The OECD Forum is 20 this year. More than an anniversary, it is a coming of age. It is also a chance for us to look back and look forward: What have we learned and achieved? Where to next for the OECD Forum in a changing global context?
The Forum was created in 2000 in response to public pressure for more transparency and dialogue in policy making. The internet age was burgeoning: non-governmental organisations had harnessed the web to exert a new influence on the political scene and hold governments to account as informed, proactive and “wired” world citizens. Globalisation was in full swing a decade after the fall of the Berlin Wall, with China about to join the WTO world of open trade and investment. This was also a time of violent protest on city streets when, in November 1999, 30,000 protesters in Seattle stopped the WTO in its tracks a year after the OECD’s efforts to achieve a multilateral investment agreement were ground to a halt. Dislike for the multinational power of major brands, the steamrolling of culture and identity, sweatshops, and the gaping divides that globalisation revealed between rich and poor countries all generated a demand for real accountability and transparency.
The OECD got the message: out of this crucible the OECD Forum emerged. But it was not an easy birth. OECD officials and diplomats felt uneasy. Although most in the OECD acknowledged the demand for more transparency, and engaged in limited consultation with civil society, many remained convinced that discretion was essential and if the OECD had to engage, it would be to convince the naysayers of the unquestionable virtues of globalisation. The OECD Forum was both a risk and an opportunity.
20 years later the OECD Forum is thriving. It has made a valuable contribution to transforming the OECD. It is growing into a platform fit for a fast-changing world. And in the last two years the global political landscape has shifted again. Uncertainty, division, impatience and polarisation are widespread, and street protests are back too.
The initial motivation for the Forum remains just as strong, and the need as great or greater in a World of Emotion. The reticence of 2000 has been displaced by an eagerness, a duty, to listen to all voices, and build better policies. The Forum continues to both project into the future and focus on past and present challenges. We continue to encourage frank, evidence-based, debate but, in 2019, we must strive to harness the emotional forces that drive us forward to a positive end.
Each year we seek to develop an agenda that resonates with the evolution of our times, and our world looks quite different in 2019. Where we used to focus on strong, sustainable economic growth, we now need inclusive growth that places people at the core of our approach and policies. Issues such as gender equality, the integration of migrants, ageing in poverty, youth unemployment, access to affordable housing and healthcare and the fairness of tax systems existed as concerns 20 years ago but have more acute relevance today.
Over the years, we have welcomed policy makers, bringing together Ministers and policy shapers alike from across the political spectrum; with the full range of civil society campaigning on issues varying from human rights and child safety to tax and privacy; union leaders pursuing better rights for workers; global and local CEOs rising to the challenge of building more inclusive and sustainable business models; ground-breaking media voices using their platforms to comment and chart the evolution of the world; and cutting-edge researchers and academics providing their expertise to develop innovative, concrete solutions. They all contribute to conversations that push the envelope and take us out of our comfort zones around issues and questions we feel a responsibility to put on the agenda.
This community is an essential ingredient of the “Forum chemistry” – individuals the OECD is committed to serving from all parts of the globe, and who bring their wealth of experience, views and ideas. Starting with just a few hundred all those years ago, last year saw 4,000 of you join us in Paris and many more online and through social media across the globe. We hope to include even more voices, and mobilise our collective intelligence to address the world’s pressing challenges in an open, dynamic and creative space.
On 20-21 May the 20th edition of OECD Forum will focus on a World in EMotion, reflecting a time of great societal, economic and political change, upheaval and disruption, amplified by the dual forces of globalisation and digitalisation. Recent events are indeed challenging our understanding and ability to forecast the future. “What can I do?”; “What I can do!”; “Tell me what to do!” These are some of the dilemmas we all face at times as we grapple with such complex problems on such grand scales.
Individuals can be vibrant agents of change, as we have seen across the globe, holding world leaders accountable for their physical safety, the protection of our planet and the respect of all, regardless of their ethnicity and gender. Taken together, small actions can become powerful forces of disruption and change. Our ambition at the Forum will be to explore how to transform these increasing expressions of uncertainty and anger into collective commitment for positive action.
As we begin our preparations, we want your help to co-create the agenda. We consulted you last year and drew inspiration from your thoughts, all of which enriched our thinking and became a part of the Forum programme.
These are some of the themes and issues we are currently considering and on which we would value your ideas and input:
- What would a New Societal Contract look like? Core to a new societal contract will be our ability to address how notions of ethics, human values and even privacy are evolving in a digital age. As in past years, we will also continue to explore ways to promote more inclusive growth, ensuring opportunity for all, and especially for those who too often are left behind in our societies (such as youth, women, migrants, older generations and people with disabilities) through better access to education, employment, finance, housing, and health. We’re also interested in looking “beyond capitals” given the strong regional component to the growing divides in our economies and societies.
- How can we prepare for Digitalisation and the Future of Work? The OECD’s priority is ensuring that the digital transition we are living will be positive for both well-being and growth. In this context, Forum discussions will include a strong focus on the Future of Work, including the type of education and skill set, safety nets and support networks that will provide the confidence and resilience to face this new future.
- Why is International co-operation important for our time? All 2019 Forum themes will be linked to the SDGs, and we plan an increased focus on the urgency of addressing climate change. We foresee a strategic discussion on the need for a new type of leadership in today’s volatile, fast-paced world: the challenges of globalisation, technological change, immigration issues and the rise of populism all demand strong, determined leadership and responsibility from governments, but in partnership with CEOs, mayors, and civil society.
We will also examine the potential of Artificial Intelligence and other new technologies to help address some of the world’s most challenging social and environmental problems, as well as the ethical dimensions and risks that must be carefully considered for these technologies to realise their full potential.
The Forum Network is your space to tell us what matters to you and ours to listen, reflect and act on those views. Please join to comment in the box below!
In a World in Emotion, as long as the OECD Forum faces forward and listens carefully to people from all backgrounds and places, we will be an invaluable source of enrichment for better policy making and better lives.
By joining us at OECD Forum 2019, and engaging with us on Forum Network, you too can help us mark our coming of age and work with us towards a brighter future. Here’s to the next 20.
Anthony
Please sign in or register for FREE
If you are a registered user on The OECD Forum Network, please sign in
Hi Anthony!
The past year was as dynamic as you can get in current political and economic climate, so I simply can't wait to once again talk to You in Paris about a variety of issues.
For me the issues of New Societal Contract and Digitalisation and Automatisation of Work are intertwined - we as a society are in deep crisis - our old, traditional local communities have fallen apart and were replaced by anti-tribes of omnipresent politics. And, as we all know it - from Brexit to Trump, from the Wall to Green New Deal - joining the political anti-tribes brings us just a short-term comfort of hating others on Twitter rather than building valueable, full-grown relationships that will last years. And the reason for that is depressingly simple - loneliness.
As Pew Research Centre showed us 2 years ago during The Forum, the majority of most of the OECD member states citizens are pessimistic about the future ahead. The reason why is not only rooted in economics and demographics, but also in the fact that we as a species seems to lost ability to form organizations, associations and other local institutions designed centuries ago to bring people together regardless of their political views.
In his brilliant book "Them" Ben Sasse, US Senator from Nebraska (who will be great guest at The Forum, if I might suggest) argue that technology, especially social media, enabled us to go rootless on the world, driving us apart by hyperpolitical content and "new brave world far away from us", so we can no longer understand hopes, dreams and fears of one another. The second issue that, according to Sasse, destroyed our Societal Contract, is the revolution of work.
The technology allows economy to grow, but a historic pace of technological transformation means that billions of people are feeling the consequenses of it. McKinsey Global Institute predicts in their report on the future of work in the age of AI that 50% of activities that people are paid to do in the global economy right now have the potential to be automated by adopting currently demonstrated technology. Furthermore, 1/3 of workers in the globe could see their jobs disrupted within the next 12 years.
This fast pace of changes means that my young generation will have to change jobs every few years while my parents generation were able to work in 2-3 companies their entire lifes. That means that the other source of possible long time relationships - at work - is and will be also unavailable to people in their twenties.
So, it seems to me that in order to find a solution to any economic aspects of the questions You asked, we have to start by finding a solutions to lack of basic relationships, upon which community can be establish.
As silly as it can sound, the crucial answer to the question: "How can we prepare for Digitalisation and the Future of Work?" simply has to be: together. Or not at all.
I can't wait to see You in May and discuss all of those issues,
Marcel
Thanks Marcel. Much food for thought in your contribution. Looking forward to seeing you again too.
You bring up some good points here, Marcel. Since OECD Forum 2017, Bridging Divides, the Forum has been exploring reasons for the current climate of polarisation and what we can all do to reach a common understanding. Forum 2018 included a panel session on Loneliness for the first time, and this is something that we at the OECD are indeed seeking to address, notably looking at its far-reaching implications for mental health, economic empowerment and social cohesion. We appreciated your input on last year’s co-creation message regarding conservative voices at the Forum – do you have any suggestions to make the event more balanced in this respect?
The Future of Work will be a core area of discussion for this year’s event: you can explore current OECD work on this, and keep an eye out for a dedicated campaign site going live at the start of April. And the importance of international co-operation to getting it right doesn’t sound silly at all – see you in May!
Kieran
Hi Kieran!
First of all, thanks for acknowledging my last year's suggestions!
My example of Sen. Sasse book meant to show that on the basics most conservatives and liberals have similar goals and are concerned by the same problem. We differ on the solutions, but discussion and cooperation can bring us to mutually satisfying compromise. The First Step Act in the US is the example that even in Trump era bipartisan work is possible. The recent surge of so-called "far-right" is simply expression of frustration on the right, that we for a long time felt ridiculed, ignored and silenced by liberal majority when we expressed our views on migration, globalisation etc.
The heart of conservative movement beats in the UK and US, so if someone like Ben Sasse, Douglas Murray, Niall Ferguson or Andrew Neil could be invited, it will be fantastic. Furthermore, after attending 3 OECD Forums I still believe that an event when people identifying themselves as liberal try to find good faith reasoning for conservative actions and vice versa could be really refreshing, especially if at the end we could come from the other "side", reflect on that work and come closer together.
The OECD, if it wants to stay relevant, have to be more balanced. Otherwise, in the event of further right wing swipe in developed world, you'll be ignored by the governments looking at you as a policy vehicle for liberals. That would be terrible since OECD is doing awesome job on economic side (maybe also on others, but I'm an economist :) ) So if you could invite experts like Bernard Connolly, Patrick Minford or Stephen Moore to talk and exchange views, that would also overally increase Forum's exposure on conservative views.
Can't wait for May!
Marcel
Thanks again, Marcel. The increasing polarisation we see across the world is clearly a barrier to resolving the current challenges affecting all of us and, as you say, open, honest and balanced debate is required to come to a mutual understanding. As you know from attending, Forums 2017 and 2018 – Bridging Divides and What Brings Us Together – were developed taking into consideration the current global climate and in an attempt to craft shared solutions.
Your speaker suggestions are well noted and we will consider them and their views as we develop the programme. One of the great strengths of the Forum is its ability to attract a diversity of voices and we always seek to include voices from a broad spectrum of nationalities and backgrounds.
See you in a couple of months!
Kieran
Mas ÉXITOS #SDGs #ODS #Agenda2030 #EliteSDGs
Gracias
Hi Anthony - love to help. I'm currently producing a podcast series which covers many of these issues which I'm sure we could draw on: https://theedtechpodcast.com/coming-soon-a-new-series-on-the-edtech-podcast/
Thank you very much, Sophie. Technology’s growing place in modern education, regarding both what and how we learn, is something we will be considering. On 3 December this year the OECD will release the results of PISA 2018, gauging how prepared students around the world are for real-life situations in the adult world, so this may well form part of the context of our discussions.
We’ve enjoyed your previous podcasts posted on the Forum Network so we wish you continuing luck with the series and look forward to hearing more!
Kieran
Exciting topics! As it happens, I have a book coming out in about five weeks that addresses the question of what schools should be teaching the next generation of children so they can thrive in the age of smart machines. I'll have a blog site up in a couple weeks that will also discuss this issue. Meanwhile, here's the publisher's blurb:
"Learning for the Age of Artificial Intelligence is a richly informed argument for curricular change to educate people towards achievement and success as intelligent machine systems proliferate. Describing eight key competences, this comprehensive volume prepares educational leaders, designers, researchers, and policymakers to effectively rethink the knowledge, skills, and environments that students need to thrive and avoid displacement in today’s technology-enhanced culture and workforce. Essential insights into school operations, machine learning, complex training and assessment, and economic challenges round out this cogent, relatable discussion about the imminent evolution of the education sector."
Eight key competences I address are:
• the ability to learn efficiently and quickly,
I argue that schools cannot get the entire job done and that the education system of the future needs redundant opportunities outside of school, along with schemes similar to an electronic medical record to help different providers coordinate their efforts.• socioemotional skills,
• skills of civic participation,
• ability to evaluate information,
• facility in collaborative activity, including the 4 C’s (dealing with complexity, communication, collaboration, and creativity),
• management of personal finances and some basic economics,
• confidence, and
• physical and mental fitness.
Alan Lesgold
Totally agree with your comment #SDGs4 #SDGs #ODS #Agenda2030 #EliteSDGs
Interesting ideas, Alan. AI promises to fundamentally influence the Future of Work and of course prevention is better than the cure. You also raise a valid point about not only the workforce but also our technology-infused culture requiring a different approach in schools – for example teaching civic engagement as modes of government move online and the importance of evaluating information in an era of fake news and, more recently, deepfakes. The PISA 2018 innovative domain is Global Competence, and it also includes elements on complexity, collaboration and well-being; the results are being released on 3 December so we'd be interested to hear your thoughts on them towards the end of year.
You mention confidence as one of your key competences - in what context are you referring to it here? Is this something you think is lacking in current education systems and do you see it growing in value in the age of artificial intelligence?
And if schools cannot get the entire job done who else should we be looking to? (As long as answering doesn't spoil the book!)
Please share your blog here with us and we wish you all the best with your new publication!
Kieran
Thanks, Kieran, for the questions you pose. First, on confidence. It's been my experience that a lot of people lack the confidence to stretch their knowledge to new situations and to seek out intensive learning opportunities, both of which I think will be highly valued human competences in the AI age. I was influenced in the discussion of confidence in my book by the discussion of confidence in a book by Roberta Golinkoff and Kathy Hirsh-Pasek titled Becoming Brilliant. They see cognitive confidence as part of overall cognitive development, and I think they are right on target, especially when we look at the changing balance between people and machines in the coming years. Setting humans free to be adventurous seems a lot safer than unfettering machines, as we have seen in the evolving story of the Boeing 737 MAX 8.
On the issue of who else besides schools, I really envision an education system that includes not only schools but out of school activities - scouts, teams, clubs, after-school tutoring, etc. - that share some amount of data in a manner similar to the best (and regrettably still infrequent) electronic medical records. There are many problems to be resolved for this to happen, but I have seen small scale examples of collaborations between school and out-of-school activity that do give me hope.
It's coming along slowly, but there's a bit more content on my blog, http://educationfuture.blog .
I see the book as more posing questions than providing authoritative and final answers, and I would be happy to participate in discussions around questions and criticisms that others like you bring up.
Best,
Alan
Hi Anthony
I thought I share this article by Prof Sylvie Albert and myself on innovation playing an important role in making cities more liveable and sustainable.
Since the responsibility for achieving inclusive growth is shared between individuals, employers and policymakers, cities need to engage these stakeholders into the discussion. Local resources and new innovation can together create local wealth and improve life and the sustainability of cities. Technology can shift patterns of behaviour and provide equity in services. It is disruptive thinking that develops new solutions.
Advancements in artificial intelligence, automation and digital platforms are rewriting our entire economy. These technologies have the potential to positively affect wealth disparity and quality of life.
However, without proper care, they also have the potential to produce the opposite effect, including the monopolization of our economy and placing jobs at risk.
Read more here
https://theconversation.com/star-treks-formula-for-sustainable-urban-innovation-108473
Jacques Putzeys
www.inclusivegrowthforum.org
Many thanks for your thoughts, Jacques, and a thought-provoking article. Inclusive growth is a key area of our policy research, and you can find stories, events and resources on this at the OECD Inclusive Growth website.
Certainly AI and other burgeoning technologies must be managed to be beneficial for all; you mention successful urban innovation labs in the piece, which cities did you have in mind and what kind of problems were they dealing with?
Live long and prosper!
Kieran
Very insightful, Jacques. You touch on many points here but transparency and creating a level playing field in the Digital age are front and centre at the OECD (including our work on Base Erosion and Profit Sharing, digital inclusion and tax) and the SDGs will indeed inform all of our thinking as we develop the Forum programme.
You also mention certain global-level powers required to create a New Societal Contract – which areas/sectors would you envisage these in?
Kieran
I think an obvious one is the protection of earth (global warming, pollution, etc). The next one is about sharing wealth (proportional tax scheme and no hidden harbor). Another one would be security, and yes, I know it is a very sensitive one but with time and the rolling out effect of wealth sharing, some aspects of security will be shared regionally and later globally (in which security will mean something else that what we now understand), making it more and more difficult to use violence for power. I think that education is one but although it is one that is already underway (there are sometimes more differences within a country than between countries), I would suggest we need to add a brand new field to support the individual development of global citizenship values. We are well beyond families, tribes, and nations (although some feel obliged to defend these notions with violence), but we do not have as earthlings what it takes to think global. Without these abilities to think global we can not find global solutions and we keep bouncing back to our tribal mono-cultural imagined security and understanding. And, then the list will grow, as it should, but it is meaningless now to make it grow :-)
Hi Anthony,
I enjoyed reading your article. I understand just how important citizen engagement is and the need to champion "people power" as a response to growing challenges. I just wrote an article on the Forum Network citing global citizenship as a tool to harness such engagement via the upcoming Paris Talks conference. Hopefully you will be able to attend.
I look forward to attending the OECD Forum 2019 and would welcome the opportunity to present the Paris Talks White Paper on this occasion, which will be drafted during conference working sessions with the support of engaged citizens attending the event.
More than happy to discuss further,
Keenya
Thanks for your comment, Keenya. Citizen movements across all parts of society, not least youth, are mobilising around the world to make their voices heard on everything from gun control to climate action. Enabled in no small part by our increasingly digital world, Forum 2019 will be exploring the conditions under which these largely “leaderless” revolutions gather momentum and how the emotions that ignite them can be directed towards positive action. Your article rightly identifies the place citizen engagement should have in our interconnected world and, on our part, we strive to make the OECD Forum and the Forum Network places where the widest range of ideas can be shared and debated.
Good luck with Paris Talks today and see you in May!
Kieran
Hi everyone
Achievements TRTAJANS
GOOD LUCK
Hi Anthony,
Last year' sessions regarding the future of education, IT sector developments and challenges, and women's empowerment were outstanding. The one thing I would love to see and hear more of in this year's forum is how will innovation and entrepreneurship impact education in developing regions and how can arts and culture can help overcome sociopolitical differences. It would also be very relevant to host breakout/networking sessions among civil society leaders/organizations, the private and government sector in an effort to really find simple and feasible ways in which we can all really work together in order to generate small yet meaningful changes.
Best,
Erasmo
Thanks for this, Erasmo. This year the Forum coincides with a major OECD campaign on the Future of Work (including education and skills dimensions) and therefore will feature a number of panels and a dedicated hub to explore this topic. I invite you to visit our campaign site at https://futureofwork.oecd.org, provide your feedback and spread the word among your networks. Arts and culture can certainly foster and improve understanding at many levels; indeed, the influence and use of emotions that we usually associate with them on current geopolitics forms the basis of our thinking for Forum 2019.
Following comments from last year, there will also be informal spaces for participants to network with each other, and we hope this will allow attendees to discuss and develop the meaningful changes you mention outside as well as during the sessions. We would also be keen to hear your feedback for Forum 2019 so please let us know your thoughts after the event.
See you next week!
Anthony
Hi Anthony
My interest [and background experience] is in the regulatory design and administration of the ‘Social Protection Ecosystem’. This comprises four key elements: social insurance and voluntary insurance systems, and [public] social assistance & welfare support systems. In recent times there is growing recognition of the importance of social inclusion for system beneficiaries; tailoring services to meet individual needs; inter-agency coherence (alignment of effort) and ensuring overall economic efficiency within budget and resource constraints.
Moving beyond ‘admiring’ the problem/challenges EMotion will cover, how can regulators best adapt/respond on two fronts. First, maintaining societal equity and equilibrium with respect to how technology (including the changing nature of work) impacts people and system coverage (e.g. GIG workers in relation to personal injury and employment law, automation and liability insurance, etc.). Second, how technology can better support system beneficiaries (e.g. intelligent identification of need, assistive technologies, etc.). Finally, how the public/private sector can work in the co-design of social protection reforms/initiatives – this requires new ways of thinking about the calculus [balancing benefit:cost] with respect to specifying the economic and social impact to the community .
Apologies for the [over]use of jargon… the intent is to help stimulate thinking about specific/practical matters can be further explored at EMotion.
See you in May!
Andrew
Thank you very much, Andrew. The Future of Work will be a central theme at Forum 2019 so your points about the necessity for social insurance and security to adapt to modern times are one of the three key areas of focus of our campaign on the Future of Work. I invite you to visit our campaign site at https://futureofwork.oecd.org. Of course, this is one piece of a larger picture for a New Societal Contract and here I share your concern for “societal equity”, although in some cases its absence may require more than “maintaining”. We are also reflecting on how elements of the private sector, for example mortgages and housing, need new models for the digital age. As you mention, artificial intelligence is well placed to create efficiencies in allocating social benefits but we need to tread carefully to avoid negative biases being recreated digitally and exacerbating existing inequalities.
Are you aware of any positive examples of public/private initiatives that reimagine what social protection might look like? What might we need to consider with this kind of partnership so the benefits and costs are indeed balanced? As you will be at the Forum, it would be great if you are active in the relevant Question and Comment segments. Do flag your presence to my team who can let the moderator(s) know to call on you.
See you next week!
Anthony
Thanks Anthony.
I look forward to attending and catching up with you & your team.
In social insurance, such as compulsory insurance systems (governed by statute law) such as workers' compensation and auto liability, there is a mix of public vs. private underwriting and scheme administration across international jurisdictions. There remains considerable debate on the relative merits of public vs private underwriting and administration. in some schemes, the private sector, rather than the public sector, underwrite risk and administer claims. In publicly underwritten schemes, private sector agents may be appointed to fulfil key administrative functions.
In social protection schemes where there is private sector involvement, there are competing views on accountability/value afforded: On one hand, there is a view that private sector entities are 'partners' with the [public] regulator to attain scheme objectives, often involving co-design of initiatives, and/or a high degree of autonomy for process innovation aligned to this objective. On the other hand, the private sector insurers can be viewed [by the regulator] as 'agents' with a role simply to efficiently and effectively deliver prescribed services.
This link to a recent paper I co-authored explores the question you have raised: https://www.actuaries.asn.au/Library/Events/%20InjuryDisabilitySchemesSeminar/2017/PublicVsPrivatePaper.pdf
Regards
Andrew
Hi Anthony,
Let me suggest the following for further discussion: If we accept the argument of Raghuram Rajan's new book "The third Pillar" by which communities ought to be important third players in the interaction of markets and governments, how can a decentralized governance achieve coherence, transparency, accountability and efficiency?
Much looking forward to the Forum in May
Michael
Dear Anthony,
I am highly interested in International Cooperation, as in my current job as "director of international program" at Inseec Paris, is to prepare and to train international students to be successful international managers. I wish to contribute to this aspect of the Forum, next May.
I can't wait to be able to discuss with you,
Rany
Hi Anthony,
I like the idea of exploring what a new societal contract looks like. I heard Sue Gardiner speak on this last year in Toronto. Within this theme it would important to explore the ideas of Digital Citizenship and what this is, and what it should be and what the focus should be on.
The idea that we have Digital rights AS WELL as digital responsibilities. Aside from obeying the laws, not sending abuse, what other responsibilities should we take on? And do we have a responsibility to each other? Active by-stander inventions? reporting abuse?
In the same way local communities offline see their local area as something that should be cherished how can that this be translated online. All helping clean up the mess, pick up the rubbish and reclaim the space.
What could this concept expand to? elected representative on forums? the publication of minutes of regulatory meetings? cooperative models?
How do we provide Digital Citizenship education that is relevant and engaging but meets needs around critical thinking, tolerance and values? Glitch attempts to do this and start a conversation but the online space is bigger than nation borders. It requires global effort and global commitment. Where do we start?
Hi Antony,
As always, the OECD FORUME meetings have an “avant garde” approach and vision.
All the previous organizations of the OECD FORUM meetings had a real success putting the problems and the questions of our “fears” for the future.
What is important is that Technology looks like to influence and restructure the society more than the political or ideological movements.
By whom and how technology is guided, changed, evolving and produced seem to be quite fuzzy and have its independent rational.
In this context the roll of the society, ideology and leader is to redefine.
Globalization and digitalization transforming anything faster than a traditional society eventually may digest.
I think that in this OECD FORUM some of these could be topics to examine in depth.
If you think that I can help I am available to contribute.
I am looking forward to meet you at the Forum next May.
All the best,
John
Dr John C. Mourmouris
Professor
Director of MBA program
Director of “Decision Making & Financial Analysis” Laboratory
Dept. of Economics
Democritus University, Greece
https://sites.google.com/view/dmea-en/structure
https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-c-mourmouris-2bb2a62b/
Dear Anthony,
The 3 topics are indeed very broad and the themes presented wide-ranging. It is my hope that the OECD will use some of the very data, you yourself provide, to set a more specifik programme. Premise: Education, research and the interplay bt. HEIs and the business community will decide our future agility and the competetiveness of our societies.
Suggestions: 1) The use of data in reports like 'Trends Shaping Education', 'OECD Skills Outlook 2017' and indeed: 'A Broken Social Elevator - How to Promote Social Mobility'. 2) Take note, please: The British 'Design Council' has in 2016-2018 made pioneering work on the 4th industrial revolution and the value of design skills (design used in a comprehensive sense). Design Council argues the case of technology + design giving products a human interface that ensures their successful use in society. Generating great value to companies and to society at large. Documented, almost as if done by the OECD.
My take: In terms of 'The Internet of Tings' the US presides over the FANG-technologies and China is presently aggressive in its technological and political ambitions - and in the global cow-towing, it induces. In this setting it is important to the countries of Europe (as well as other medium-to-small countries, around the world) to refocus on a sustainable sense of competitiveness: A synergi of education, research, an effective transfer of knowledge to business that is the foundation of a future-oriented, competetive and socially balanced society. And - in assuring a global competetiveness, doing so in ways that stays true to, and indeed integrates the defense of those humane values, by which Europe strives to define itself.
Coming from Denmark, my position is truly priviledged: High GDP, surplus of +6% on BOP, European leader in digitizing the public sector; a amazing string of pearls of global companies; the - probably - world's best pension system; the definitely word's best housing credit system; health and welfare systems that are second to few; collaborative values bt. employers and employees that creates acceptance of the need to adapt to change in the labour marked, continuously. A society which is truly open to people with relevant skills and social-cultural values from around the word.
When President Macron recently visited Denmark, it was evident that he would like to have some of these qualities work in a French context. My point is, of course, not to gloat or to appear smug. It is to try to argue that medium-to-small countries, in Europe and beyond, are under pressure to define their competetive positions, while staying true to their social values. Countries like the Netherlands, Finland or indeed Denmark may provide useful inspiration to others. Perhaps in a OECD Forum context.
Sincerely, yours
Torben
Torben Holm, Head of Secretariat, Rectors Conference, HEI in the Arts & Culture, Denmark.
I have worked as an e-government consultant for e-Government and Digital Economy Project Management Center under National Agency of Project Management under the President of the Uzbekistan of Republic since last January. Since then, I have looked lots of positive activities to cooperate varous digital government related projects between international organizations and Uzbekistan along with PPP to develop better digital government . There is no dobut that such international cooperations are absolutely necessary and regarded as one of key factors for success to Uzbekistan.
However, sometimes I am wondering who and what is currently doing from the view of international organizations as a whole? Is the project still going or somehow pending. Does anyone know about staus of quo about progress of each project so far? Does anyone know how to effectively overcome known barriers which previously have happened before? Does anyone know if there is any duplicates or overlaps to compare new projects with previous ones? Does anyone know what are the expected results and real outcomes from projects?
I would like to suggest to build a regional forum, meeting, seminar on the regular basis or online network like this in Uzbekistan among international organizations including UNDP, OECD, ADB, WB, etc. to share their experiences and knowledge and tightly cooperate about doing their various projects to fulfill every goal in Uzbekistan.
I am here because I am a member of World Friends Korea, the Korean government's ODA program. I would like to participate in international community to help ensuring digital government of Uzbekistantan. I think international cooperations are important for not only between donors and recipients, but also the donnors ourselves. What do you think?
Thank you for reading my thoughts.