Why Hongkongers need multifaceted training for a complex world
A company with technological expertise may not thrive in the absence of leaders with business acumen and people able to communicate its value to potential customers
These days every government talks about innovation as a key driver of economic growth. Much attention has been paid to research and the funding it requires - an area where Hong Kong still has much catching up to do, given that our expenditure on R&D lags behind neighbours Singapore, Taiwan and Japan.
University education is also vital. While the expansion of tertiary education in the past decade should be welcomed, it is time to look into what students are and should be learning.
An approach that exposes students to multiple disciplines, experiences and types of knowledge is needed more than ever. It could determine the success of the rising number of start-ups, given that fewer than 5 per cent survive, according to unofficial statistics.
The Knowledge of Design Conference held last month by the Hong Kong Design Centre underlined the value of multidisciplinary training. Companies featured at the annual event capitalise on far more than technical knowledge.
In the case of one keynote speaker, Tim Stock, founder and managing director of research and strategy consultancy scenarioDNA in New York, his training as an anthropologist is key to both his business and his clients, which include global brands such as Nike, Ikea and Russian Standard Vodka.
Stock said the many cultural layers that exist require seeing things in new ways. That calls for bringing together a lot of disciplines. "Divergent ways of thinking are the only way out of the echo chamber, and on to innovation. Good design is about developing things that integrate seamlessly into people's lives," he said.
