‘The ages of dramatic change, as envisaged in the agricultural, industrial and information ages have given way to the age of creativity where competition is global and workers are empowered.’
This was stated by Prof Otto Schmidt, Principal Consultant for Educational, Personal Skills, and Creativity Development in Canada who was the guest speaker for a seminar on “How to become an inventor” organized by the University of Management and Technology (UMT), Lahore, at its campus today.
Outlining the new realities of the age of creativity, Prof Schmidt said that gone are the days when people joined a company, enjoyed safe careers, and retired from the same company. Companies no longer make the same products; they diversify or die. He said that this age of creativity requires professionals who are first and foremost, people with uninhibited imagination coming up with new ideas and services. He said that Pakistan’s position in the global economy is really at the tip; there is such a passion for learning and demonstrated capability for entrepreneurship among ordinary Pakistanis, that given the right training, the country may well develop into one of the wealthiest countries in the world. He added that innovation adds value at the national level: it leads to technological readiness, imparts business sophistication, creates labor market efficiency, helps adapt to globalization, and turns knowledge and expertise into new products and services. The bottom line is to improve internally and outperform competitors.
Prof Schmidt invited all the participants to join the three-part Innovation Project. Giving details of the project, he said that a School of Imagineers would be set up that will teach learners to create new and exciting original products and services. In the second part, opportunities would be provided to take these inventions to select audience in unique shows and exhibitions. Finally, a national innovation and leadership center would be set up to manage the whole system. He said that this was a unique opportunity to harness the creativity of Pakistani youth and turn them into inventors whose ideas may well change the future of the world.
Abid H K Shirwani, Director External Affairs, Rashid Hussain, Director, Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CENTIN), and Dr Sajjad Shami, Chairperson Electrical Engineering Department, UMT, attended the seminar. Other high ranking UMT officials, faculty members and students attended the seminar in large numbers.
Sundus Nazir, Coordinator CENTIN, anchored the event. It may be noted that the seminar was organized as part of the ongoing efforts by CENTIN to promote entrepreneurship to strengthen the process of socio-economic development and empowerment of the disadvantaged sectors of society at the grass root level.
It is worth mentioning that Prof Schmidt has 39 years experience as certified member of Ontario College of Teachers including 26 years experience as a facilitator in the Toronto District School Board Gifted Program. He is considered an expert in designing curriculum for highly intelligent students. He has designed a unique, new skills-based curriculum for a large Korean English Language school. He has done tutoring and consulting work with gifted children ages 3+ and also with gifted adults.