Iris Luanne de la Calzada

The Innovator's Kiln Iris Luanne de la Calzada

The Industrial Age is ending. That much, at least, is obvious. The time for producing industrial-age workers who would get excellent grades in obedience and taking orders from others, and mindless, repetitive work is over. The needs of the 21st century lies in the creation of entirely new or re-structured business models, not only in the form of products, but also in service. There is a vast gap in the kind of mentality and skills that the current education system produces in its graduates today, and the needs of the current economy. Where are the jobs? Well... in this time of rapid technological advancement and proliferation of innovative products, the demand is in those areas. What are our schools doing to match this demand? Are they doing enough? Schools and university systems are the kilns of innovation. Much like the way the art of blowing glass developed in ancient times, our times call for 'out of the box' thinking. Or, should we say, out of the kiln... and into the fire.