What AI and STEAM mean for Human Capital

What STEAM and AI means for Human Capital


There is a need for a special ACT under the banner of “Institutions of special importance” backed by a special budget for generating talents in all sectors through Human capital building program specially in high revenue generating sectors like IT industries. Institute of National Importance (INI) is a status that may be conferred on a premier public higher education institution by an act of Parliament of Nepal for such institution which "serves as a pivotal player in developing highly skilled personnel within the specified region of the country/state". Institutes of National Importance should receive special recognition, higher autonomy, and funding from the Government of Nepal.
More than half of all children and adolescents worldwide are not meeting minimum standards on reading and mathematics. In 2020 as the Covid = 19 spread across the globe, a majority of countries announced the temporary closure of schools , impacting 91% of students worldwide. The most vulnerable and disadvantaged have been out of schools disrupting learning and upending lives.
With a visionary education policy, and the complexities of the new normal after the pandemic, the teaching and learning processes have changed forever globally. Students need to build STEAM readiness to prepare for their workforce/career success.
STEAM education is the need of the hour. STEAM education needs to be improved regardless of the income levels, age and gender to use them morally and ethically. Developing human potential in creativity, imagination, critical thinking and social interaction seems necessary to make them ready to partner with machines in future.
The government of Nepal has launched initiatives such as the STEAM Scholarship Program and the National Science and Technology Council to encourage students to pursue STEAM education. There are several associations also promoting STEAM in collaboration with NGOs and INGOs.

Story telling about women leaders in STEAM is a powerful mechanism to accelerate the awareness championing to promote STEAM education in rural ends. Community driven online content generation of such stories should be encouraged to reach out to rural masses which will also support the revenue models of communication, education infrastructure.
China has set a goal of becoming a world-class innovator by 2050. China’s higher education Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEAM) research environment will play a pivotal role in influencing whether China is successful in transitioning from a manufacturing-based economy to an innovation-driven, knowledge-based economy.
In today's fast-paced world of tech innovation, it’s about creating a whole new kind of education—one that's tailored to you, me, and everyone in between. Imagine learning experiences as unique as your fingerprint, adapting to your pace and style, and available to anyone with an internet connection. Collaboration among various stakeholders is key to making this vision a reality.
We should be enabling motivated school children. Children can learn what they can do. They can understand how tech behaves and can recognize risks. They should understand technology and understand the motivation of companies using AI on a large scale. We need to be doing this now. We need to teach them the risk of using social media because they are going to grow up with that. They are going to be using AI and will play a major transformative role in whatever industry they will be building their career. AI is going to impact what job they get, what banks they use etc. We need to make sure that they understand AI is the fundamental part of their education.
Educational systems often resist change due to entrenched practices, bureaucratic structures, and cultural norms. Overcoming inertia and fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration are essential to successfully integrating AI into educational practices. Educators, administrators, policymakers, and other stakeholders must work together to overcome resistance to change and promote adopting AI-driven solutions that improve teaching and learning outcomes for all students.
In communities tucked away in rural and underserved areas, the battle for quality education hits close to home. Picture students eager to learn but facing daunting obstacles at every turn. Technology feels like a distant dream without proper policy on STEAM education with special focus on mathematical subjects and scarce instructional materials as their only companions. And when it comes to teachers, the options are limited, leaving students craving guidance from qualified educators who understand their unique needs. In this uphill battle, educational disparities run rampant, widening the gap between those with access to resources and those left behind. Many schools and educational institutions, particularly those in underserved communities or rural areas, lack the necessary technology infrastructure, including high-speed internet connectivity, devices, and software applications, needed to support AI-driven educational initiatives. Ensuring equitable access to technology is crucial to prevent further exacerbating existing disparities in educational opportunities. Implementing AI-driven educational initiatives may require significant financial investment in purchasing technology hardware and software, developing custom AI solutions, and providing ongoing technical

support and maintenance. Academic institutions with limited budgets and resources may need help allocating funds to support AI initiatives, particularly in the face of competing priorities and budget constraints.
The converging technology revolution comprises the synergistic combination of four groups of technologies: information technology, bio-technology, nanotechnology and cognitive technologies. They go beyond digital technologies, although they are underpinned by the letter. Data is central to the converging technology revolution. A unique feature is the integration of data from the human, physical, biological and cyber worlds. High speed computing power and connectivity are the other two factors powering this revolution. These characteristics drive both the potential and the risks from the converging technology revolution. The development of Artificial Intelligence (AI), itself a combination of information technology and cognitive science made possible by the availability of vast amounts of data, cheap high-speed computing power and ubiquitous connectivity, is further enabling and driving the converging technology revolution. These developments have profound implications for human capital – creating the possibility of rapid accumulation of human capital through technological innovations in education (e.g., by improving learning quality), health (e.g., by improving stunting or reducing non-communicable diseases) and social protection (e.g., by addressing informality of the labor force) sectors; as well as supporting sectors such as agriculture, water, energy, sectors critical for Nepal’s development.
Nepal government policymakers are trying to incorporate this educational approach on the lines of the leading education systems of the world. If Nepal engages academic experts the country can lay the foundation of a dynamic AI driven future in education focusing on strategic investments in research and innovation, education focused trainings, and robust data privacy measures.
When generative AI exploded into public awareness late in 2022 it moved AI to the top of organizational priority lists worldwide and at local levels, many organizations are setting for tech experimentations for a while as employees play with tools like ChatGPT to see how they might improve productivity at workplaces. However, many leaders of organizations and government institutions remain deeply concerned about AI’s consequences for service deliveries and impact on products and workplaces.
The government with the vision of Digital Nepal for good governance, has endorsed a program of ‘Digital Nepal Framework 2019’ with a plan of implementation, by five years to make Nepal a digital state in every sector. It is gradually moving towards the development of programs using AI.
In the recent fiscal budget of Nepal 2023/24, the Ministry of Education, Science And Technology has been allocated the budget of NPR 197.29 Billion with an increase in budget of NPR 1 billion than previous year. This investment in education gives importance to digitization of the education sector, broadband internet facilities in community schools, educational TV programs and loans for students for laptops with low-interest rates to make digitization Nepal by 2025.
The growing use of AI across sectors is set to transform the country’s digital landscape. Making periodization investment in Science and Technology for research and development in AI sector will escalate development. Government needs to invest in experienced educators worldwide to

transform the curriculum into technology focused courses. At school level integration of STEM with special focus on Mathematics has become urgent. Awareness campaigns and drives led by the government, media, private sector, and civil society could contribute significantly in this regard.
Moreover, promoting e-government, improving the digital infrastructure and making learning services accessible seems important. Clear data accessibility and regulations of AI need to be maintained.
AI regulations should not be instituted at the cost of compromising or disrupting tech developers who lack significant financial backing, since they constitute a key source of innovation and are assets to the AI ecosystem. This is also an opportune moment for Nepal to analyze upcoming regulatory frameworks for AI across the globe and incorporate suitable elements into its own laws while ensuring that these are aligned with national interests. Given that certain existing Nepalese laws can address specific AI-related harms such as deep fakes and data breaches, it may not be necessary to develop new laws. Instead, the focus should be on plugging gaps in the current legal system and implementing precision regulation with a graded approach to penalties. Multiple stakeholders, including CSOs, tech firms, academia and government agencies will need to work together. As the use of generative AI continues to grow, users and other technical and non-technical stakeholders need to be educated about its promises and perils.
Moreover, collaborations seem to be necessary between government, private sectors, and research organizations to invest in the infrastructure development, drive innovation and research in AI to ensure that the remote regions also have access to AI technologies. More light needs to be shed upon the necessity of regulations and training focusing on the landscape of Nepal, to generate growing socio economic impact. Further, the government can support AI initiatives in education sector through appropriate policies, incentives, and grants.
Hence, to embrace AI in the education sector, educators, schools, government officials and parents can rethink education methodologies and encourage the next generation to take advantage of the opportunities brought by technological change.
Nepal government is committed to energy transition, which will lead to an exponential growth in employment associated with Green Energy sectors or any other cheaper alternative energy sectors, such as renewables, batteries and hydrogen. Nepal can become an exporter of green hydrogen energy. The Nepal government has already approved the policy of use of cheaper energy production. The first movers will be benefited with the help of government subsidies, incentives and policy support. Leadership development in the energy sector should be encouraged. USAID is promoting this issue in Nepal encouraging women to lead this sector.
All plethora of AI powered project activities will grow with the cheaper sources of energy helping generate IT professionals who will also be backbone of outsourcing IT companies in Nepal supporting the concept of IT HUB in Nepal. Under Digital Nepal Framework 2019, startup companies like Fuse Machines Nepal, Wiseyak and Paaila Technology are some of the first startup companies that have worked with AI and machine learning. In the case of Kathmandu University (KU), it has launched BTech and MTech programs in AI since 2021. In

the same lines, Leapfrog Technology has an internal learning academy and strong emphasis on internships and apprenticeships.
Academia, Researchers and women leaders can be engaged by expanding community engagement, strengthening participation, and fundamentally redistributing power to promote a transition to more equitable, resilient and sustainable service delivery systems for a more sustainable future. Integrated policy in the area of energy and agriculture will accelerate the benefit to the society especially at the grass root level. The IT industry's strength is based, fundamentally, on the trust, which members among stakeholders and human resources of Nepal collectively work in the areas of investment and technology transfer encouraging girls and women.
The future of service sectors, industries and communities is intertwined. Harnessing these technology trends while ensuring equitable access can enhance services outcomes for a more sustainable future.
Nepal has several policy mechanisms encouraging women's representation in federal, provincial and local government. Quotas for female students and marginalized groups are also implemented in academic institutions within STEAM fields, covering science, medicine and engineering engaging Ministries, INGOs, NGOs and local communities.
There should be a scheme of supporting women and girls’ candidates in their respective areas with an aim to accelerate the talented instincts of the women candidates to carry out studies and research. Women and girls with disabilities experience gender inequality, social exclusion, discrimination, and violence in different ways. Development strategies, formulated with their full participation and consultation are needed. It requires inclusive policies, awareness, gender- sensitive financing, and technology-enhanced access to financing supported by AI tools.
There should be proactive steps to increase the number of women working in the transport and logistics sectors. By doing this, services for women and girls, and the public overall, will improve. Affordable, green housing is vital for women's resilience and sustainable development. Currently, the Digital Nepal Framework, a government proposal for raising digital literacy and supporting the advancement of information and communications technology, is undergoing a review process, emphasizing the significance of discussions that foster a shared understanding. Formulation of coherent policies, legal frameworks, and effective mechanisms that regulate AI and align with the broader goals of national development has to be worked out by engaging experts with professional experiences. The stakeholders, including the government, civil society, academia, media, and the tech industry have explored avenues for optimizing the opportunities that AI offers while mitigating potential risks and ensuring AI contributes to a more inclusive, sustainable, and peaceful world.
AOTs alumni training activities should expand the scale of training coverage in AI mobilizing the strength of AOTs Japan. Asian countries are at the forefront of digital governance, which opens up valuable