I graduated a few years ago with a twin degree from the University of Waterloo (a bachelor's of mathematics in computer science) and Wilfrid Laurier University (business).

I thought at the time this was a great way for two universities to collaborate, with each offering me something they were great at doing. At the time, the University of Waterloo was world famous for its math/computer science and engineering faculties and Laurier was creating an enviable reputation for giving its graduates a solid understanding of the best way to run a business.

Put the two together and you have the best of both worlds: the ability to create great new products and the ability to create a successful business bringing the products to market.

UW has enjoyed a long run as a well-known university, producing outstanding graduates. And with the recent announcement that Laurier's business school is being renamed in honour of BlackBerry co-founder Mike Lazaridis, WLU is gaining recognition for the role it plays in helping businesses succeed.

Thank you to Lazaridis for supporting Laurier and congratulations to business school dean Miche�l Kelly for creating and building support for his vision.

So here is the question: How is a prospective student supposed to know which of the choices available to them is best to help them build, lead and ensure sustainability of their startup? Or if the answer is some combination of choices, then how are they to know which combination?

Are we expecting an engineering or computer science student at UW to also be the business-savvy person who leads the organization? If so, do they take the (now formalized) computer science (Waterloo) and business administration (Laurier) double degree?

Or do they finish their undergraduate degree at the University of Waterloo, develop the genesis for a new innovation and then take a graduate degree in business? UW offers the masters of business, entrepreneurship and technology graduate degree and Laurier offers the masters of business administration degree.

Or do we expect the student with a great idea for a new product to partner with someone else who has the business education and training like that which will be offered at the Lazaridis Institute for the Management of Technology Enterprises?

Or do we have the student with a great idea work with the mentors at the Accelerator Centre or Communitech to bring this idea to reality and form a team to help them build their business?

Let's not forget the business programs available from Conestoga College. There are many people saying that an institution like Conestoga can offer solid, practical, real-world training that helps their graduates get, or create, real jobs.

One of the most basic things every business school teaches is differentiation: for a business to succeed, it must be able to differentiate itself from potential alternative, substitute or competitive offerings. That way, potential customers can determine, given their needs, which offering is best for them.

Well, why don't we apply that same teaching to our educational institutions and other mentorship offerings?

As it stands now, there is some overlap of offerings. Maybe some overlap is better than having gaps in the offerings, but if there is too much overlap, funding dollars (government, philanthropic, etc.) are not being optimized, but are instead being diluted to support redundant programs.

Would it not be better to have each program be exceptional at something specific so it could be best at what it does?

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I don't know how you get universities, colleges and other institutions to work together and streamline their offerings so we in Waterloo Region can offer a variety of differentiated, world-class programs, but I'd sure like to see the discussion start.

Anyone out there with ideas on how to make this happen?