““Global Competitiveness andGlobal Competitiveness andTechnology Policy:Technology Policy:

How the U.S. Can Compete How the U.S. Can Compete to Stay Ahead”to Stay Ahead”

Karin HudsonKarin Hudson

Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti, Inc.Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti, Inc.

EDUCAUSE Policy ConferenceWashington, DC

April 6, 2005

Starting Point: Three Key PremisesStarting Point: Three Key Premises

Competitiveness is a REAL challenge that we Competitiveness is a REAL challenge that we must face now.must face now.

Information technology plays a critical role in Information technology plays a critical role in ensuring continued U.S. competitiveness and ensuring continued U.S. competitiveness and global leadership.global leadership.

Education is still Education is still thethe key to ensuring a skilled and key to ensuring a skilled and competitive workforce, new ways of thinking competitive workforce, new ways of thinking about education are required, and industry and about education are required, and industry and higher education must work together to achieve higher education must work together to achieve this goal.this goal.

What’s The Big Deal:What’s The Big Deal:Is U.S. Competitiveness Is U.S. Competitiveness Really Really

Being Threatened?Being Threatened?

Japan25 Million

Skilled Workers

1985 2025

250MillionSkilled

Workers

China

250MillionSkilled

Workers

2025

India

What’s The Big Deal:What’s The Big Deal:Is U.S. Competitiveness Is U.S. Competitiveness ReallyReally

Being Threatened?Being Threatened?

THENTHEN

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Total U.S. R&D Spending

Billions of Dollars

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

9,000

10,000

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

NSF budget

Authorized in NSFdoubling bill

National Science Foundation Budget, FY 2001-2007 (budget authority in millions of dollars)

Source: National Science Foundation, Public Law 107-368, and latest AAAS estimates of NSF appropriations. Authorized levels are authorizations in Public Law 107-368 (Dec. 2002). FEB. '05 © 2005 AAAS

NOWNOW“Does the United States choose to compete? The rest of the world is competing. The U.S. must decide if it will follow that path. It can build on its strength or it can atrophy.” Craig Barrett, CEO, Intel

Other Signs of TroubleOther Signs of Trouble

U.S. Graduate Institutions: Foreign Students Outnumber U.S. students

Patent applications from China,India, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan grew 759% from 1989-2001.

The U.S. share of S&E paperspublished worldwide declined from38% in 1988 to 31% in 2001.

China, South Korea, and Taiwanincreased gross R&D investmentsby about 140% from 1995-2001.the U.S. increased its investmentsby 34% during the same period.

The U.S. ranks 6th in the number of undergraduate engineering degrees awarded behind China, Japan, and Russia, India and the EU-15.

The U.S. has dropped from 1st to5th in how we take advantage of IT.

Americans Are Concerned About the United Americans Are Concerned About the United States’s Global Leadership Position States’s Global Leadership Position BUTBUT….. …..

Americans increasingly recognize that the United States is being Americans increasingly recognize that the United States is being pushed more and more by its foreign competitors.pushed more and more by its foreign competitors.

U.S. based companies are far ahead of their foreign competitors.

U.S. based companies are still ahead, but their foreign competitors are catching up.

U.S. based companies and their foreign competitors are on an even playing field.

Foreign competitors have surpassed U.S. based companies.

Source: CSPP National Survey, March 2005

…….This Doesn’t Necessarily Result in Policy .This Doesn’t Necessarily Result in Policy Action Given Other Nearer-Term CrisesAction Given Other Nearer-Term Crises

National Security

Consumer Privacy

Offshore Outsourcing

Resource Crunch

Good News: The U.S. Can Remain an Good News: The U.S. Can Remain an Innovative Leader – If it Chooses ToInnovative Leader – If it Chooses To

Challenge U.S. Response

“SputnikCrisis”1950’s

“Rise of JapanCrisis”1980’s

The U.S. increased investments in our space exploration program and committed to improve math and science education.

The U.S. increased investments in innovation to make the country a world IT leader.

?“Creeping

Crisis”2005

U.S. Competitiveness

SpectrumManagement

Immigration/Visas

Internet TaxDigital RightsManagement

IT Policy: How it Fits in, How it Impacts our Place in the Global Market and Why it Matters

Export/KnowledgeControls

BroadbandDeployment

Trade

Healthcare IT

RetrainingAssistance

Education Reform

A Key Ingredient for Continued Success: A Key Ingredient for Continued Success: Keep Producing the Best and the BrightestKeep Producing the Best and the Brightest

"We cannot afford to leave education and training behind in the technology revolutionBut, unless something changes, the gap between technology's potential and its use ineducation and training will only grow as technological change accelerates in the yearsahead.“ Philip J. Bond, Under Secretary for Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce

"In addition to growing new generations of innovators, we must also empower the workers of today. For many workers in the innovation space, the economic ground often feels like it's shifting beneath their feet, and many of them are uncertain about the future.“ G. Wayne Clough, President, University of Georgia

What’s Missing: 21What’s Missing: 21stst Century Skills Century Skills

“How students learn” is different from “How students live” today.

Need to Focus on and advocate a 21st Century Skill set in education for a 21st Century environment to create lifelong learners.

Critical Thinking

Problem Solving

Communications

Collaboration

Self-Directed Learning

Accountability & Adaptability

Information & Media Literacy

Social Responsibility

Creative & Intellectual Curiosity

How Have Institutions of Higher-Ed, Industry How Have Institutions of Higher-Ed, Industry and Government Partnered Togetherand Government Partnered Together

The Business-Higher Education ForumThe Business-Higher Education Forum

The Partnership for 21The Partnership for 21stst Century Skills Century Skills

The Interagency Working Group on The Interagency Working Group on Advanced Technologies for Education &Advanced Technologies for Education &Training (Dept. of Commerce/Education)Training (Dept. of Commerce/Education)

National Science Foundation “Science of Learning Centers”National Science Foundation “Science of Learning Centers”

On-going Joint Education-Industry PartnershipsOn-going Joint Education-Industry Partnerships

Where Does Higher-Ed Fit in to the Where Does Higher-Ed Fit in to the Competitiveness Challenge?Competitiveness Challenge?

Become a “Creeping Crisis” AdvocateBecome a “Creeping Crisis” Advocate - Aggressively continue to - Aggressively continue to beat the “creeping crisis” drum and be a leader in convening a beat the “creeping crisis” drum and be a leader in convening a discussion with all stakeholders. Demand leadership from others discussion with all stakeholders. Demand leadership from others to ensure we invest in innovation, entrepreneurship, infrastructure to ensure we invest in innovation, entrepreneurship, infrastructure and education.and education.

EngageEngage – Maintain an on-going dialogue with industry about what – Maintain an on-going dialogue with industry about what their workforce needs are and continue to partner and collaborate their workforce needs are and continue to partner and collaborate on programs and solutions.on programs and solutions.

RethinkRethink – Look at current curriculum design and begin the process – Look at current curriculum design and begin the process of incorporating 21of incorporating 21stst Century Skills. Make redesign a priority at Century Skills. Make redesign a priority at the highest levels of campus leadership.the highest levels of campus leadership.

Get InvolvedGet Involved – Seek opportunities to get involved with existing – Seek opportunities to get involved with existing initiatives, whether at the local or federal level.initiatives, whether at the local or federal level.

InspireInspire – Focus on ways to get more young girls and women – Focus on ways to get more young girls and women involved in S&E/information technology education and careers. involved in S&E/information technology education and careers. It’s not just for geeks anymore!It’s not just for geeks anymore!

Thank YouThank You