Integral Education for Emerging Markets: Strategic Challenges & Road-Map ahead (II). Education in Emerging Markets-the current context (Part A).
Good afternoon to all:
Before starting today´s publication, we kindly invite you to read one of my previous posts in relation to Education as a Competitive Advantage for Industry 4.0. I wrote this article in my way from Auckland to Itajaí during my sailing days at the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-2018. Find the link here: Education as a Competitive Advantage for Industry 4.0
Have you read it?. If yes, let´s start:
Let´s start today with a list of philosophic questions overview. I will not give you the solutions, or data (numbers) just for today. It is an introduction to make you think. I will share “only” questions which came into my mind, in relation to the current context of education in emerging markets.
As you are used to reading in my blog, whenever we analyze a context, we usually start by asking ourselves questions. Just remember the bee journey slides I have shared with you previously. Is all about asking ourselves questions. And then try to answer them with the truth. As simple as that. I hope by now, you are able and ready to do a contextual analysis of any issue, problem, opportunity, project, entrepreneurial endeavor or program. Repeatedly, we have asked ourselves questions, whenever we wish to start a contextual analysis. Either for an entrepreneurial project (such as possible commercial relations and cooperation between China and El Salvador). Or when analyzing the context during the Cheesecake Factory Uniqueness Analysis when applying the Value Chain Framework. Or when we were trying to explain the theme Innovation 101. Let´s remember some sample slides from my last Strategy Volvo Ocean Race 2017-2018 regatta:
Are we all on the same page? If yes, let´s continue.
What questions we should ask ourselves about the context of Education in Emerging Markets or anywhere in the world?
- What emerging markets do we wish to scrutinize? Per region, per country, or in general? Up to what level of detail?
- What level of education are we going to analyze? Is there only one education qualification framework? Is there a variety of qualifications frameworks? Which qualification framework has proven to be better? Under what society requirements? Are the qualifications frameworks right? Or do they need a review with the digital tools?
Every education level has its own qualifications and degrees. This is an example of a qualifications/degree system.
- What do people study in the world? Until what level of qualification? What areas are available for people to study in each level of qualification?
- Who is studying? Who is learning? Can we prepare a segmentation for each area? What is the segmentation of students for Latin America? For Africa? For Middle-Eastern countries? For the rich G-20 countries?
- How do people study? How to do people learn? Are they taught to solve problems? Do they solve problems using comprehension? Or do they only memorize or repeat their teachers’ solutions without thinking? How many students are able to retain? Using active or passive learning? How do students remember what they are taught? How are they learning? Do they learn by reading (visually) Do they learn by listening (audio)? Do they learn by seeing or observing? Do they learn by talking-speaking-participating on debates? Do they learn by doing? Do they learn by practicing? How many practices? Do they learn by teaching others? How do they teach? Are they aware of their own methodology for learning and teaching?
- Why do people learn? By Duty? By Amour? To get good grades? Or because there is nothing else to do? To get a job? To learn to think and develop our brain skills? Are students motivated to find joy and self-realization in what they choose to study? Why do they choose?
- When do people learn? Do students study only at school? At what time of the day do they gather to make home-works? Do they realize them at night? Or early in the morning (before going to school)?
- Where do people learn and study? Do students study at school? At home? Where at home? In the living room, bedroom or yard? Do they study on their commuting process? Do they study Long-distance programs? Are long-distance programs of social benefit?
- For whom do people study? For whom do they learn? Do students study to please their families or parents? Do students study to earn good degrees and get financing from scholarships? Do students study for their sponsors? For themselves?
- Is the current qualification framework offering the job competencies that the employment system requires or will require? Are the education programs offering the skills needed? Are students trained only to know or get informed or to gather data? Or are students trained to solve issues holistically? What type of capabilities are the students learning?
- Where do we leave education by practice? In parallel to studying? Before or after studying?
Digital tools have spread like a contagious trend all over the world. The use of a portable gadget has changed our daily habits. To every generation living on the planet. And the Internet has changed all our routines, the industries processes and the way to think too. With social media, communication through a mobile device is pressuring to change the methodologies of education. The internet of things too. And all these new technology innovations may or can be used in education. At every level. Now let´s stop here. Are we in need of a new model of education? Do we need to reform our education system just because of these new digital technologies? 
Or do we have to change the educational system simply because it is not working well, regardless of Internet existence? Do we need a reform of the educational system because of the entrance to Industry 4.0? Or do we have to mix the old education system with a new one, up to a certain level? Which level? How will be our brain affected (for good or for bad) with the usage of these technologies? What to do when the challenge is to find the truth in the midst of zillions of data which might be partially biased or even faked on the internet?, What to do to educate using the new Internet technologies? Are we making our brain sluggish? Will our brain be hurt with laziness as a result of the digital era? or will the usage of Internet-digital tools be convenient for our brain development and community interactions? Will the digital tools create isolation or will they gather us? will these tools affect our cognitive brain development? Are the people reaching happiness and contentment by studying and learning? Is studying the same than learning? So many questions to ask… Don´t you think so? And all these questions are related to learning and education context perspectives.
The bottom line: is our existing learning system correct? Are we training kids and students to be informed? Or are we preparing them to reach wisdom? Do you wish to drink a cup of coffee with me to solve all these questions with the truth? 
To be continued…
Disclaimer: All the presentation slides shown on this blog are prepared by Eleonora Escalante MBA-MEng. Nevertheless, all the pictures or videos shown on this blog are not mine. I do not own any of the lovely photos or images posted unless otherwise stated
Eleonora Escalante Strategy 