A summary presentation on the proposed new Private Universities Act.

FUTA-Private-Universities

The global IT sector and Sri Lanka

December 18, 2011, 8:54 pm , The Island.


Welcome

Welcome to the sixty ninth edition of the regular column "The Catalyst".

ICT Industry

Last couple of weeks have been a busy period for me with many ICT industry activities. For a few days, I was in Mumbai in India for the Asian Pacific Conference on "Collaboration for inclusive growth" (iGrowth) hosted by the Computer Society of India. This is the annual conference for 2011 for the regional ICT Body SEARCC (South East Asia Regional Computer Confederation) of which many countries in our region including Sri Lanka is a member. In fact it’s the Computer Society of Sri Lanka (CSSL) that is a member of SEARCC representing Sri Lanka and other similar bodies from regional countries are also members. Information about the Conference can be found at http://www.searcc-2011.org.

The South East Asia Regional Computer Confederation (SEARCC - http://www.searcc.org) is a forum of national Information Technology professional societies in the Asia Pacific region. It aims to promote collaboration and cooperation among its member countries. SEARCC is also an affiliate member of the International Federation for information processing (IFIP) which is considered as a leading global body for ICT. The newly elected president of the Computer Society of Sri Lanka (www.cssl.lk) Mahesh Perera represented Sri Lanka in this forum in Mumbai.

I was reminded of just how global ICT is and how much we have in common with ICT professionals all around the world while I was in Mumbai. I also had the opportunity of attending the World Computer Congress 2010 (WCC2010) in Brisbane late last year. WCC is the premier global ICT event of the leading international body for ICT (IFIP – International Federation for Information Processing).

At these events not only did I meet lots of great people from around the world, but it was truly a mind-expanding experience to listen to speakers of that calibre and share ideas with other ICT professionals and experience the global nature of it.

In this backdrop I thought it would be useful to look into some of the facts about the global ICT industry.

Global Situation

The USA is the world’s largest market in terms of ICT spending. UK, Japan, Canada and Germany are also in the top ten.

Sweden tops the rankings of The Global Information Technology Report 2009-2010 released by the World Economic Forum. This showcases the readiness of the ICT infrastructure as taken as a whole. Singapore and Denmark are in second and third positions respectively. Switzerland, the USA, Canada, Hong Kong and the Netherlands are also in the top 10. Sri Lanka stands at 71st place, while India takes 43rd place.

The world Internet usage is now over 1.6 billion users. China recently took the lead in the list with 338 million users, followed by the U.S. with 220 million, Japan with 94 million, and India at 81 million. Some of the internet penetration stats are as follows: Africa - 10.9%, Asia- 21.5 %, Europe- 58.4 %, Middle East- 29.8 %, North America-77.4 %, Latin America/Caribbean- 34.5 % and Oceania / Australia- 61.3%. Sri Lanka has an internet penetration percentage that is less than 9%. Higher the penetration, the stronger the industry would be and also higher the contribution to the economy.

The U.S. is the world’s leader in terms of ICT-related patents (35% of the world’s ICT patents), followed by Japan (18%) and Germany (8%). This justifies their leadership in innovation and leading edge in the sector.

Clearly the ICT industry is huge worldwide. The important issue to think about is its impact on almost all other industries and the society at large. It is a key driver in productivity improvement across the economy and industries, in particular those of financial services, resources, energy, manufacturing, health, education and entertainment. ICTs are continuously transforming the way all industry sectors collect, analyse, utilise, distribute and exchange information.

Just take e-Commerce for an example. This is where various forms of commercial activity such as buying and selling take place online over the internet. Many people today are used to using internet for such purposes, changing the way economies work. e-Bay is a huge web space for buyers and sellers. Various businesses around the world use internet mechanisms for commercial purposes, and it is increasingly becoming popular in Sri Lanka as well. Proving the impact of the scale, U.S.-based manufacturers used e-commerce to ship over $1.86 trillion in goods in 2007.

The ICT industry has few different aspects to it. Hardware, Software and Services are the main ones. For a country like Sri Lanka, Hardware manufacturing is going to be a tough game although computer hardware retail and services are important if other types of ICTs are to thrive. For this reason, around 70% of Sri Lanka’s total ICT spending was hardware related. As of now however, since we don’t manufacture hardware, we are just users of imports. Therefore, the area that really could benefit us from a foreign revenue perspective is the Software and Services sector with special attention to ITES (IT Enabled Services) and BPO.

The computer hardware industry is one of the flourishing markets in the world. The global computer hardware market grew by 5.6% in 2007 to reach a value of $399.8 billion. It is also being estimated that by 2012 the global computer hardware market would have an increase of 34.4% since 2007.

In IT consulting services, following companies take the first 10 rankings in the world. Accenture, IBM, Capgemini, Atos Origin, Logica, Deloitte, Infosys (India), TCS (India), McKinsey and Diamond Management & Technology Consultants. I had the opportunity to work for the number one in the list Accenture, a company that has over 160,000 employees across 50 countries.

One of the drawbacks for countries like Sri Lanka historically in competing in the world economy was our geographical remoteness. However, ICT provides an easy road in terms of accessibility. Communicating and working together with any other parts of the world couldn’t be easier. However, we should continue to improve the ICT infrastructure, awareness and accessibility.

e-Diplomacy

A forum on "ICT and Modern Day Diplomacy" was held at the auditorium of the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKIIRSS) on Thursday, 15th December, 2011. The forum consisted of ‘informal discussions’ - a new way of communicating with the general public and industry experts and which will indirectly contribute positively to policy formulation.

Chairman of the Kadirgamar Institute, Hon. Prof. G.L. Pieris presented his views on the importance of ICT for Modern Diplomacy. Mr. Asanga Abeyagoonasekera, Executive Director of the LKIIRSS, gave the opening remarks. Prof. Rohan Gunartna an expert on Security and Counter-Terrorism studies was a guest speaker at the event. Presentations were made by four eminent speakers, " ‘INTEXT’, an Information Communication Technology (ICT) Strategy for Modern Day Diplomacy" by Mr. Kithsiri Gunasekara, "ICT for Faster Collaboration" by Mr. Yasas Vishuddhi Abeywickrama, "Web 2.0 as a Catalyst in Creating Advanced International Relationships" by Mr. Chanuka Wattegama, "Cyber Security and Legal Aspects" by Mr. Vasana Wickremasena, and "Social Media and Terrorist Groups" by Mr. Udara Soysa, followed by an instructive question and answer session. The forum was particularly pertinent to the use of ICTs in the conduct of diplomacy by Sri Lankan diplomatic missions abroad.

Information communication technology (ICT) has created a paradigm-shift in the conduct of international diplomacy, as it has in the social, political, and economic aspects of our lives and our world. While the conduct of diplomacy through the use of new ICTs (e-Diplomacy) empowers diplomatic missions with its speed and reach of communication, not to embrace them is to be left powerless, without a voice, in a world of competing interests and differing perspectives.

Readers Corner

One of our readers, Mr Yasapala Nanayakkara, who is a retired senior administration officer from Sri Lanka Administration Service (SLAS) has written to us thanking for the efforts of this column. Further, he has made comments as to how the ICT industry is starting to help the general public. At 70 years of age, he is an avid user of ICT. I quote him here:

"I use them extensively in my day to life, banking, CRM with local companies, reference on drugs and ailment, payment of bills, reading news papers (I do not buy them), communicating on line with experts outside Sri Lanka, especially Burt Goldman who write on Quantum Jumping. Daily I spend few hours at the computer that means I am living today. I have two Laptops Dell, and HP presented to us by our son. One is partially used by my wife who got use to it for use of e mails long time back and now using it for Skype."

He also says that, "I am delighted that the industry has come thus far and the public is immensely benefited by the IT based services, especially the public service institutions now in a position to provide on line services at short notice. Maharagama Divisional Secretariat issues motor car revenue licence in less than nine minutes, what a change!".

In a philosophical comment he says, "Through IT we can bridge (not breach) the so called ‘generation gap’ and bring solace and comfort to our ageing population who will play a meaningful role".

This is the extent of what ICT can offer the society and this country.

See you next week!

The Columnist

Yasas Vishuddhi Abeywickrama is a professional with significant experiences. In 2011 he was recognised as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons (TOYP) in Sri Lanka. Yasas has a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from University of Colombo and a Masters degree in Entrepreneurship & Innovation from Swinburne University in Australia. He has worked in the USA, UK, Sri Lanka & Australia and being trained in the USA & Malaysia. He is currently involved in the training organisation, Lanka BPO Academy (www.lankabpoacademy.lk). Apart from this column, he is a regular resource person for ‘Ape Gama’ program of FM Derana (Sunday 3-5pm). Yasas is happy to answer your relevant questions – email him at yva@lankabpoacademy.lk

.GMOA THREATENS STRIKE IF NO REPLY

Dailymirror

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) yesterday threatened to resort to countrywide trade union action if it did not receive a favourable response to a letter sent to President Mahinda Rajapaksa weeks ago outlining the grievances of the medical profession in the country.
The letter addressed to President Rajapaksa from 40 medical organisations requested an urgent meeting with the President to discuss critical issues pertaining to the medical profession which needed to be immediately addressed.
The letter which was handed over to the President’s office on December 6 received an acknowledgement from Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunge but there were no visible signs of receiving an official response on the matter, GMOA Assistant Secretary Sankalpa Marasinghe said.
“We were prepared for an all-is-

“There are so many other parties that are also concerned about the problems. They will also respond appropriately. We are getting ready for any eventuality. The ball is in their court. We will response accordingly, land strike when the government failed to address our concerns over a private medical college during which time we were assured that a five-member committee would be appointed to inquire the issue in two months. However there is no sound of it now. If they continue at this rate and ignore our appeals we have no option but to go on strike,” Marasinghe said.
He said the GMOA General Committee would meet at the end of the month at which time a decision will be made on the next step to be taken by the association. “There are so many other parties that are also concerned about the problems. They will also respond appropriately. We are getting ready for any eventuality. The ball is in their court. We will response accordingly,” he said.
Some of the issues stated in the letter to the President are attempts to transform the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) to a public enterprise and remove SLMC chief Dr. Lalitha Mendis, the setting up of private medical colleges and measures taken to change the cut off marks for Act 16 examinations among many other concerns.
“The SLMC is the sole authority that is vested with the responsibility of assuring that the public is given a safe medical service by all medical professionals in the country. The SLMC is an autonomous body run with its own funds. However there are certain individuals who attempt to influence or undermine the powers of the SLMC. We are appealing to the government to respond urgently,” he said.

Colombo Uni dons want ragging stopped

December 16, 2011, 9:17 pm , The Island.

Teachers of the Arts Faculty of the Colombo University have come under pressure from pro-government student activists to deny that there is ragging on the campus, The Island learns.

Although the government tried to eliminate ragging by means of a leadership training programme conducted at military camps for prospective university entrants, first year Arts students at the Colombo University undergo severe ragging at the hands of students affiliated to the ruling party, according to sources. This newspaper recently published a letter by a victim highlighting their traumatic experience.

The Island has secured a copy of a statement Arts Faculty teachers have prepared but not yet released to the media due to pressure from the pro-government student groups.

Full text of the teachers’ statement:

The Arts Faculty Teachers’ Association, University of Colombo (AFTA-CU) vehemently condemns the reported ongoing ragging of first-year students at the Faculty of Arts, University of Colombo.

Ragging is reportedly carried out by senior students as well as by first-year students living in hostels, under cover of a so-called ‘probationary period’ imposed on first-year students. Hostel students ragging of non-hostel students pose the threat of clashes developing between these two groups of students.

According to reports, senior students are:

* Enforcing a dress code on first year students

* Demanding that first year students make themselves easily identifiable to seniors by always carrying a special cardboard file with their assigned nicknames

* Ordering male students to cut their hair and beards

* Directing verbal abuse at first-year students, and carrying out many other acts of harassment.

These are clearly violations of the bodily and mental integrity of new students.

AFTA-CU strongly believes that the newcomers to the University should be treated with respect and dignity. They should be encouraged to engage in the University’s academic activities with full freedom and without any fear of being intimidated and harassed by any other student, senior or peer.

Women constitute the overwhelming majority of Arts Faculty students. We recognize that any harassment or verbal abuse directed at female students can be open to the charge of sexual harassment. We vehemently condemn such acts.

AFTA-CU strongly recommends that:

* Senior students stop ragging first-year students,

* First-year hostel students stop ragging first-year non-hostel students

* First year students take the initiative to voice their anti-ragging sentiments openly in order to bring an end to ragging.

FUTA threatens trade union action again

December 16, 2011, 9:17 pm , The Island.

by Dasun Edirisinghe

The Federation of University Teachers Associations (FUTA) has written to Higher Minister S. B. Dissanayake expressing its displeasure at his ministry’s failure to sort out its members’ salary issues.

FUTA Secretary Dr. Terrance Madujith told The Island yesterday that his association had suspended trade union action three months ago following an assurance given by the government to solve university teachers’ problems.

FUTA wanted the salary proposal implemented in three steps, to which the authorities agreed. As per the consensus reached, the basic salary of university academics should be raised by 20% by January 2012, he said.

In addition, Dr. Madujith said that at the time of suspension of FUTAtrade union action, Secretary to the Treasury had, in his letter dated 21.07.2011, clearly stated that the Treasury had no objections to the implementation of the proposals submitted by FUTA such as increasing the rates for setting question papers, marking, supervision, visiting lectures etc.

"It was also promised in his letter that low interest housing loans would be given through banking institutions," he said.

FUTA also requested the government to consider allocating approximately 6% of GDP for the education sector.

Dr. Madujith said that FUTA was of the view that the government had made no genuine effort to address the issues raised by university teachers.

FUTA would be compelled to resume its trade union action unless the government honoured its promises, he warned.

Examination Dept. asked to prepare Z score in three different ways

GCE (A/L) results imbroglio:

December 15, 2011, 10:09 pm , The Island

by Dasun Edirisinghe

The Examination Department may be able to issue the much delayed results of the GCE (A/L) examination (2011) next Monday, Commissioner General of the Department of Examinations Anura Edirisinghe says.

He told The Island last evening that the University Grants Commission (UGC) had requested the Examinations Department to submit results with Z score prepared separately on the basis of marks obtained by students who sat the examination under the new and old syllabuses and a common Z score for both categories.

The required data would be handed over to the UGC on Friday, Edirisinghe said.

The UGC appointed a committee of five experts to devise a formula to prevent injustices being caused to students who sat the examination under the two different syllabuses, as regards university admissions. The panel comprising five professors of statistics was expected to go through the lists of Z score prepared by the Examinations Department and to give their opinion as to which one would be the most suited, the Commissioner General of Examination said.

"If they give us the go-ahead on Friday evening, then we can release the results on Monday," Edirisinghe said, adding that the results had been finalized a week ago but their release had been delayed in view of possible problems in admitting the students, who had sat for the same subjects but answered different papers based on two syllabuses, to universities.

About 250,000 candidates sat the GCE (A/L) examination in August this year. The Examinations Department initially planned to release the results by the end of the Third school term on Dec. 9.

 

Wanted u’grads identified

December 14, 2011, 9:50 pm , The Island

by Cyril Wimalasurendre

KANDY – The three undergraduate suspects, wanted in connection with incidents of inhumanly ragging a new entrant to the University of Peradeniya, have been identified, Senior DIG H. N. B. Ambanwala said.

The trio will be arrested at any time.

Many of the suspects in the case of alleged ragging have been traced according to sources but they are yet to be arrested, they said.

The victim from Beliatta, as well as the suspects are from the Arts Faculty of the University of Peradeniya.

Food price shocks threaten a billion people with hunger

* Climate change and food security:

December 14, 2011, 9:07 pm , The Island.


Recent food price shocks threaten some 1 billion people with hunger. Meanwhile, there is growing evidence that climate change, along with rampant commodity speculation and lack of social protection are contributing to widespread food insecurity, resulting in hunger, poverty and even increased child labour. Marva Corley-Coulibaly and Uma Rani Amara, senior economists at the ILO International Institute for Labour Studies talk about the growing concerns over food insecurity, and what urgent actions are needed to address the crisis.

Q; There are many factors contributing to today’s food security crisis. For example, how is climate change having an impact?

A: Climate change is certainly having a negative influence on food prices and food security. Irregular or insufficient harvests due to weather-related conditions fuel price instability and the income and food security conditions of small scale farmers, pastoralists, and rural and urban net buyers. This leads to increased poverty that can quickly afflict the entire local community. This is why we need to invest more in sustainable agriculture and take into account the social dimension of adapting to climate change. This includes social safety nets for dealing with short term shocks, as well as longer term initiatives that can better help to improve livelihoods and manage risk. Unless such measures are introduced to limit the consequences of climate change, the situation is likely to further deteriorate.

Q; What is the impact of rising food prices on farmers and producers?

A: Our study shows that the positive effects of rising food prices have been limited mainly because gains from higher prices have accrued disproportionately to large scale farmers, intermediaries and operators in financial markets rather than small producers. Also, because food prices are so volatile, any increase in agricultural income is seen by producers – especially small ones – as temporary, and does not lead to additional investment. Food prices were twice as volatile during 2006-2010 than during the preceding five years, and here adverse weather conditions related to climate change played a significant role as droughts and severe floods, particularly in developing countries, lowered yields of important staple foods and reduced the amount of arable land. As a result, producers lack the stable horizon they need to invest their gains, perpetuating food shortages. Evidence suggests that the gains from higher food prices mainly accrue to high-income groups while most low-income groups are net losers.

Q; Is there a clear connection between higher food prices and the rise of poverty?

A: Higher food prices definitely threaten the achievement of poverty reduction goals and affect the development prospects of many countries. An increase in food prices reduces purchasing power since higher food prices reduce total household spending for other essentials, and can lead to increased poverty. For example, the World Bank estimates that the rise in food prices between June and December 2010 pushed an additional 44 million people below the US$1.25 extreme working poverty line.

Also, higher food prices could lead to a reduction in real wages. To make wage adjustments necessary to neutralize losses from price increases, households in many developing countries make their children available for work, thus increasing child labour. Our analysis shows that a further 30 per cent increase in food prices may increase poverty rates by 3 percentage points in countries with chronic food shortages such as Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malawi, Nepal and Vietnam. Also, we estimate that a 30 per cent rise in food prices will require low-paid workers to find one additional week’s employment every month to maintain their standard of living.

Q; You say that food commodities have become a major financial product. In what way?

A: The amount of money invested in commodity index funds rose from US$13 billion in 2003 to US$192 billion in March 2008, which means that the volume of index fund speculation increased by 1,900 per cent during the same period. It is clear that there is a growing use of commodities as investments, largely due to the high short-term gains that are expected and because they are considered as an attractive vehicle for portfolio diversification. Several studies show that there is increasing evidence that financial speculation in the commodity markets has been one of the driving factors behind rising food prices and volatility.

Q; You mention quinoa in the Andes as one example that shows how turning a local crop into a financial product may be detrimental to the health and wealth of local communities?

A: The case of quinoa shows how local communities have seen their access to nutrient-rich food reduced because of financial speculation. The development of quinoa, the "miracle grain of the Andes" into a major Bolivian export crop led to improved income for farmers. However, it also brought steep local price increases that reduced or prevented access by the majority of the Bolivian population to this highly nutritious traditional food source. One policy consideration could now be to implement price controls on the domestic market for quinoa.

Q; Your study includes a series of proposals to curb commodity speculation. What are they?

A: First, impose position limits on commodities traders. Such limits are currently under review both in the US and the European Union. Imposing a tax on such transactions is another option. An interim solution could be the introduction of a position management system, whereby once a trader reaches a predetermined limit they would have to provide further information before being allowed to go forward.

Secondly, reduce speculation in food staples. In India, an outright ban on speculation in wheat commodity futures market was introduced since the onset of the food crisis, leading to a reduction of domestic wheat prices.

Thirdly, improve the timeliness, reliability and coordination of agricultural data. Better transparency would also help to reduce reliance on price forecasts by large investment banks, which have a vested interest in market outcomes because most of the undisclosed data available refer to privately held stocks.

Q; Finally you insist that insufficient investment in the agricultural sector coupled with the increasing number of land grabs is also responsible for the worrisome food security situation. Why is that?

A: We definitely need more government investment in agriculture. It can be by building up commodity reserves since holding stocks for emergencies (as in China and India) made it possible to mitigate the worst price increases. Grain reserves can work in a similar way as strategic oil reserves and can be used both for food security and for signalling to the market.

For the medium and long term, there is also a need to improve the ratio of food crops to cash crops (including biofuels), increase productivity and stimulate employment. As we mentioned earlier, it is also about mitigating the consequences of climate change, addressing water shortages, expanding irrigation techniques and creating incentives for farmers to switch from non food to food crops.

Another area where policy measures can be taken relate to unequal access to land and the necessity to limit foreign acquisition of agricultural land (especially for biofuels and cash crops) in many of the less-developed and developing countries which are already food scarce or insecure.

Finally as recent food price shocks have led to nearly a billion people facing hunger, it is essential to focus on immediate assistance for the most vulnerable by developing social protection, for instance through the provision of cash transfers targeted at poor women and young children. Support programmes such as food stamps or vouchers can also help to shore up consumption while meeting immediate food needs, particularly during times of crisis. Simultaneously, efforts should be made to ensure minimum wages are implemented for all workers and adjusted to reflect changes in food prices.

(Courtesy ILO)

Chemistry Graduate-ship programme to commence in January

December 14, 2011, 10:05 pm , The Island

The four-year Graduate-ship Programme of the Institute of Chemistry, Ceylon which produces over 40 per cent of the Special Degree Level Chemists, will launch its next programme in January.

The Institute will take in the 34th batch of students for the new programme on January 7th 2012. Professor Roshan Perera, who is a graduate Chemist of the Institute and is presently Assistant Professor in Chemistry at the University of Texas in Arlington, will be the chief guest at the Inauguration ceremony.

Professor J. N. Oleap Fernando, Honorary Rector of the College of Chemical Sciences, which administers the programme, states in a media release that registration of students is now in the final stages.

Further information can be obtained by attending orientation sessions that will be conducted every Saturday at 10.15 am at the College Headquarters at Adamantine House, 341/22, Kotte Road, Welikada, Rajagiriya or calling over on any day or by downloading from web site www.ichemc.edu.lk.

‘Employees must recognize that education is insurance for a better future’

December 12, 2011, 9:01 pm , The Island.

Dinesh Weerakkody MD HR Cornucopia says the current educational system in our country, from kindergarten through university, does a poor job of equipping people for continuous learning. Therefore, to engage Generation Y, there needs to be a wave of innovation in future education, particularly online, that will cater to this need in a more flexible, personalized way than the traditional degree or postgraduate courses are delivered.

By Chiara Tissera

Q: There is a perception among some of our employers that there is a lack of skilled talent to fill positions at management levels?

A: Yes, some employers say to me they have difficulty filling positions. Some of the complaints about skill shortages simply could be that employers can’t get top candidates to join their companies because they do not have a solid  reputation as an Employer of Choice or the wages they offer is not competitive. Then that becomes essentially an attraction problem, not a skill shortage. A skill shortage to me would be when employers cannot find candidates at market-clearing wages.

Q:If it is affordability issue what should they do?

A: When companies cannot afford the people they want they need to drop the idea of finding perfect candidates and look for people who could do the job with some training, on the job coaching, mentoring and on the job practice. There are plenty of ways to get staff up to speed without investing too much time and money, such as putting new employees on extended probationary periods with lower pay until they get up to speed with the requirements of the job, also on the job coaching and relying more on internal hires would help.

Q:If candidates don’t have the skills the industry needs, what should the industry do collectively?

A: The industry as a collective unit should make them go to a technical school and get the skill before they are hired. Technical Colleges should be motivated to join with employer groups and business chambers and run targeted course work to fulfill the specific needs of employers. Candidates who complete the course will then qualify to be hired. They can pay for themselves or could share the cost with the employers supporting the technical school. For instance, a Bank might require that prospective job candidates first pass a basic elementary course in banking before they are hired as trainees. This strategy should not be limited for new hires only; it should be actively promoted for internal candidates.  Employees must recognize that education is insurance for a better future.

Q:What other options do the industries have to grow the right kind of people for their companies?

A: Apprenticeship Programs are very good options. This is a very popular arrangement in many professional firms.  Apprentices are paid less while they are learning skills. Audit firms, law firms, motor companies and consulting firms have operated long time this way, A properly structured apprenticeship program, with exams, testing and certification at different stages of experience would work for most industries to create a pool of talent to hire from.

Q:Should employers as far as possible make internal candidates the first choice to fill jobs higher up?

A: Employees have organizational knowledge that no outsider would have. So they should be given priority over an external candidate. However if there is no role fit companies would need to look outside.

Q:How do you make employees ready to take on senior jobs?

A: Companies need to put employees with high potential on tough projects, help them learn new skills. That would over a period of time build an internal talent pipeline that can vastly expand the supply of talent that the company can tap into, making it both easier and cheaper to fill jobs within the company and group.

Q:How do we as a country we move up the skills ladder like in India?

A: The solution lies in education. People should be trained in areas where jobs are plenty. There are probably many jobs that go elsewhere because people don’t have the expertise. Therefore, post-secondary education should become more affordable so that people have the opportunity to move into fields were skills are in high demand. Also there needs to be a wave of innovation in future education, particularly online, that will cater to this need in a more flexible, personalized way than the traditional degree or postgraduate courses are delivered.