Myanmar will focus on investments in the human factor to keep up and remain relevant in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR)

During her speech concerning Myanmar’s place in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) at the World Economic Forum on Asean in Hanoi yesterday, State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi stressed the value of human skills and talent in ensuring the country remains relevant and on par with its neighbours in the years to come.

According to its Wikipedia entry, the 4IR is the fourth major industrial era since the initial Industrial Revolution in the 18th century. The 4IR is marked by technology breakthroughs in many fields including robotics, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and 3D printing, all of which are disrupting entire industries and rendering some obsolete.

“Yet, data show that 50 percent -75pc of new technology implementations have failed regarding quality and reliability due to the neglect of the human factor. In Myanmar, we cannot afford to fail because we are already so far behind,” Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said. 

Myanmar will focus on investments in the human factor to keep up and remain relevant in the 4IR. “The most important aspect of the 4IR is the human factor. In Myanmar, our approach to the 4IR is based on our belief in the most valuable qualities of our people – creativity, empathy and stewardship – especially among the younger generation,” she said.

The way she sees it, “the world will always be in need of human skills. Computers can provide the mathematical solutions but they cannot provide the human nuances and judgment calls. People will.” 

Investing in education

In past industrial revolutions, the focus for less developed countries like Myanmar has always been on amassing low-level skills in manufacturing to attract foreign direct investments. But that could soon change. To prepare the Myanmar people for further disruptions in the 4IR, more investments will be channeled into improving the education system, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said.

“Our approach to the human factor is to invest as much as possible in our people, including the old who have not been able to get a decent education. We believe all our people, including the young, old and middle-aged, have a part to play in making the 4IR a boon for us rather a curse,” she said. 

Emphasis will also be placed on practical education. “We have to be prepared for the 4IR with the right knowledge and skills. While the education system of a country is crucial in how we face the challenges of our times, we also need to shift the emphasis in education to practical skills rather than just academic qualifications,” the State Counselor said.

“In our country, where there is a need to close the gap between us and the more developed countries, we need to concentrate on the practical aspect of education.”

Nurturing creativity

Providing guidance and support, or proper stewardship, to the nation’s start-ups and entrepreneurs, also plays a big part in developing the human factor. This involves a nurturing process during which new businesses are given the opportunity to develop. 

“Unless we are creative, we will not face the challenges of the new era. So, youths with innovative ideas must be encouraged to believe that they are part of the 4IR regardless of academic qualifications,” Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said. 

“Industries do not create themselves. There are teams involved in creating ideas and engineers involved in converting those ideas into a working system. Creativity has to be linked to practical skills to make our creative talents marketable.”

(The Myanmar Times: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/myanmar-will-focus-developing-talent-4ir-dassk.html )

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