By Catie George, Director, Communications & Storytelling
Average reading time: 3 minutes
The Dallas Regional Chamber’s Higher Education Forum, presented by the Communities Foundation of Texas, in June brought together key leaders to examine how post-secondary education drives economic growth and workforce development across North Texas. The event highlighted the region’s educational strengths and the critical role higher education plays in maintaining Dallas-Fort Worth’s (DFW) competitive edge.
“The DRC’s North Star is to help make the Dallas Region the best place in America for all people to live, work, and do business,” said DRC President & CEO Dale Petroskey. “The bedrock of that principle is higher education.”
Higher education’s massive economic impact
The Dallas Region’s educational infrastructure represents a powerful economic force that often goes unrecognized.
“Here in the Dallas Region, we have more college students and more college graduates than any other place in Texas… 72% of them stay here and work after they graduate,” said Petroskey. “College graduates in DFW contribute $120 billion a year to our economy.”
This is true when thinking of the future workforce as well.
“Texas can’t achieve its education and workforce goals without the Dallas-Fort Worth Region,” said Commissioner of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Dr. Wynn Rosser. “1.5 million K-12 students just in these two regions… If you were to compare that to the U.S. population of states, that 1.5 million students would be the 40th largest state in the country.”
With the combination of educational excellence, federal investment, and industry partnerships, the DRC’s Higher Education Review, an online publication highlighting the impact of the region’s foremost colleges and universities, showcases how the Dallas Region stands poised to meet the evolving demands of a rapidly changing economy.
Addressing critical workforce gaps
Despite the region’s educational strengths, speakers identified significant challenges in meeting industry demands, particularly in technical fields.
Koushik Venkataraman, Director of Workforce Development at Texas Instruments, highlighted a stark reality: “Out of close to 150,000 students enrolled in the five community college ecosystems in the region, less than 1% were enrolled in courses related to mechanical, electrical, and automation.”
This skills gap extends across critical industries.
“We need more electricians and plumbers and HVAC technicians and commercial truck drivers and welders,” Dr. Rosser acknowledged.
The challenge isn’t just about numbers—it’s about awareness, particularly in industrial and systems engineering spaces.
“I think the biggest issue I see is that there’s a lack of understanding on what supply chain means for anyone,” said Tim Feemster, CEO & Managing Director of Foremost Quality Logistics. “Most of the time, they don’t understand what a supply chain is. All they see is trucks. And it’s a lot more than that.”
Federal investments drive innovation
The region is leveraging federal initiatives to strengthen its position as a national innovation hub.
Dr. Sukumaran Nair, Chief Innovation Officer & Vice Provost for Research at SMU, discussed the impact of the CHIPS and Science Act: “Within that 53 billion [dollars], they set aside 10 billion for tech hubs, and SMU’s is one of the ones that were selected, and the only one selected for Texas.”
Similarly, Dr. Terry Pohlen, Senior Associate Dean of UNT’s G. Brint Ryan College of Business, outlined the university’s role in the Texoma Innovation Engine: “We’re the fourth-largest freight market in the country. From an industrial real estate perspective, we’re the second largest only to Southern California.”
Building pathways to opportunity
Education leaders emphasized the importance of creating clear pathways from education to employment.
“Every Texan deserves an education that empowers them to earn a good living, find a purposeful career, and the chance to achieve their dreams,” said Kerri Briggs, Executive Director of Educate Texas at the Communities Foundation of Texas.
Dr. Rosser highlighted recent legislative victories that support this goal: “Students in the sixth grade have an opportunity to set up that My Texas Future profile. It also requires that direct admissions be a graduation requirement for students before they finish high school.”
The state has also made significant investments in making higher education more accessible. “We received an additional $328 million for state need-based financial aid. That’s a 22% increase,” Dr. Rosser reported.