I.+Discussion

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QUESTIONS: After reading the paper on //Opening the Door to Productivity// and learning some things about the country you have chosen to study, what factors mentioned in the Productivity paper do you think might be a problem for your chosen country? Why? What cultural, social, or government factors might be problems for your country in development a system of vocational/technical education?

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REBECCA HUTTON Australia is a well developed country that already has its own landsat survey and Labor Market/Occupational Information system set up on its own. It also has a unique linkage system set up for skilled workers who wish to relocate to Australia through a web site called "Skilled Select" which matches "employment needs" with workers, and helps to arrange for a VISA into Australia. One of the problems in developing a system of vocational/technical education inside of Australia is to "Sell" the need for such a school. The economy has slowed, and more layoffs are being forecast in the future (Ford-General Motors) because of no demand for cars. Since the government determines which occupations have a "Need", close connections to the government would be the first step in such an attempt. The government set up a new law in July 2012 requiring non-European spouses and children meet minimum earnings requirements to migrate and join a spouse. This has resulted in thousands of Briton families being separated and unable to enjoy the quality of life in a family core situation. What incentive is this for lower waged skilled workers to return to the UK with a non-EU spouse? The government recommendation was that it would ease the burden of migration on the taxpayer, but I have a hard time understanding how. In addition, Australia has 250 different Dialects' within its boundaries; is the education feasible and needed? How would you determine any of this without input and christening by the government, and a detailed curriculum of what is going to be "learned". Will the information infrastructure support on-line activities in the remote areas, or will more development be needed before any type of system could be determined? Again, everything depends upon the governmental determinations of the Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency who control the workforce.

JACCI GREEN PIKE:

The Netherlands main industries are: agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics and fishing. They have an unemployment rate of 6.5 % (compared to US unemployment rate of 7.5%). In 2008 their education system was rated the 9th best in the entire world. They value education highly and utilize vocational training which they call MBO. MBO's last from 1-4 years. Alternatively, students can attend a University to study agriculture, fine and performing arts or to become a teacher. One point of interest, the Netherlands do not administer standard IQ tests, therefore there is some trial and error to determine appropriate student placements. This is partly due to the social stigma that could occur with labeling a student or holding them back a grade. While I appreciate their sensitivity towards the students, failure to test students can result in wasted money, time and resources. Therefore I believe this is their biggest challenge in the countries productivity.

NICK STOWERS
Although Kuwait seems to have a cognitive and successful learning system compared to most other Middle Eastern countries, problems could still rise from political powers. The royal family rules the country and has all authority to every citizen. Kuwait is said to have one of the highest literacy rate among most countries, and has a very high college attendance ate. However, if a citizen is not of high class (or a woman) it could determine whether or not the individual will qualify for a higher education. Also in Kuwait, a very large percentage of the workforce comes from immigrants. This could be an issue when creating new academic programs. A university could concentrate on non-physical labor type businesses (technical training), since the true native Kuwaitis do not typically do manual labor.

STEVON GREGORY

While Ecuador has large cities and some high tech industry it is mostly a rural country with low skilled people. The fact there is a need to have a well educated human resource available for growth in even medium to high skilled jobs would pose a problem. The need to "train the right people" and "train people for the right jobs" would be a challenge. If a new industry was considering a move to Ecuador because of the relatively low wage workers finding the qualified workforce would present a problem. Training someone that has spent their entire lives picking bananas for an assembly line position that required attention to detail would require a significant amount of time in retraining and even cultural changes. It is common in Ecuador for the worker to have a difficultly being "on time". It is simply a way of life for them. The people of Ecuador also have a difficult time trusting the government because they have seen so much corruption not only for many years but centuries. The business and industry that may come into Ecuador could find road blocks trying to setup a good foundation on which to build because of this corruption as it may require some questionable ethical decisions to be made with local officials. If the industry is from the U.S. or any other English speaking country they will also have a language barrier to overcome as the average resident of Ecuador speaks Spanish.

MIKE KLEIN

The German vocational training system, with its combination of classroom and business, theory and practice, learning and working, is recognized worldwide as a basic and highly effective model for vocational training. In Germany, more than 50 percent of all students who were college bound in high school but decided against university apply for vocational training, and many companies participate in vocational training. Companies provide training voluntarily, and often at their own expense, because they believe that this is the best way to meet their own need for skilled staff. Private companies bear two thirds of the total costs spent every year on vocational training in Germany--- costs which amount to an average of 15,300 euros per trainee per year. Businesses that take part in the practice consider training their own new employees the best form of personnel recruitment. The German dual system has proved its success over a long period, and it still shows its ability to react quickly and effectively to the many changes currently affecting the economy and society. As countries with strong internationally competitive economic, scientific and technological capacities, the USA and Germany have a strong strategic interest in the best concepts for qualification. Both countries design education and training based on the economic and societal demands of lifelong learning, which focus on competencies and employ ability, as well as the promotion of transparent and transferable qualifications and the broadening of career paths.

JASON HILL

Russia's top resources are timber, petroleum, natural gas, and coal; therefore, the implementation of an increased presence of vocational training would be a tool to strengthen their already natural resources. At the present time, post secondary education in Russia is in crisis. Institutes of higher learning have not been adequately monitored; thus creating the practice of diplomas being "bought" instead of actually learned. In Russia, everyone wants a higher degree; however, there is not much attention focused on the effectiveness of that degree to better the graduate or the economy. In a race to attempt to be the first and the foremost in the fields of medicine and aerospace, great emphasis has been placed on the study of math and science amongst Russia's brightest students. While attempting to gain international attention, the basic needs of the country have been neglected - an example being that not all major roads in Russia are paved in this day in age. Culturally, the country is an abundantly proud people. Again, being known as the best and being known to have a degree finds more importance than actually bettering the overall living conditions of the country and/or actually learning skills that will provide the most opportunities for employment. This, along with a country who values education at face value, would creat immense difficulty in implementing successful vocational programs across the population.

TERRYL LINDSEY

The third item on my three new things about my country answers this question. Immigration accounts for an increasing share of Belize's population growth rate, which is steadily falling due to fertility decline. Belize's declining birth rate and its increased life expectancy are creating an aging population. As the elderly population grows and nuclear families replace extended households, Belize's government will be challenged to balance a rising demand for pensions, social services, and healthcare for its senior citizens with the need to reduce poverty and social inequality and to improve sanitation.

ASHLEY LORENZ

Italy’s economy is driven by the manufacture of high-quality consumer goods produced by small and medium sized companies. Italy also has a size able underground economy, which some estimates account for up to 17% of the GDP. These produces are within agriculture, construction, and service sectors. Tourism is also a highly profitable industry as the 3rd largest tourist country in the world. Unfortunately, Italy has an exceptionally high public debt that has made them vulnerable and most international companies will not move into the Italian market. Italy also has a 40% union workforce. With all of that being said Italy needs to find a way to track jobs that are going on in the underground economy. This is a huge area that could see growth and might help Italy’s economy. The problem is that taxes keep going up and the people of Italy are skeptical of their government.

CODY W. McPHERSON

My country of Canada is really a well developed country that has a good economy. Canada does have some problems that they would face when they try to develop a Tech Education system. One of the problems would be changing the mind set of the citizens I think that many of the citizens in Canada would struggle with understanding why that this type of education would be need. That is something that you could only change with time and recruitment/marketing effort. Another problem would be the weather in Canada since Canada is a very cold country many of the practices that we use in Oklahoma would need to be changed in Canada. In Canada anything that has a motor must always be running or you have to have heaters on the motors. I think the Canadian economy could really use some Tech Education and that it is something that not only would benefit Canada but also the USA.

ARNOLD PATTON

Economic growth in the northern region of Thailand reached 40 percent from 2007 to 2011, against 23 percent for the country and just 17 percent for greater Bangkok. Monthly household income rose 40 percent between 2007 and 2011, the biggest jump of any Thai region. Interviews with businessmen and investment data suggest the trend is continuing.The number of private investment projects in the northeast rose 49 percent in 2012 from the previous year, with the total amount invested more than doubling to $2.3 billion, according to the Bank of Thailand. Much of it is concentrated in property - from high-rise condominiums to town houses and shopping plazas. Now such plans are in hand, given impetus by floods that devastated the industrial central region, near Bangkok, in late 2011. "Logistics providers and consumer products are moving upcountry because of the floods," said Patan Somburanasin, general manager of TPARK, a logistics company and subsidiary of TICON Industrial Connection Pcl TICON.BK, which is investing up to 2 billion baht in a 79-acre logistics park in the northeastern city of Khon Kaen. Lives are being transformed. Panjaporn Phatanapitoon, general manager of the 168 Platinum Mall, said people in the northeast were now better educated, attitudes were evolving fast and urbanization would come much more quickly than in Bangkok. I feel the main problem in convencing the people they need training is the sudden boom in work and higher income. The problem with the growth in the north east is taking all skilled workers out of the rest of the country. They are leaving for the financial boom of the North east. I feel there will be a great need for Skill training in the other parts of the country in the very near future.