On the Road to the Knowlege Economy: An analysis of the case of Mozambique in the Introduction of Knowledge and Skills as a Foundation to Economic Growth
Author
Friis Pedersen, Louise
Term
4. term
Publication year
2008
Pages
74
Abstract
In the global knowledge economy, growth is expected to come from skills and innovation rather than from natural resources or low-cost labor. As a result, many developing countries have built their strategies around knowledge and innovation. The open question is how poorer countries can adapt these often Western-oriented ideas to their own realities and make them work. Using Mozambique as a case, this thesis identifies the main constraints an African developing country faces in shifting toward a knowledge economy. It assesses the adaptation readiness of two key agents of change: the higher education system and the private sector. The study finds significant internal weaknesses in both, and a serious mismatch between the human resources and knowledge produced in higher education and what businesses need. It also shows that Mozambican institutions often have a conservative organizational culture, where knowledge sharing and collaboration are the exception rather than the norm. The thesis argues that Mozambique should first strengthen the capacity of the actors that produce and use knowledge, and improve their connections, before strategies based on knowledge and innovation can be implemented successfully.
I den globale videnøkonomi forventes økonomisk vækst at komme fra viden og færdigheder snarere end fra naturressourcer og billig arbejdskraft. Derfor har mange udviklingslande bygget deres strategier op om viden og innovation. Spørgsmålet er dog, hvordan fattige lande kan tilpasse disse ofte vestligt orienterede idéer til deres egen virkelighed og få dem til at virke. Med Mozambique som case undersøger denne afhandling de vigtigste begrænsninger, et afrikansk udviklingsland møder i omstillingen til en videnøkonomi. Analysen vurderer tilpasningsparatheden hos to centrale forandringsaktører: systemet for videregående uddannelse og den private sektor. Studiet peger på markante interne svagheder i begge aktører samt et alvorligt misforhold mellem de menneskelige ressourcer og den viden, der produceres i videregående uddannelser, og de behov, erhvervslivet har. Det fremgår også, at mange institutioner i Mozambique er præget af en konservativ organisationskultur, hvor videndeling og samarbejde er undtagelsen frem for reglen. Konklusionen er, at Mozambique først må styrke kapaciteten hos de aktører, der producerer og anvender viden, og forbedre deres indbyrdes forbindelser, før strategier baseret på viden og innovation kan gennemføres med succes.
[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]