Age of Uncertainty
"Extraordinary people visualize not what is possible or probable, but rather
what is impossible. And by visualizing the impossible, they begin to see it as
possible."
(Cherie Carter Scott)
The 21st century is now typically called the "Age of Uncertainty" ---- such description conjures up feelings of both exhilaration and fear, of excitement and loneliness, and of joy and sadness. Images of both positive and negative, of a yes, yet it's a no, of a go, but also a stop----existing together, side by side, on top of each other---never separate, always together. Paradoxically, that is.
The reason for this is because ---- breakthroughs in technology in almost all branches of science have overtaken major theories of our time. We can no longer rely on "old" knowledge to be true or factual (even if it is just a brilliant theory of a few days ago) for another scientist could disprove this new found knowledge in a split of a second via ideo-conferencing or through the "eye" of the powerful Internet.
What is true may not be true but not necessarily untrue in this age of information avalanche.
Prof. Charles Handy in his book entitled, The Age of Paradox, said "Paradox does not have to be resolved, only managed...to turn the turbulence into creation."
"The best guiding examples of how this is possible and how these are done is by observing nature and following its natural laws of "fluid relationships---connecting, expanding and transforming and never at a stand still."
(Margaret Wheatley)
Margaret J. Wheatley and Myron Killner Rogers wrote in their book, A Simpler Way, "We will live in a world that we cannot plan for, control or replicate. But such an obdurate need for originality is a gift. It frees us to discover what we can become. It welcomes us into the discovery of our own uniqueness."
The entire concept of education should now be re-invented to adapt to what lies ahead...
What Lies Ahead?
The thrust of Education for the next millennium should help our people become more adaptable, quick thinking, multi-tasking or multi-disciplinary problem solvers who are adept with the use of technology.
When I say technology, I do not mean only computers, but also devises such as the use of satellites, communication systems and other technologically advanced medical and laboratory tools.
You may say that such is a tall order for any ordinary mortal.
You must remember, less than a hundred years ago, a person wrote and said an individual living alone in the future will be able to wash his clothes, wash the dishes, roast a turkey, cook his rice and set the table for 4 people while he orders flowers for his mother and have them delivered to her 20,000 kilometers away---at the same time.
It was far-fetched, with a tinge of craziness, a hundred years ago. Well, it is no longer unrealistic. We all know this is not just possible but NORMAL in our generation, with a washing machine, dishwasher, a microwave oven, rice cooker, the magic of the telephone and the new business scenario of franchising----of one flower shop with branches all over the world or all over the country, if not, just dial direct----IDD or NDD.
To prove my point further, in those times, would they believe that man can send a spacecraft to land on planet Mars to collect specimens and instantly relay their composition back to earth for analysis?
To develop graduates who are multi-skilled may be a big "no-no" to very conservative educators who would be too quick to say, "jack of all trades master of none".
However, learners in the 21st century must develop certain characteristics which are to be nurtured as early as possible by the home, by society and by the schools. These characteristics are creativity, articulation communication), technology mastery skills, resource management and the core moral values. The seven pillars or abilities of the 21st century learning can only be built on top of these characteristics.Global Village
Globalization is the new world order, where countries are no longer viewed as separate but as part of a global village. This is inevitable.
The concept of a global village is entirely new. This actually changes our definitions of education, trade and professional practice.
In the recent World Congress for Higher Education (June 1997) there was already a clamor for establishing international standards such that students can move freely from one university to another university of another country without having problems of whether or not his subjects will be credited or not. Or as a professional, if he can practice his profession in countries aside from that which he graduated from.
A third world country such as ours would have great difficulty measuring up to top universities abroad. The number one reason is because we lack support to do even basic research on how to improve our educational system.
To pole-vault education to the 21st century, my solution is to go into a consortium agreement with noted universities abroad to immediately pull us up to where they are.
Benchmark
I am greatly inspired by the foresight of Mr. Lee Kuan Yew when he encouraged his countrymen to go into partnerships with some of the world's best schools to improve education in Singapore. The government facilitated and even funded this program.
He knew very well that to do it by themselves will take years of study and of trial and error. To go into a consortium, however, is to have less trials and errors which ultimately mean less cost to the government and rapid development.
This is a better way to "benchmark"---by letting noted schools literally "sit on the bench" with you and practically coach you all the way while technology and "know-how" is transferred.
Mr. Lee Kuan Yew knew that it was also not yet affordable for most of the Singaporeans to leave their country and study elsewhere and he needed his people to upgrade their skills fast. He knew Singapore's most vital resource being a small nation is its people.
New School of Business and Information Technology
By this example, we, at Global Foundation for International Education propose to open a different kid of College.
The Global Foundation School of Business is fused with Information Technology. For one to be successful in the world of business, one must already be adept with Information Technology.
True, the course Information Technology can stand alone but a Business course cannot be without Information Technology anymore, for one to be globally competent.
We propose to approach our goal of producing Global Managers through "Borderless Education."
Demand for Graduates
The skyline of Cebu is definitely taking a different shape. Slowly the skies are lined with tall buildings one after the other and soon skyscrapers of big conglomerates will cast early evening shadows on our streets.
However, early birds who came have expressed utter disappointment over the lack of qualified corporate managers and executives who can take over the offices being put up here. They express this through formal and informal discussions with local business affiliates and with us.
The good prospects are always spoken for or are already comfortably employed. Therefore, these big corporations or conglomerates have no recourse but recruit from Manila.
Global Foundation sees this as a big loss of opportunity for Cebu and the rest of the South. Current unemployment and underemployment rate is still high.
We, therefore, would like to fill this employment gap by concentrating on developing students for top positions in the emerging corporate world of Cebu and the entire South.
The training of our student will be totally different. They will learn strategic planning, fundamental project management lessons and world best practices, among other things. With this in mind, we will not have any direct competition with
other school offerings.
Global Foundation's main aim is to graduate world class business leaders, entrepreneurs and IT professionals.
Prospective Students
Top high school graduates of Cebu and from other neighboring provinces and islands including Mindanao and Luzon, who wish to avail of an alternative Business & IT Education designed for the 21st century, with the option of
enrolling in a world class university without having to leave the country are our prospective students.
The book "Generation to Generation" written by Gersick, Davis et. al., wrote that "Over 80 percent of all business worldwide are family firms - from well-known companies like Wal-Mart, Fidelity Investment to the corner grocery
store and local lawn-care business..."
With this fact, we also would like to focus our training of would be successors, "heirs to the throne"----so to speak----of business here in Cebu and elsewhere----the ultimate dream is to attract students from overseas.
We shall "mentor" these students----your sons and daughters----on the differences of organizational behavior of family owned businesses from those in public companies, such that, issues in "organizational structure, leadership,
strategy, financial management and even anticipation of transition, how to accomplish it and move ahead" will be vital points of discourse.
"Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do. Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself."
(William Faulkner)
