Practically from the time we’re born, Americans are taught to be competitive. From childhood sports to “competing” for a job or a promotion, we are often in a competitive mindset. It is also one that rewards winners. Yet, increasingly, America is also falling behind in being on the world stage.
According to a new study by the Aspen Institute, there are six key areas that the United States must focus on to not only remain competitive but to retain its innovation edge. These include artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors, 5G/6G technologies, fintech, and biotechnology.
“For the U.S. to maintain its innovation lead and compete in a global technological context, we will need to strengthen our education systems and career pathways from K-12 through to the workforce,” the study’s authors noted.
More Than Education
While the efforts to focus on education, it is just one component in what will ensure American competitiveness in the 21st century.
“There’s so much focus on computer chips and software systems, but the most overlooked factor in America’s technological competitiveness is the quality and availability of our workforce,” said Peter Kant, CEO and founder of AI developer Enabled Intelligence (EI).
“It’s America’s AI workforce that will dictate whether or not U.S. systems are the most precise and effective,” Kant told ClearanceJobs. “And that workforce is not just coders and data scientists. The little secret is that most of the AI workforce is and will continue to be entry-level data labeling and analyst jobs that are needed to create and test the data used to train and test AI tools like ChatGPT.”
Great effort does need to be placed on areas outlined in the report, but that should just be the starting point, explained Kant.
“When it comes to our national security, we need to be laser-focused on developing the pipeline of talent for emerging technology and protecting our valuable technical resources,” he added. “For AI, that means keeping our data secure. This is crucial for protecting government and commercial data and technology.”
Beyond The Six Recommended Areas
All six of the key areas highlighted by the Aspen Institute fall into what can be identified as part of a “STEM” – science, technology, engineering, and math – curriculum. However, there has already been a concern that too much emphasis has been placed on STEM over other skills and training.
“There is a growing consensus that America must double down on STEM-related fields to remain competitive on the global stage – however, they will still need to be paired with quality soft skills to be effective,” said Paul Santoro, EdTech expert and vice president of gaming and esports at Heroic Game Day, a game-based skills learning platform for K-6 students.
“While STEM is an undeniable future, the recognition grows globally that soft skills are equally crucial for a well-rounded and effective working environment. Skills like Communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, adaptability, resilience, teamwork, and collaboration are just as important on the other end of the spectrum,” Santoro continued. “In addition to soft skills, humanities, and social sciences play a role too; these are the most often overlooked. Fields like political science, law, languages and cultural studies, ethics, and philosophy.”
In other words, to have a well-balanced and competitively functioning American workforce, focusing on STEM while keeping an open mind to soft skills and humanities is essential. Such a multi-tiered approach could help ensure that technological advancements are still coupled with ethics and thought.
“By valuing both tech and non-tech fields, we can guarantee innovation while also addressing the social, cultural, and ethical dimensions of our society,” Santoro told ClearanceJobs.
“STEM and non-STEM related fields go hand in hand. Quantitative skills and advancements in technology help improve efficiency, safety, and quality of life,” added Robert Bird, professor of business law and ethics at the University of Connecticut. “Fields like law and political science give a nation a sense of its right and wrong. Technology is a tool that can be used for good or evil purposes. Disciplines in the liberal arts situate those tools in the context of a broader society and give those tools meaning and purpose.”
Computer Languages and Foreign Languages
One notable area of a non-STEM field that may need to be considered is the study of languages, and not just of the computer programming variety. There is no denying that English remains the dominant language in the tech world, but as China and other nations make strides that could change.
“We should remember that so much of technology’s power lies in bridging people and ideas,” said Sylvia Johnson, the head of Learning Design at Preply, an online learning platform for foreign languages.
“The value of language learning, therefore, cannot be overstated in our journey toward a more inclusive, understanding, and interconnected global society. These skills are very beneficial in academic and professional scenarios and are invaluable in our daily lives,” Johnson told ClearanceJobs. “In a world that grows more interconnected by the day, language learning bridges gaps between cultures which fosters respect and empathy among individuals. It breaks down barriers and facilitates better, more meaningful connections.”
