The recent essay by Dario Amadei “The Machines of Loving Grade” proposes rosy projections about using AI to rapidly boost economic growth and development in the poorest parts of the world fail to grapple with the stark realities in those societies. The author paints a picture of AI-powered epidemiology and economic planning sweeping away entrenched barriers to progress, but the track record of technological leapfrogging in the developing world tells a very different story.
As I reflect on my time as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Papua New Guinea, I'm filled with a mix of emotions - pride, frustration, and a deep sense of responsibility for the challenges we faced. It was a journey marked by both remarkable achievements and gut-wrenching setbacks, all in the pursuit of transforming this institution into a beacon of integrity and excellence in the South Pacific region.
When I first accepted this role, I knew I would be confronting a daunting set of issues – structural underfunding, corruption, maladministration, and a severe lack of accountability that had permeated every aspect of the university's operations. Students were disillusioned, their studies often interrupted, and the professional community had all but lost faith in the institution's ability to fulfill its mission.
In 2012, I embarked on an incredible journey as the Vice-Chancellor of the Papua New Guinea University of Technology. It was a childhood dream come true—an opportunity to make a real difference in a country close to my heart. Over the next six years, I poured my energy into transforming the university to better serve its students and the nation.
One of my proudest achievements was making the university the first in the world to provide campus-wide broadband internet via the innovative O3B satellite system. This was a game-changer, opening up a world of knowledge and collaboration for our students and faculty. We also became the first university in PNG to adopt open-source Ubuntu software on all student laptops, empowering them with valuable IT skills.
Looking back 30 years after obtaining my doctorate, I can reflect on the profound influence my teachers and professors had on my intellectual development and academic journey. Of course, they do not bear sole responsibility, as the path I ultimately chose was a function of my own decisions and the guidance of my highly educated parents - a Dutch theoretical physicist father who loved mathematics, and an Italian comparative literature scholar mother who continued publishing into her 90s.
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| Enthusiastic PNG University of Technology students after boycotting classes for 5 weeks to demand good University governance |
The spectrum of educators I encountered ranged from the exceptional to the abysmal, with the majority falling somewhere in the middle. The average professors have become entirely forgettable, their names long since faded from memory. Yet the average schoolteachers, through the culture of constant assessment, managed to impart the fundamental knowledge and skills required for their subjects, leaving an indelible mark.
The landscape of educational technology is in the midst of a transformative shift, as the recent widespread adoption of public access large language models has catalyzed a renewed reflection on the historical patterns of technological integration within the education sector. As an economic historian, specialized in technological innovation and large technological systems, I believe that a deeper understanding of these historical trends is crucial in shaping our approach to the emerging technological advancements (Schram, 1997). As I wrote elsewhere, this is particularly relevant for educational institutions in low-income countries in order to tackle the global education crisis and make progress towards achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goal four (SDG -4"access to quality education").
The Nobel Prize in Economics is an annual event that holds immense significance, not only for the field of economics but for the broader understanding of global prosperity and development. This year, the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics has been awarded to a trio of pioneering scholars whose groundbreaking research has fundamentally transformed our comprehension of the crucial role that institutions play in shaping the economic fortunes of nations.
Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James A. Robinson have provided a compelling explanation for the persistent wealth disparities that exist between countries around the world. Their work has demonstrated that the political and economic systems introduced by European colonial powers are a key driver behind these vast inequalities, with the formerly richest colonies often now being the poorest. By developing a robust theoretical framework, the laureates have shed light on the complex interplay between institutions, politics, and long-term economic growth.
The insights of Acemoglu, Johnson, and Robinson have had a profound impact on both the field of economics and political science, underscoring the central importance of inclusive, rules-based institutions in catalyzing broad-based prosperity. As we grapple with the entrenched divides between the global haves and have-nots, the lessons of this Nobel Prize offer invaluable guidance on the path forward.
Through their innovative empirical research, the laureates examined how the political and economic systems introduced by European colonizers shaped the development trajectories of their colonies. They found that colonies with dense indigenous populations tended to have more "extractive" institutions designed to benefit a small elite, while sparsely populated areas saw the establishment of more "inclusive" institutions that incentivized broad-based prosperity.
Crucially, the laureates demonstrated that this colonial legacy has had a lasting impact, with the formerly richest colonies now often being the poorest. Their work using the divided city of Nogales as a case study vividly illustrates how seemingly minor institutional differences can lead to vastly unequal outcomes, even among populations with shared geography and culture.
The laureates have also made important theoretical contributions, developing a framework to explain why extractive institutions are so difficult to reform. The "commitment problem" between elites and the masses means that promises of change are often not credible, trapping societies in a cycle of poverty and inequality. However, the researchers also show that in certain circumstances, the threat of mass mobilization can compel elites to introduce more inclusive political and economic systems.
The insights of Acemoglu, Johnson, and Robinson have had a profound influence on both economics and political science. Their work underscores the central importance of institutions in shaping long-term development, and has spurred further research into the complex interplay between politics, education, and societal progress.
For universities in the developing world, the lessons of this Nobel Prize are clear. Strengthening institutional quality - through measures like ensuring academic freedom, improving governance, and forging strategic international partnerships - should be a top priority.
By embedding inclusive, rules-based practices, these institutions can play a vital role in catalyzing the kind of broad-based prosperity that has long eluded so many nations. Only then can the entrenched divides between the global haves and have-nots finally begin to narrow.
Makortoff, K., & Elliott, L. (2024). Trio of professors win Nobel economics prize for work on post-colonial wealth. the Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/14/three-us-based-professors-win-nobel-prize-in-economics-daron-acemoglu-simon-johnson-james-robinson-
Prize in economic sciences. (2024, October 16). Retrieved from https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/economic-sciences
As the former Vice-Chancellor of the Papua New Guinea University of Technology (PNGUT), I encountered a multitude of challenges and missed opportunities during my tenure from 2012 to 2017. This complete account, from 2019, outlines my efforts to transform the university and the unfortunate circumstances that ultimately derailed my initiatives.
Through my leadership, PNGUT became the first university in the world to access high-speed internet through the O3B satellite system. I also worked to establish robust industry advisory boards and secure significant donations from companies like ExxonMobil to support infrastructure upgrades and academic quality improvements.
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| Fast internet and laptops for all students |
The path forward for PNGUT requires a renewed commitment to good governance, academic excellence, and strategic partnerships. Only by overcoming the entrenched interests and political maneuvering can the university truly unlock its potential and serve the needs of Papua New Guinean students and society.
