Krishna Dhir, Ph.D., new dean of the UH-Hilo College of Business and Economics says it "boggles the mind why someone would leave the UH system to go to the Cal State system."  He said the UH system is higher quality.

 

Dr. Dhir is unapologetic in his support for Hawaii's higher education, and for UHH in particular.  One might ask, he said, if he's  trying to say UH system is better than Harvard.  "My response.  What has Harvard done for you lately."  He tells businesses they need to be aware of the different strengths of colleges, whether it's Harvard, Shidler at Manoa, or UHH.  Shidler, he said, offers a broader mission, but at UHH the mission for his college is "regional economic development."

 

He said he is talking to local industries about their needs; they tell him the human resources are inadequate to what they require.  For instance, they say in the visitor industry, 'We need people who speak Japanese."  He tells them UHH has many students who fill the bill.  Give them summer jobs, he said.

 

"We need industries to tell us what profile they need."  It's a prerequisite that industry be involved with the university, and if students work with industry, the programs become moer relevant.

 

For more information on Dr. Dhir — click here.