Michael Fung

As the Deputy Chief Executive (Industry), Chief Human Resource Officer, and Chief Data Officer at SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG), Mr. Fung is responsible for industry development of the continuing education and training landscape in Singapore, through managing policies, funding and contractual partnerships with private training providers, institutes of higher learning, and enterprises. He is also an adjunct Senior Fellow at the Singapore University of Technology and Design and was a Senior Advisor to the Office of the President at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Kate Behncken

Ms. Behncken is the Vice President and Lead of Microsoft Philanthropies. Previously, she led the Microsoft Philanthropies Global Community Engagement team and was Associate General Counsel at Microsoft where she led the Office of the President team and served as Chief of Staff to company President and Chief Legal Officer, Brad Smith. Kate and her team are focused on innovating in new ways to help realize the promise and potential of technology for everyone as they work with underserved communities.

Lant Pritchett

Mr. Pritchett is a development economist from Idaho. He graduated from BYU in 1983 and from MIT with a PhD in Economics in 1988. He worked with the World Bank from 1988 to 2007. He taught at the Harvard Kennedy School from 2000 to 2018 (with some leaves) and is now affiliated with Oxford's Blavatnik School of Government. He has over a hundred publications: journal articles, working papers, book chapters, and books, authored with over fifty different co-authors on topics in development from basic education to economic growth to state capability to labor mobility (and more).

International Skills Forum

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has a long track record in assisting its developing member countries (DMCs) achieve the goal of quality education for all. Despite the remarkable achievements in the education sector, the Asia Pacific region still faces challenges that threaten its social and economic growth.

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

This presentation identifies 15 guidelines for building a new university of science and technology and creating an innovative model of university-industry linkages. To be successful, identify a niche, not only in the field of science and technology, but deliver an institutional culture and encapsulate it into a vision that stresses uniqueness and interdependent service to industry and society.

Shifting Teacher’s ‘Indigenous’ Beliefs

Scaling is often defined as multiplying a product or innovation. This prevalent view is inherited from traditional manufacturing industry models and engineering. In education, scaling is about people capacity to enact innovations which can involve products, artifacts, or tools. Hence, cultivating or building of learning communities is integral to scaling in education.

Prof. David Hung of the National Institute of Education of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore shares his insights in this presentation.

K to 12 PLUS Project Philippines

The K to 12 initiative of the Philippine Government aims to implement changes in the education system and curricula in line with its new education reform goals. As a form of support, the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has been implementing the K to 12 PLUS Project to assist the ongoing education and training reforms in the country. In this presentation, Andreas Dernbach, K to 12 PLUS Project Director, shares a snapshot of what they have been doing.

Skills and Human Capital for Innovation

It is well-established that innovation is the new source of growth. Asia has the potential to cope as it has already spurred demand for biotech, precision engineering, and other information technology-enabled services. Unfortunately, the conventional metrics has put developing Asia behind their developed neighbors. Learn more from ADB’s Shanti Jagannathan as she shares some recommendations on skills and knowledge can bring in inclusive development in the region.

Jobs and Technology: Implications for Education and Skills Development

The development of skills—part of human capital—is an essential driver of economic growth and inclusion. Skills raise the productivity of workers, help build innovative capacity that sets the basis for developing and acquiring new technologies, and makes workers more adept at exploiting them. Modern technologies, however, have also put some routine jobs at risk. What are these and how can workers cope with these changes? ADB’s Rana Hasan explains in this presentation.