I want to encourage Haiti’s next generation leaders to start thinking about the possibility of creating a University of Science and Technology in Haiti focusing on STEM( Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) disciplines. In order to reach this goal, we need to first, establish at the very beginning, a clear prospective and a global overview about where we want to go and what we can benefit from it in the long run. Haiti has essentially missed the opportunity of the first industrial revolution, the second revolution known as the technological revolution. Now we can’t afford to let the third revolution which is the artificial intelligence (AI) leave us behind. Over the last few years, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as one of the most disruptive forces affecting organizations and individuals alike. According to a recent report from IDC, global spending on AI systems is expected to reach $97.9 billion in 2023. This spending translates to an annual growth rate of about 28.4% over the next few years. Haiti is already overwhelmed with numerous soft academic disciplines — such as law, political science, diplomacy, philosophy, management, social science, communication …etc. It’s time to reject traditional barriers, to embrace modernity as effective means that we need to create sustainable growth for our future generations. We should extend more our academic disciplines, so that we can enjoy significant economic progress. When looking back at the history, one could easily witness how advanced, technologies represent the main source of wealth, growth, creation of employment. In the same token, several empirical studies offer strong evidence of the positive link between knowledge diversity and a country-level of innovation and performance. On the verge of the digital transformation where countries are becoming increasingly dependent on it — Haiti needs to prioritize “hard science over soft science” as a mean to catch up with technological advances already made, which in turn will produce fundamental changes — essential for generating inclusive sustainable growth.
One of the things that principles of economics teaches us is that: we have to give up something important or valuable to do or have something else— an opportunity cost. So, we should probably close our eyes to many things we need now at the expense of vital resources require to develop ourselves. In other words, short term pain, long term gain. Technology consists in part in helping us overcome the limitations that evolution has placed on us and learn of natural phenomena we were not meant to see or hear, what Derek Price (1984) has called “artificial revelation”. In the meantime, Haiti’s Ministry of Education should play a major role in implementing programs, reforms, promote critical basic knowledge through Middle and High schools as strong resources that our children need to perform adequately. When the time comes they will be ready to enroll in University of Science and Technology. Suzan Hockfield says: “Innovations that drive lasting economic growth emerge from the most advanced science, mathematics and technology”.
John Peter César, Ph.D is a financial & global market analyst and a graduate of South Western University of Finance and Economics (SWUFE) university－China. He writes on topics pertaining to Haiti, China and sometimes the global market. He is also a researcher at the Center for China’s Governmental Auditing Research (CCGAR).