatives to world class research centers, UH’s priorities are aligning with Houston’s and helping propel the city forward. “Great communities build great universities, and great universities build great communities,” Khator said.  Houston-area colleges and universities educate nearly 425,000 students and graduate more than 56,000 students annually. Partnership President and CEO Bob Harvey said Houston is “one of the few places in the world that offer the concentration of higher ed opportunity supported by a growing economy and the many attributes of the great global city.” Over the past seven years, four-year institutions in and around the Houston area have seen 10% growth—a remarkable figure in light of the pandemic, Harvey said. The region is home to 31 universities and colleges, including three Tier 1 universities: the University of Houston, Texas A&M University and Rice University.

Greentown Labs continues to show its support for fostering energy innovation in Houston as the city aims to lead the world’s energy transition. The climatetech startup incubator has launched the Texas Entrepreneurship Exchange for Energy (TEX-E) to support students in developing next-generation innovations. The collaborative initiative includes MIT’s Martin Trust Center for Entrepreneurship, a research and teaching center that provides expertise, support and connections to MIT students, and five Texas universities, including Rice University, the University of Houston, Texas A&M University, Prairie View A&M University and the University of Texas. “Houston has long been known as the energy capital of the world, but to lead the world’s energy transition, the city must create a strong, vibrant innovation ecosystem to support the next generation of entrepreneurs and energy companies,” said Lara Cottingham, Chief of Staff at Greentown Labs, in a press release.  Students participating in the program will have access to mentorship with Greentown Labs’ entrepreneurs, networking events, career opportunities and cross-learning with MIT. The initiative will help continue to pave the way for Houston to solidify its role as the leader of the global energy transition. “The TEX-E collaboration will provide valuable opportunities to our students, and Houston is a natural location to create such an ecosystem,” said Ramanan Krishnamoorti, vice president for energy and innovation at the University of Houston, in a press release. “Training new talent and supporting their pursuit of innovative ideas are vital in addressing the growing global need for affordable, reliable, and environmentally sustainable energy.” Greentown Houston experienced a successful first year, attracting more than 60 startups, including several that relocated from outside the U.S., proof that Houston is where Energy 2.0 companies want to be. From 2017 to 2021, venture capital funding in Houston’s energy space totaled more than $327 million. More than 4,700 energy-related firms are located within the Houston metro. “Boston and Houston might seem like an odd pairing, but they complement one another beautifully,” said Ben Soltoff, Ecosystem Builder and Entrepreneur in Residence at the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship. Despite Boston’s strong climate innovation ecosystem, startups looking to scale up “look towards Texas, where they can find talent, space, and industry knowhow in spades. Together, these two regions are unstoppable,” Soltoff said. TEX-E is also in line with the Partnership’s Houston Energy Transition Initiative, which aims to position Houston to lead the global energy transition to a more efficient and sustainable, low-carbon future, by deploying key strategies, including jumpstarting emerging technologies.