“American high-school education is ‘obsolete’… In 2001, India graduated almost a million more students from college than the United States did. China graduates twice as many students with bachelor's degrees as the U.S., and they have six times as many graduates majoring in engineering.” Engineering Professions: The NEED

Sources Used: The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation: –Non-partisan research and educational institute whose mission is to formulate and promote public policies to advance technological innovation and productivity The World is Flat, by Thomas Freidman Engineering Professions: The NEED

A growing number of nations seek to gain global market share in technology-based economic activities…why? What’s made global competitiveness possible in the first place? –The Flatteners (4 of 10): While the national policy response must be multi- faceted, ensuring an adequate supply of talented scientists and engineers is one key step. The Facts 1)11/9 2) 8/9/95 3) Outsourcing and Y2K4) Offshoring /89

1.Ambition Gap Americans are lazy 2.Numbers Gap We are not producing enough engineers and scientists 3.Education Gap Companies will not only save money by hiring Indians and Chinese, they can often get better-skilled, more productive employees there. The “Gaps”

U.S. ranks 29th of 109 countries in the percentage of 24 year olds with a math or science degree. More Facts Percentage of First Degree University Students Receiving Degrees in Math/Science

Total U.S. citizen non-STEM graduate degrees increased 64 percent between 1985 and Total U.S. citizen STEM graduate degrees increased by just 14 percent during same period. Degrees in STEM fields awarded to foreign-born students in U.S. more than doubled in that time. In 2000, over half of all U.S. Ph.D. scientists under the age of 45 were foreign born, up from 27 percent in The U.S. has been able to rely on foreign students studying and working here to make up the shortfall of domestic talent. But the world is getting Flatter. More Facts

Non-biological STEM Doctoral Degrees Awarded to U.S. citizens

Why does this matter, anyway?

Innovation The creation and adoption of new products, services, and business models Key to improved standards of living A future of better jobs, higher wages “No amount of savings and investment, no policy of macroeconomic fine-tuning, no set of tax and spending incentives can generate sustained economic growth unless it is accompanied by the countless large and small discoveries that are required to create more value from a fixed set of natural resources.” - Economist Paul Romer U.S. has led world in innovation since WWII Why does this matter, anyway?

1.Global competition is increasing 1.Manufacturing 2.Call Centers 3.Software Production 4.Corporate Research and Development U.S. corporate sites in U.S. declined from 59% to 52% U.S. corporate sites in India and China increased from 8 to 18% (Over last decade) 2.American innovation leadership is slipping U.S. ranks 7 th among 30 in percentage of GDP devoted to R&D 30 OECD member countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States America’s Challenge

1.Ease immigration 1.More difficult since 9/11 2.Less necessity to come to U.S. given access in home country 2.Boost domestic supply 1.Encourage students to obtain STEM graduate degrees 2.Encourage students to obtain STEM degrees 3.Provide STEM pipeline in K-12 Proposed Solutions

1.What is the problem? 2.How does this problem affect you personally? 3.What are the implications of Florida’s perspective on Friedman’s view of America’s preparedness and future in engineering? 4.How does the culture need to change? 5.How can it? 6.What must be done in U.S. schools to help alleviate the problem? In other words, how do we ensure our children have the 21 st - Century skills to succeed in the new flat world? 7.What role, if any, do you see yourself playing? Discussion: Friedman and Florida Essays

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