That's why the DR needs foreign companies right now. A degree in the DR right now, while a very good thing, is still very difficult to put to good use because there just isn't a lot of industry or what there is doesn't pay much. There is more industry than the other Caribbean islands, but it still lacks opportunity. There headed in the right direction though. What other Caribben island has a cyber park, toll roads, and 5 international airports?
The DR is poised to become a major financial center and they refine their banking laws., the new high end tourist and golf haven, to become a major trading partner, and to lead Latin America into the next generation. Tourism still has tremendous room for growth.
To deal with the rest of the world, they need to learn a thing or two about quality, productivity, substance behind the face, honor in business, customer longevity, and seeing things from a grander perspective. Foreign influence, with all its bad things, still is an overall a postive thing .
They don't need so engineering degrees just yet, they need foreign influence. Investment. Infrastructure. The schools should put more concentration on life skills. Wait, that's where I see them heading. Horaay! So long as the bottom doesn't fall out before they get there.
That's why I've always said that education is not the immediate priority. First infrastructure, then industry, which brings jobs, training, skills, and money to feed their families (so as to not always be on the brink of desperation), then formal education, culture, and civility.
Back to the original post, a bunch of degreed engineers isn't much of a resource to tab. A bunch of experienced engineers would bring the world knocking that their door. Think Germany. They are reowned for engineering education, they are renowned for engineering marvels. Japan isn't known for their education as much as their manufacturing efficiency and quality controls. People go their to see them operate their factories, not how to run a good university.
How can one be prompted not to throw trash if it isn't being collected and burns in the street?
How can one be prompted to drive correctly when the roads are chaos.
How can one take time to be in school when the school doesn't even have a working toilet, the roads close when it rains or the schools close because the roof leaks.
What is the motivation for education if half the degreed people are working in clerical positions. I see a lot of people that are in school now that don't care about learning, they care about passing. It is not good when the degree is more important than the education and knowledge.
What good is an engineer that has never worked in the field and probably won't.
Someone needs to drill it down their throat that haste makes waste, the rest of the world will walk if you cheat them, and a win by deceipt is not a win but a nail in their own coffin. Things don't just need to look like they work, they really do need to work. That a house, an SUV, a couple cell phones, and a suit and tie do not impress people from the industrialized countries - they want function before face.
Don't foreigners get so annoyed when that well dressed and straight faced looking manager stands there looking important in posture and elegance while even the most simple problems don't get tended? Don't they know that time is money? That being made to wait in lines doesn't signify importance? That a fancy lobby doesn't go as far as good food with good service? That nice shoes aren't as important as reliability? That the ability to garner wealth by cheating your neighbor is frowned upon?
Engineers indeed.
