Startup fever in Southeast Asia and its implication for India to improve indispensable public services
It is mainly young Southeast Asians equipped with experiences of studying in Western countries who initiated startup craze in the region. As more and more young generations across the region rush to kick off their own companies, business models of startups are getting shaped up in a various way.
For example, attempts to introduce mobile technology to region-specific circumstances have been drawing enormous attention.
Startup fever in Southeast Asia and its implication for India to improve indispensable public services
This figure is more than tripled than the total startup investment of $2.5 billion in 2016. This is far startling because investment in Southeast Asian startups failed to reach even $1 billion in 2013.
Consequently, unicorn startups, privately held startup companies valued at over $1 billion, has been emerging one by one. Lazada, an e-commerce platform in Singapore and Gojek, an Indonesian app-based ride-hailing service provider are well-known cases.
Startup fever in Southeast Asia and its implication for India to improve indispensable public services
Startup boom deserves to be named as one of the hot issues in Southeast Asia these days. Startup markets across Southeast Asia have been rapidly gaining momentums.
As a matter of fact, locally born leaders of the digital economy such as Grab in Malaysia which acquired the Southeast Asian business unit of Uber in early 2018 have been acclaimed for changing the conventional industrial map in the region. According to Tech in Asia, a Singapore-based online technology media, startups in Southeast Asia enjoyed as much as $7.9 billion in investment in 2017.
Industry-school collaboration model of TAFE's vocational education in Australia and its implication to Korea
If my project is accepted and valued in an extensive way, movement to adopt parts of the outputs into real governmental policies for better vocational education in Korea is expected.
Both paper book and e-book in Korean will be published within 6 months after completion of the project. Following 'Should Go to a College?' last year, this book would mark the sequence of my intensive research on the issue of the vocational education system in Korea.
Industry-school collaboration model of TAFE's vocational education in Australia and its implication to Korea
Now I'm communicating with a Japanese publishing agency to have my e-book published in Japanese language soon. Education, particularly vocational education and a subsequent industry-school collaboration model has been my main area of interest ever since I started to work at Maeil Business Newspaper, Korea's No.1 business daily.
Succeeding TAFEs in Australia, vocational education system of Germany and Scandinavian countries would be my next target for exploration on this issue.
Industry-school collaboration model of TAFE's vocational education in Australia and its implication to Korea
My e-book on the Korean vocational education system, mainly featuring 6 exemplary high schools including Induk Technical Highschool and Seoul Girls' Commercial high school was published last June.
Titled ' Should Go to a College?', the book has been provoking nationwide sensation so far. Please find the attached cover page and English summary as additional documentary evidence.
Industry-school collaboration model of TAFE's vocational education in Australia and its implication to Korea
Among the colorful merits, what I want to research most is TAFEs' industry-school collaboration model. One excellent example is Kangan Institute of TAFE's cooperative relationship with nearby automobile industries like GM and Toyota in Melbourne.
This productive and realistic approach to vocational education has been widely known to increase Australia's clout in the global society. Needless to say, it will mean a lot to the Korean vocational education system and related parties.
Industry-school collaboration model of TAFE's vocational education in Australia and its implication to Korea
They warn that if the outdated vocational education system in Korea keeps failing to comply with the voices of the real world, national competitiveness will be shrinking as well. The reason why my e-book, 'Should Go to a College?' was published last year is in close line with this serious message.
Now my eyes are on the advanced vocational training system in Australia. Represented by TAFEs, Australia has been providing well-established vocational education service to students. It is no wonder that Australia is often cited to have one of the best vocational education systems in the world.
Industry-school collaboration model of TAFE's vocational education in Australia and its implication to Korea
As a consequence, vocational training at the high school or higher education level hasn't been properly developed. Rather, vocational education schools have been regarded as places for less smart students and thus haven't provided timely and practical training to meet industries' ever-changing need.
However, time is shifting rapidly. The corporate sector as a whole is strongly asking industry-oriented vocational education.
Industry-school collaboration model of TAFE's vocational education in Australia and its implication to Korea
In Korea, as many as 70-80% high school graduates advance to colleges or universities for their higher education. Many of them just sticks to colleges regardless of their dreams or aptitude. It is mainly because they have not been welcomed and respected by others without a bachelor's degree.
Partly originated from the Confucian culture, a college degree has guaranteed job security and decent income in the Korean society. That's why most parents push their kids to go to a college even though their sons and daughters aren't interested in an academic career.
Industry-school collaboration model of TAFE's vocational education in Australia and its implication to Korea
By introducing the sophisticated vocational education model of TAFE, public awareness of Australia in Korea will be expected to be higher. Then Australian engagement with Korea will become more lively and mutual relationship between the two countries will surely go further.
In that education is an inevitable element of any society, this project will bridge those Koreans not familiar with the leading vocational education system to Australia even in the social and cultural context. In this regard, I have no doubt that my project will best serve the goals of the AKF.
Industry-school collaboration model of TAFE's vocational education in Australia and its implication to Korea
Vocational training at the secondary and higher education level in Korea has stayed less estimated for a long time. It has a long way to go in both hardware and software aspects.
If my research contributes to awaken the Korean society of the significance of up-to-date vocational education and come up with actual changes, I'll be happily taking any troubles to complete this project.
Industry-school collaboration model of TAFE's vocational education in Australia and its implication to Korea
Then I will catch strengths of the system and deliver essential implications to the Korean vocational education sector, which falls way behind the Korea's recent economic competitiveness in the global market.
Active visits to schools(named below) and industries with cooperation, in-depth observation of classes, detailed interviews with experts of schools and governmental bodies along with local students will be key activities of my project.
Industry-school collaboration model of TAFE's vocational education in Australia and its implication to Korea
Australia has been acclaimed as one of the best providers of high quality vocational training at the secondary and higher education level. TAFE(Technical and Further Education) has been at the center of such advanced vocational education system in Australia.
What distinguishes TAFEs most is that TAFEs have established solid cooperative relationship with industries over decades. Through this project, I sincerely hope to see the systematic vocational training on the spot and learn lessons from the industry-school collaboration model.
How the iPhone reshaped Asian tech
1. Please share your thoughts on this week's cover story.
2. What are the major performances Apple has shown ever since the launch of its first iPhone back in 2007?
3. How deep and wide Apple has changed the landscape of the Asian tech industry especially with its 10-year-run iconic smartphones?
4. Please summarize the diagram of Apple's supply chain. What are the key features?
