OAHU, HAWAII
I thought I’d post an editorial I wrote that was in our local paper last week called “THE AMERICAN STANDARD: Globalization and the College Student.” Hannah and I are going to visit Pearl Harbor today; I’m sure I’ll post something new soon. Have a good one…
A situation occurred the other day that helped me understand and personalize the employment struggle the United States will face in the years to come. I was having trouble with my computer, so I called the hotline for help. Through small talk, I discovered the computer technician on the other end of the phone was actually in India. He was controlling my computer from the other side of the world better than I could, even though I was right in front of it.
This is a result of a process known as “globalization,” and a business practice commonly referred to as “outsourcing.” In some cases, and especially in the knowledge-related job industry, this trend has become more the norm than the exception. Although referred to as “corporate greed,” this drift is a result of global competition and the international spread of capitalism. This can be rewarding in the long term, but will require focus and effort in the years to come. Due to the waning number of college graduates with degrees in natural sciences or engineering, Americans of this and future generations will face added challenges perpetuated by globalization.
Consider these numbers: The United States will graduate 70,000 engineers this year; that is, less than a fifth of college graduates. India, on the other hand, will graduate 350,000 engineers, or roughly one-third, while China will graduate 600,000 engineers, or more than half. These numbers are alarming as the world “gets flatter” through globalization. Thomas Friedman states in his book The World Is Flat that, “There will be plenty of good jobs out there in the flat world for people with the right knowledge, skill, ideas, and self-motivation to seize them. But there is no sugar-coating the new challenge: Every young American today would be wise to think of himself or herself as competing against every young Chinese, Indian, and Brazilian.” The engineering industry admitted in a National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) report that it planned on hiring half of its employees from the international graduating class of 2007.
Simple fear for the future of the free market will not ultimately combat the challenges to come. Friedman also reassures us: “America as a whole will benefit more by sticking to the general principles of free trade, as it always has, than by trying to erect walls, which will only provoke others to do the same and impoverish us all.” Daunting nonetheless, the challenges of globalization offer opportunities earlier generations never thought possible when combined with the American standard. This is substantiated by a U.N. report released this Labor Day that stated America “leads the world in labor productivity.”
In my mind, what sets America apart as a leader in industry is the value put into the quality of work. Americans have always had pride in the value in their end product, and have found significance in its contribution to society. Put simply, we don’t take mediocrity lightly. Consider the recent failure of the I-35 Bridge in Minneapolis or the collapse of the Crandall Canyon mine in Iowa; Americans immediately demand answers, and solutions, to prevent future casualties. This is due to the pride Americans take in their work, fueled by the demands of a free economy. Other demands arise, including public calls for a stronger infrastructure and versatility for energy independence; these discussions are standard in our society and are based on the democratic tenets of freedom. This is drastically different than the situations India and China face. Remember those overwhelming numbers of engineering graduates? According to a McKinsey Global Institute report, “In India, 25 percent of all young graduate engineers could be hired by a multinational company, compared with 10 percent in China.” America simply holds a higher standard. The future is uncertain, but when our nation’s future generations join the workforce, the proud precedence set by Americans before them will help them adapt. The challenges to come, however, will ultimately demand a rededication to education in America.
The role of government in the face of these challenges is still being determined. Ending the existing friction and strengthening our education system remains a daunting task, requiring local and state cooperation with a renewed federal policy. A strong commitment to sensible education reformation is now necessary, without oratory full of empty promises or condemnations of existing policy. It takes collaboration and honest work by our federal and state governments. The U.S. Congress is in fact tasked by the Constitution (Article I, Section 8,) “to promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts;” I believe the addition of engineering creates a “triple-focus” on science, art, and engineering, necessary for continued pride in strengthening the American infrastructure. These ideals, not alienation, will see us through the challenges posed by globalization.
Texas and the Gulf Coast region stands ready to see collective economic growth resulting from the increase in demand for engineers; these demands also present a great opportunity for young Americans in East Texas. With the intersections of busy railroads, multiple significant seaports, and vast amounts of land, Texas’ existing infrastructure combines well with Texas’ history of energy involvement. As new foreign and domestic challenges arise, Texas students with any affinity for math and science whatsoever stand poised to benefit with a future in engineering, as it is still the most lucrative field for college graduates. According to the NACE report cited earlier, employers hire college students for their enthusiasm, motivation, and innovative ideas. These values, combined with the American standard, will prepare Texas college students for the challenges of an evolving, “flatter” world.