Innovation through education

Depression and recession precede innovation. This has been born out repeatedly; when we say history repeats itself we are referring to this cycle. Economists refer to this as the boom and bust cycle, simply what comes up must come down, and vice versa. We see examples of this strewn throughout the centuries.  

Prior to the onset of Renaissance in Europe (from the 14th to 17th centuries) the region was in the midst of what we colloquially call the “Dark Ages”. Originally the term, created by the Italian scholar Petrarch in 1334, was used to refer to the state literature of the previous century; however, we romantically consider it the period from the fall of the Roman Empire to the flowering of the Renaissance in Tuscany, Italy. One of the triggers of the Renaissance may have been the devastation wrought by the Black Plague; when over 30% of the population died. After the Black Plague, Europe entered into an era of expansion marked by thinkers such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. Education became key and the development of explorers, thinkers (what we call the Renaissance Man), philosophers and leaders paramount. By the end of the 15th century, Christopher Columbus would arrive in the United States and soon after, Magellan in the Philippines.

We commonly refer to the 20th century as the American Century. The early half of the 20th century was marked by violence, strife and destruction. Post-World War II saw the growth and expansion of the global economy. The world rebuilt after the war, and came out stronger. In the United States, their period of prosperity came on the heels of the Great Depression and World War II. The focus of the US government during the Great Depression on improving national infrastructure and education laid the groundwork for future prosperity. The key to American success is their drive, determination and remarkable ability to innovate. This is a direct result of their educational systems focus on creating innovators and thinkers; they exalt the person who “thinks outside of the box”. They have produced famous innovators and entrepreneurs such as Henry Ford (the founder of Ford Automotive), Warren Buffett, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.

The Philippines has long been at the forefront of innovation and expansion. It was Friar Andres de Urdaneta’s innovative discovery of the Galleon Trade route that ushered in a new era of globalization. We were the crown in both the Spanish and American Empires. At the end of the 19th century, the Philippines was in the midst of its own innovative period; we were ready to take our place amongst the nations of the world. We produced thinkers such as Jose Rizal, artists such as Luna and Hidalgo, had locally-based global conglomerates, and crafted world-class innovative products. During the 1960s, our economy was second only to Japan. Yet, our history is one of stops and starts, not of sustained growth.

The world is in the midst of a crisis; but out of crisis comes opportunity. The nations and regions that situate themselves best during this time may well lay claim to this being their century. At the heart of expansion is innovation; and at the heart of innovation is education. The Renaissance flourished because of a new focus on education; the United States has dominated, and may continue to do so, because of their focus on innovation. The Philippines must also begin to lay the groundwork for our Innovative Age. This means creating a foundation through new infrastructure development and most importantly, education. We must begin the process of creating innovators, thinkers and leaders. This starts by creating educational environments that can produce the Filipino Steve Jobs, Warren Buffett, da Vinci or Michelangelo. We have in the past, and the Philippines future rests on doing so again.