The keynote address will discuss two closely-related challenges in Asia: rising inequality and the impact of technologies. As to the first challenge, growing income inequality is a global concern. Especially in the aftermath of the Asian and global financial crises, widened inequality has received a great deal of public attention. While income disparities across countries including Asia have narrowed significantly over the past several decades—thanks to the robust economic growth achieved by many low- and middle-income economies—income gaps within countries, both advanced and developing, have widened. As a source of increasing inequality, there are a number of factors listed in the literature: 4th industrial revolution, globalization, and market deregulation. Notably, on arrival of new technologies, demand for jobs that require non-routine cognitive tasks has grown faster than jobs requiring routine and manual tasks, widening wage disparities. A detailed analysis of selected Asian economies shows that over the past decade, wages have also grown faster in non-routine/cognitive types of jobs. This would create further income inequality. Hence, there are many ways in which governments can achieve inclusive growth. Supports to infrastructure investments are also critical in setting “enabling” environment of inclusive growth.
With technology changing constantly, it is difficult to keep up with the latest trends. It is even more difficult to build this content into curriculum and still remain relevant. Learn how institutions are incorporating current tech trends into the curriculum to meet the demand of students and employers.
