To join ranks of developed countries: Phl urged to invest in education, foster entrepreneurship

MANILA, Philippines - Developing countries like the Philippines are urged to invest in education and technological transfer as well as foster entrepreneurship to join the ranks of developed nations, according to  world-renowned futurist, author, and TV and radio personality Michio Kaku.

“The Philippines has an opportunity to be ahead of other countries in the future, but it faces the challenges of preparing Filipino students for available jobs,’’ said Kaku, who is widely known for his ongoing attempt to  complete Albert Einstein’s unified field theory that would summarize all the physical laws of the universe.

Kaku said that given technological developments in the future, jobs by that time will require more education compared to jobs in the past.

“We have to put emphasis on science education and engineering  to bring our people up to speed and make a lot of chances  for employment out there,” he said.

According to Kaku, if individuals lack the necessary education to perform the task, the jobs will never be filled.

Kaku said the Philippine government and society should now promote the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship to allow individuals to be successful in the future.

“The government and society itself has to foster entrepreneurship,” Kaku said.

“You have to have a cultural ethic that allows for making mistakes. It cannot be that just because you make mistakes, you’re out. You have to make mistakes in order to innovate,” he added.

According to Kaku, modern technological infrastructure has made physical infrastructure in developed economies out of date.

“Now, we are creating subway systems from scratch which means there is major leap ahead in terms of infrastructure because we have aging infrastructure in London, Paris and New York,” he said.

Kaku  said this means countries such as the Philippines which lack infrastructure “have the opportunity to leap ahead.”

This, as technology is seen to advance further and its transfer is expected to be done much faster than it is today.

Kaku said the opportunity however, comes with a price. “There is a price you have to pay. What is the price you have to pay? Education,” Kaku said.

Kaku — considered an authority in predicting trends that would affect business based on latest scientific research — spoke at  First Pacific Leadership Academy (FPLA) Executive Series titled “The Business of Innovation: Transcending Business Through Innovation.”  

FPLA is the dedicated corporate university of First Pacific group of companies. It seeks to provide management and training solutions for the business sector, academe and government. 

The FPLA conducts the Executive Series which presents experts from all over the world to speak on topics focused mostly on leadership and  management. 

While the Executive Series was initially open only to members of the First Pacific Group, it was made available to the public this year to  allow more people to learn from masters in various fields.