GLOBALIZATION AND THE FLATTENING OF THE WORLD: WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR EDUCATION?

Written by

Micheal A. Robinson

Thomas Friedman (2005) stated:

"The flattening of the world is moving ahead apace, and nothing is going to stop it. What can happen is a decline in our standard of living if more Americans are not empowered and educated to participate in a world where all the knowledge centers are being connected. We have within our society all the ingredients for American individuals to thrive in such a world, but if we squander these ingredients, we will stagnate."

The 21st century has brought with it challenging and exciting opportunities, a world of discoveries and endless possibilities. At the nucleus for this amazing time is globalization, to be more specific the advancements made in technology that literally put the world at the click of a mouse. Through emerging technologies, the 21st century economies of developed and developing countries will rely more on knowledge power and intellectual capabilities and less on brut strength. This new world with its changing domains will have the capabilities of turning large countries into small ones and small countries into world leaders. An unwanted conversion that seems likely for America largely because of a technologically deficient workforce. This conversion from world leader to the middle of the pack will become irreversible unless considerable efforts are made to educate an underprepared and changing population of low-tech skill workforce.

United States lead over other countries in education has all but evaporated in recent years. Developing countries are increasing their number and quality of college graduates, while equalizing the access rates to education for those attending secondary and primary schools. The actions of the developing countries have been characterized by Kaplan-Leiserson, (2006) as a “sea change” in the relative education advantage that advanced countries have enjoyed for literally hundreds of years. For the first time in decades the United States no longer leads the developed world in the rate of college completion. In addition, large developing economies, especially China and India, are successfully educating thousands of scientists and engineers in order to compete in the global economy (Accountability for Better Results, 2005).

For most of the industrial age the American workforce has been the difference that separated the American economy from all others around the world. The American workforce has always been the most educated, skilled and the most technologically advanced in the world. However, today America can no longer boast of the being the best and the smartest on the block. In America our most valuable resources is severely underprepard and undereducated and as a result the American economy is in jeopardy of becoming an economic non-factor on the global stage. To address this issue will require a targeted and focus agenda, where quality education exist in the K-12 systems and access and affordability of higher education remains the foundation of the postsecondary systems of America. Educating the workforce is a national priority.