The concept has been developed by the French Economist Michel Volle.  For this specialist we are in the middle of a huge change with a lot of risks but also opportunities.

It is about generalizing the computerization of information.  This doesn’t only modify the relationship between the human being and its environment.  It modifies the environment in itself.  All the production system is changing: the products, the way they are produced, the way they are put on the marketplace, the organization of the responsibilities, the relationship with the clients, partners and suppliers,…

Jobs are more and more about initiatives, thinking, conceptualization,… instead of repetitive tasks.  Companies which are nowadays successful are the ones where initiative spirit of employees is very high on the value list.

We cannot predict where innovation will lead us.  But seeing what the recent changes in technology bring in terms of opportunities (nanotechnologies, cloud, …) we can assume that the trend is going to accelerate.

We will continue to lose many jobs until a new equilibrium is found – with full employment Volle predicts (when all actors in an economy are adapted).  Under the condition that initiatives are taken to multiply the number of companies and to encourage the entrepreneurship.

For Volle the alliance between the brain and the automation will create a completely new world with ultimate consequences.  From this E-conomy will emerge opportunities and threats of big magnitude (same type of what we experienced with the mechanization in the XIXs century).  And this will require from us important choices.

Again it is a sign that education must be about something else than teaching old concepts.  We go into an era that nobody knows really about, with jobs that we don’t necessarily imagine today.  It is key as a consequence to adapt education and prepare “brains” to rapid and dramatic changes, to help the “out of the box thinking” and to prepare students to disruptive momentum.

Dr. Pallotta in his role of chairman of the Switzerland Chapter of the Internet Society is representing the interests of the local Swiss Internet experts community. The Internet Society (ISOC) is a global NGO which defends full accessibility and neutrality of the Internet. The Switzerland ISOC Chapter was formed and chartered by ISOC in May 2012 and now counts more than 100 members from all Switzerland.

At ITU, Dr. Pallotta met some of the key people of the Swiss Federal Office of Communication (OFCOM) to discuss about the Swiss position about the revision of the International Telecommunication Regulation treaty to be ratified at the WCIT conference in Dubai in December 2012.

Avicenne Private Business school (Tunis, Tunisia) accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in August 2010 is an innovative business school whose aims are to help their students in becoming tomorrow’s managers in their respective fields.

“Since the revolution Tunisia has become a country full of possibility and opportunity its transformation inspiring the rise of private growth and entrepreneurship. It is for this reason that UBIS recognizes the importance that higher education particularly in the fields of business and management plays in modern Tunisia and why we are so happy to announce our newly formed partnership with Avicenne Business School (APBS) on our Dual Degree Bachelor and Masters Programs. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce the CEO of APBS Mrs. Hayet who would like to say a few words about our collaboration.”

  Patrick Faniel
  Chief Executive Officer
  The University of Business and International Studies

“APBS : Learn & Lead !

Avicenne Private Business School (APBS) is a new breed, and best in class business school which is open internationally. We pride ourselves on being dynamic, responsive and creative. APBS has an array of reputable partnerships, and retains close links to Businesses. Most importantly APBS listens to, and responds positively to the needs and wants of its students.

APBS has gone through a paradigm shift, in order to adjust itself following the opening of Tunisia to International market forces. To that end APBS has launched a campus dedicated to Business Studies.

Starting from 2012-13 and in partnership with a reputable Swiss university, namely the University of Business and International Studies (UBIS), APBS offers dual degree programs of five years ranging from Bachelor to MSC and MBA Degrees. Our courses combine both theory and hands on assignments which are designed to meet the needs and requirements of multinational companies established in Tunisia and globally.

The value APBS is able to provide not only includes the accreditation and international recognition of our dual degree programs but also by having a team of highly experienced teachers and researchers who are ready to counsel, support and provide expert advice to our students. Through our close ties with a variety of our corporate partners APBS is able to access working professionals who are willing to coach and nurture our students ensuring that they receive the very best opportunities for success.

APBS helps its students to become tomorrow’s managers in their respective fields, by introducing new teaching styles and techniques, in order to keep up with the ever changing economic environment.

Our Educational Program focuses on nine cornerstones:

• The desire to participate and having confidence in oneself, and others.
• Mastery of skills acquired.
• Openness to the world of Business and organisations.
• Appreciation and understanding of international dimensions.
• Setting of personal goals and objectives leading to the realisation of a successful professional career.
• Policy Based On Educational Innovation
• Real life role playing (business cases & scenarios)
• Personal coaching of students, as well as work assignments to provide students with hands on experience.
• Emphasis stressed on personal development, and on self reliance.

 

I have no idea if those are really the skills needed in today’s and future world. What however is obvious and crystal clear is that we cannot count anymore on old recipes. The world is changing too fast, and the speed is accelerating.

Some data in the US:

-          By 2020 46 % of all US workers will be millennial

-          They are the most diverse generation

-          65 % said the opportunity for personal development was the most influential factor in their current job

-          They are tech-savvy multitaskers (switch their attention between media platforms 27 times an hour on average …)

-          52 % have over 300 Facebook friends

-          71 % of millennials would like to work abroad

-          64 % ask about social media policies during job interviews

-         1 in 3 prioritize social media freedom and device flexibility over salary

Astonishing figures: 70 % of « Millennials »  are planning to change jobs once the economy improves, and 43 % feel extremely or very confident that they could find another job if they lost the current one.

The expectations of the « Millennials »  will continue to impact how companies manage these current/future employees.  As such, managers and management need to  put in place the internal tools, policies and resources to attract, motivate and retain « Millennials » (see the agenda of the conference www.thefutureofpeoplemanagement.com).

The responsibility also lies with Educators, specifically higher education institutions such as business schools-  are we not essential in preparing these « Millennials » learners for success as they look to enter the “real world”?

1) for BTS holders, a 2 year bachelor program in Banking and Finance

2) a full bachelor degree in Banking and Finance

3) a master in Banking and Finance

4) MBA programs

Its Chairman of the Board, Mr Gabriel Kuiatse, says:

“The mission of ISA-EMT (Universite de l”entreprenariat) is to create world class leaders and entrepreneurs which ambition is to serve the regional or global markets. About 60% of our country university graduates (INS 2010) waste their talents in low level self-employment jobs  or underemployment positions mainly  due to the  of lack of opportunities in our local market. The objective of ISA-EMT is to equip our students with the knowledge and skills to successfully create local and global business opportunities, by targeting a large and attractive customer base, which can drive a huge local service or production output.

I am convinced that this is a more elegant way to raise the standard of living of our future entrepreneurs and their employees. So is the conviction of many Cameroonians professionals of  the Diaspora who are supporting this initiative.

Gabriel Kuiatse
Board Chairman ISA-EMT (Universite de l’Entreprenariat)”

In education area Vietnam is currently one of the fastest growing sources of international students for U.S. institutions of higher education as an example. In academic year 2010/11, Vietnam sent the eighth largest cohort of tertiary students to the United States.

This is one of the reasons why UBIS is so active in Vietnam. It is a new world of opportunities for international students or for Vietnamese students who whish to embrace an international oriented career.

Sources: McKinsey Quarterly; WES (World Education Services)

READ MORE ABOUT ONE OF OUR PARTNERSHIP IN VIETNAM

Cityscape of Hanoi, the 1000 years old capital of Vietnam.