Chapter 76 School-Enterprise Cooperation

President Archie Rockwell looked at Mu Xin, silent for a long time; he finally understood what Mu Xin was planning to do.

This money was not just buying the support of Governor DeWine, but more importantly, it was buying political capital for Ohio for decades to come.

For a seventy-nine-year-old Governor about to leave office, having his name carved onto a building designed by Aman designers was not just a political legacy, but a form of immortality.

This was to show future Governors!

"Mr. Mu, I have received your sincerity." President Archie Rockwell took a deep breath. "I will push forward with the school matter with all my might, and I will handle the communication with the Board of Directors."

"I believe that in the face of sixty million dollars, the Board of Directors will not have any objections."

Mu Xin smiled and continued, "President, there is a second matter."

President Archie Rockwell leaned forward slightly, preparing himself.

"It is about the students."

"About the students? Could you elaborate?" President Archie Rockwell asked, frowning.

"Miami University students." Mu Xin put down his coffee cup and looked into President Archie Rockwell's eyes.

"President, you know that every summer vacation, the population of Oxford Town plummets by more than sixty percent. When the students leave, the town becomes empty."

"I know." President Archie Rockwell sighed. "This is an old problem for Oxford Town."

"But students have to go home, do internships, or work part-time during the summer vacation; the school cannot keep them."

"What if they could find decent jobs right here in Oxford Town?" Mu Xin said.

President Archie Rockwell's eyes flickered.

"My hotel opens next summer, and I will need at least several hundred employees."

"Front desk, housekeeping, catering, SPA, outdoor activity instructors, maintenance—most of these positions do not require much experience and can be started after a few weeks of training."

"The Water Plant and the power plant also need part-time and full-time employees. Finance, administration, and technical support—these positions are better suited for upper-level students."

"If the school could recommend these job opportunities to the students, allowing them to stay in Oxford Town to work during winter and summer breaks."

President Archie Rockwell leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest.

It was not that he hadn't thought about this issue. The industrial structure of Oxford Town was singular, job opportunities were scarce, and students had no choice but to leave during the summer.

This was not the school's fault, but it was indeed a difficult problem that the school faced, and one that seemed unsolvable.

If Mu Xin could provide several hundred job positions locally, and they were decent, well-paying positions, then the students' willingness to stay would increase significantly.

This was not about charity; it was a win-win model.

"Mr. Mu, your idea is excellent." President Archie Rockwell nodded. "But there is one problem: students don't stay in Oxford Town during the summer not just because they can't find work, but because they want to go home."

"I know." Mu Xin said. "So I don't need all the students to stay, I only need a portion of them."

"Those students whose family conditions are not good and need to work to earn tuition, those who want to gain work experience before graduation, and those who simply don't want to go home."

"Give them a choice—a choice to earn money and gain experience without having to leave Oxford Town."

President Archie Rockwell thought for a few seconds, then nodded slowly.

"This is indeed feasible." He said. "The school can establish a 'University-Enterprise Cooperation Office' specifically to interface with your companies and other local companies willing to provide internship positions."

"Students can apply for internships and part-time jobs through this office, and the school will be responsible for screening, recommending, and tracking management."

"This way, students will feel at ease, and you will save the trouble of recruiting yourself."

Mu Xin nodded with satisfaction. This was exactly what he wanted. By doing this through the school, student acceptance would be higher, and it could minimize his presence to the greatest extent.

The students wouldn't feel that Mu Xin was hiring them, but rather that these were internship opportunities recommended by the school.

The media wouldn't report that a Chinese international student was hiring students to work, but would only report that Miami University was carrying out university-enterprise cooperation with local businesses.

Low profile, no mistakes.

"President, I will cover the operating expenses for this University-Enterprise Cooperation Office."

Mu Xin said. "The starting capital for the first year will be one million dollars, used to hire full-time staff, build an information platform, and organize recruitment activities."

"If the results are good, I will continue to invest every year thereafter."

President Archie Rockwell felt a bit numb. One million dollars in starting capital was quite a lot for the school, but in the face of the sixty million dollars Mu Xin brought today, it seemed insignificant.

"Mr. Mu, you are here to give away money today." President Archie Rockwell smiled like a flower.

"I am here to solve problems." Mu Xin stood up and smoothed out the wrinkles on his clothes.

"As for the school matter, please push it forward as soon as possible. For the university-enterprise cooperation, I will have Jessica interface with your side."

"There is one more thing; I hope you can publicly announce this cooperation in the name of the school."

"It's not to promote me, but to let Governor DeWine see that the DeWine School of Public Policy is a solid project, not an empty promise."

President Archie Rockwell stood up and reached out his hand.

"Mr. Mu, you can rest assured. As for Governor DeWine, I will communicate with him personally."

"Regarding the university-enterprise cooperation, I will have the Provost lead a working group next Monday and come up with a plan within two weeks."

"Good." Mu Xin shook his hand firmly. "President, happy cooperation."

"Happy cooperation."

When walking out of the President's office, Jessica followed behind Mu Xin, holding that stack of documents in her arms, and let out a long breath.

"A sixty million dollar school, one million in start-up capital for university-enterprise cooperation." Her tone carried a helpless admiration.

"Mr. Mu, you have spent another sixty-one million today."

"Not spent." Mu Xin stepped into the elevator, watching the elevator doors slowly close. "It's an investment."

"Investing in what?"

"Investing in political capital, investing in human resources, investing in Miami University Oxford Campus."

The elevator doors opened, and Mu Xin walked out of the administration building. He took out his phone and sent a message to Governor DeWine:

"Governor, the matter of the school has been settled with the President. Sixty million dollars, groundbreaking within six months, handled by the original design team of Amangiri."

A few seconds later, Governor DeWine replied with a message, containing only one word:

"Good."

Mu Xin looked at that word, the corners of his mouth slightly raised.

He sent another one:

"Additionally, I am still discussing university-enterprise cooperation with the school. In the future, every winter and summer break, several hundred students will stay in Oxford Town to work; they won't be leaving."

This time, Governor DeWine replied more slowly, after nearly a minute.

"Mr. Mu, what exactly do you want?"

Mu Xin looked at the message, was silent for a few seconds, and then typed a few words:

"I want the population of Oxford Town to increase, and for Oxford Town to develop better."

Governor DeWine did not reply.

Mu Xin put his phone in his pocket, opened the car door, and sat in.

John turned his head from the driver's seat and looked at him: "Finished talking?"

"Finished talking."

"Where to?"

"Back to the Morris Building, there is still a lot to do."

The G63 4x4² let out a low roar. Mu Xin watched the teaching buildings and lawns passing by outside the window, his mind racing.

The DeWine School matter had been pushed forward.

The university-enterprise cooperation matter had been pushed forward.

The hotel was under construction, the power plant was being integrated, and the Water Plant was in operation.

All the gears were turning, and they were turning faster and faster.

He took a look at the system panel; the population was still slowly increasing.