| Education
has Become the No. 1 Economic Priority
From the Honolulu Advertiser (February
8, 2005)
The Japan-America Institute of Management Science (JAIMS) was recently
privileged to host a public forum and executive roundtable with
John Naisbitt, the world-renowned author of Megatrends. Naisbitt had a lot to say to the executive roundtable, held
Jan. 20-21, comprised of 40 eminent senior management executives
from
Hawai'i, the U.S. Mainland, Japan, South Korea and Australia,
all of whom were eager to learn about the "megatrends" that
will shape the future of business in Hawai'i and throughout the
world. The same could also be said about the more than 200 Hawai'i
business and community leaders who attended the public forum
on Jan. 19.
Naisbitt presented thought-provoking
ideas that challenged participants to define their own mindsets
and domains along the twin paths
of decentralization and globalization that the world is taking.
Considering his focus on the
global economy, it was profoundly exciting to realize that throughout
both events, Naisbitt repeatedly
returned to one theme: that education is now the No. 1 economic
priority in today's global context. Citing examples of countries
that have thrived after focusing its resources on education,
such as South Korea, Finland and, most recently, China, Naisbitt
emphasized
that education is the single best way for countries to improve
their position in the global economy.
From parents to teachers to government
officials, no one would argue the need to develop a world-class
education system
here.
Certainly the desire exists in Hawai'i to do just that.
The challenge for us is to understand how to achieve the academic
environment
our children deserve to function effectively in this era
of globalization. There are no easy answers, only the assurance
that investing
in our children is the best investment we can make in securing
a place
for them and Hawai'i in the global economy.
As Hawai'i businesses strive
for international success, we would do well to remember this
lesson. We wish to thank
Naisbitt
for
recognizing that Hawai'i has the talent, geographic location
and aloha spirit to design its own personal domain of
success. Our
questions are, "Are we willing, and do we have the proactive
will to do it?"
Glenn Miyataki
President, JAIMS
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