Development Management Policy Seminar “Automation and Implications for Developing Countries and Education Systems”

On March 2, 2018, Dr. Harry Anthony Patrinos, Practice Manager at the World Bank Headquarters delivered a Development Management Policy Seminar on “Automation and Implications for Developing Countries and Education Systems” in the Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies (GSICS) at Kobe University.

Seminar by Dr. Harry Anthony Patrinos Dr. Patrinos provided an overview of the return on investment to schooling and presented existing challenges facing some East Asian countries in providing basic education. These challenges render difficulties for such countries to stay abreast of evolving skills demanded in the job market driven largely by automation, which is prompted by the fourth industrial revolution. Countries with upper middle income and jobs requiring routine cognitive skills are at the highest risk with increasing automation in workplaces. Factors that reduce the risk of automation are longer years of education and high proficiency. Borrowing from case studies of Vietnam and Korea, productivity of schooling, focusing on fundamentals, employer-led training and engaging the private sector with public funding can be added to the factors that reduce the risk of automation. In conclusion, investing in relevant skills—namely, problem-solving, learning, communication, personal and social skills—as well as developing a curriculum for the future that nurtures well-rounded individuals are core measures to address the implications of automation in education systems.

At the end of the seminar, many participants engaged in an active Q&A session and discussion during which they asked questions to Dr. Patrinos and shared their views about the implications of the changing skill set for education priorities in developing countries. In his response, Dr. Patrinos reiterated the importance of measurement of learning, establishing standards, and embracing more innovation, competition, experiment, and openness that will allow developing countries to address increasing demands simultaneously.

Authored by Najung Kim (doctoral student)