We are lucky to live in Mauritius, a country which has reached a good level of development, where there is no (little?) violence, where (some?) people earn a decent amount of money at the end of the month and where we can go to Flic-en-Flac or Péreybère when we want to relax.
We reached that level during the 90s and we have been progressing (too?) tranquilly since.
What if we want to leap ahead and become like, ahem, Singapore?
To do that is not impossible but would require a drastic change at various levels. I started working in 1999 and, since then, 21 years have elapsed. I have been in countless meetings and committees and I have observed one thing. Only a few people are polymaths (and this might be explained by the massive brain drain which Mauritius has been suffering for decades now).
A polymath, according to Wikipedia, is a “universal man or woman whose knowledge spans a significant number of subjects, known to draw on complex bodies of knowledge to solve specific problems. […] Polymaths include the great scholars and thinkers of the Islamic Golden Age, the period of Renaissance and the Enlightenment, who excelled at several fields in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and the arts. […]”
Furthermore, “When someone is called a [polymath] today, it is meant that rather than simply having broad interests or superficial knowledge in several fields, the individual possesses a more profound knowledge and a proficiency, or even an expertise, in at least some of those fields.”
Thought #1: Mauritius needs polymaths in order to move forward.
Easy problems have been solved and today we have complex problems to tackle. Most of these new problems require a multi-disciplinary approach to be understood and, ultimately, to be solved. This is where polymaths excel and where those who only know one subject have great difficulties.
Interestingly, polymaths (or “universal men” as they were called previously) like to gather in something called a “university”. From Wikipedia again, “at this time, universities did not specialize in specific areas, but rather trained students in a broad array of science, philosophy and theology. This universal education gave them a grounding from which they could continue into apprenticeship toward becoming a master of a specific field.”
In other words, universities were created to produce universal people i.e. polymaths. Then, some of them could decide to become masters by learning from real masters through apprenticeship.
Funny how things are completely upside down now. Today, kids go to university to become PhD holders by learning from people who have never actually produced anything themselves (for most of them).
No wonder I quit university life in 2008.
Thought #2: Mauritius needs engineers.
What do Tim Cook, Satya Nadella, Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai and Mark Zuckerberg have in common? Apart from running the top five technology companies on the planet, respectively Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet (Google) and Facebook?
They are all engineers.
Tim Cook obtained a bachelor’s in industrial engineering from Auburn University in 1982. Satya Nadella obtained a bachelor’s in electrical engineering from the Manipal Institute of Technology in 1988 and a masters in computer science at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee in 1990. Jeff Bezos obtained a bachelor’s in electrical engineering and computer science from Princeton University in 1986. Sundar Pichai earned his bachelor’s in metallurgical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur and a masters in material sciences and engineering from Stanford University. Finally, Mark Zuckerberg dropped out of Harvard where he was studying studied psychology and computer science to start Facebook. He did obtain an honorary degree from Harvard in 2017 though.
Some of them obtained a Master of Business Administration later in their lives.
But, at their core, they are all engineers. And scientists. In fact, it is common knowledge that people like Bill Gates and Elon Musk think of themselves as scientists rather than entrepreneurs or business people.
And this is something important.
Someone who is an engineer DOES. And someone who is a scientist THINKS RATIONALLY.
This is what Mauritius needs.
And this requires a complete rethink of how we teach. In fact, I believe that we need to transform schools from being components of an exam system to being part of a grand education system.
The ultimate objective would be for each kid in Mauritius to be a mastery learner. According to Wikipedia, “mastery learning maintains that students must achieve a level of mastery (e.g., 90% on a knowledge test) in prerequisite knowledge before moving forward to learn subsequent information. If a student does not achieve mastery on the test, they are given additional support in learning and reviewing the information and then tested again. This cycle continues until the learner accomplishes mastery, and they may then move on to the next stage.”
With polymaths who are engineers, the sky is the limit.
Hi Avi,
Very interesting topic indeed. I’d like to comment. Even though I will slightly sidetrack along the way (I’m very conscious of it), I’d like to split my comment into two parts.
Firstly, do we need polymaths and engineers?
Yes absolutely and yes maybe, respectively.
Polymaths absolutely and engineers … well despite being one myself I think it is more important to have the approach and mindset of an engineer rather than the degree itself.
We could argue that the fact that five of the most successful companies nowadays are tech companies is a sign of the era we live in. I would like to submit that in our past the world was dominated by companies which traded or governments or state who had the ability to wage wars successfully or the Church (which most definitely has not been an early adopter when it comes to technology).
So how do we make them (Polymaths)? It would most decidedly require a paradigm shift – even though as you rightly pointed out, in not such a distant past many learned men were polymaths.
It would require that we completely review our educational system and I’m not only referring to the hours we spend at school.
(Closely related to this topic I would recommend a podcast from the Desert Island Discs from the BBC – episode: Sir Ken Robinson ‘You have to work at creativity’).
Now to the second part which is not quite the question you asked but I’ll have a go at it regardless. How does Mauritius (re-)attract and retain polymaths?
First thing to be noted is that Mauritius already has polymaths. You, sir, are the best example of it. Knowing how to attract and retain them involves a broader (helicopter) view. And this would work for not only polymaths but doctors, nurses, sports(wo)men, artists and every other expatriated who is akin to Mauritius.
This is where I believe “we” have failed in the last 30 odd years. Let me ask this : Who in their right mind would not love to live on a paradise island like Mauritius blessed with some of the best beaches and lagoons in the world, a beautiful climate, good food*, living close to their relatives and loved ones, expressing themselves in their own language and evolving in their own culture?
Well according to statistics and our own observations: a truckload of Mauritians. And some of the most skilled ones too unfortunately.
Why?
This is where it is not enough to merely “have” the polymaths but one needs to create the right environment to attract and retain them. I am not talking only about good pay and recognition but I’m also talking about providing everything else those people seem to be yearning for (and obtaining elsewhere). Things that those highly skilled, flexible, adaptable, sought after people can find today in other parts of the world (albeit at the expense of a painful uprooting, identity and cultural crisis).
To your point Avi, this is (in part) what Singapore offers to its citizens and visitor residents. (I am well aware that Singapore has seen the same political party (PAP) at its helm since its independence in 1965 – that free speech and press independence is not a concept it happily entertains – I myself define Singapore as a small, peaceful, stable, passive aggressive political dictatorship).
It is of course understandable that Mauritius cannot host the Olympic Games or Champions League Football or organise a Madonna concert year in year out.
However, providing excellent public transport, pushing down pollution, a world-class health care, premium grade food/produce that leads to a better and longer life (and less costs subsequently for that hypothetical world class health care system), affordable finished goods in relation to the net income of the population, easy access for everyone to everything that the motherland can offer in terms of leisure and a political system that truly fights corruption, institutionalised stealing and “passe-droit” and stands for justice, true meritocracy and progress.
And there Avi, you can and should play a role…
Hi Avi,
Very interesting topic indeed. I’d like to comment. Even though I will slightly sidetrack along the way (I’m very conscious of it), I’d like to split my comment into two parts.
Firstly, do we need polymaths and engineers?
Yes absolutely and yes maybe, respectively.
Polymaths absolutely and engineers … well despite being one myself I think it is more important to have the approach and mindset of an engineer rather than the degree itself.
We could argue that the fact that five of the most successful companies nowadays are tech companies is a sign of the era we live in. I would like to submit that in our past the world was dominated by companies which traded or governments or state who had the ability to wage wars successfully or the Church (which most definitely has not been an early adopter when it comes to technology).
So how do we make them (Polymaths)? It would most decidedly require a paradigm shift – even though as you rightly pointed out, in not such a distant past many learned men were polymaths.
It would require that we completely review our educational system and I’m not only referring to the hours we spend at school.
(Closely related to this topic I would recommend a podcast from the Desert Island Discs from the BBC – episode: Sir Ken Robinson ‘You have to work at creativity’).
Now to the second part which is not quite the question you asked but I’ll have a go at it regardless. How does Mauritius (re-)attract and retain polymaths?
First thing to be noted is that Mauritius already has polymaths. You, sir, are the best example of it. Knowing how to attract and retain them involves a broader (helicopter) view. And this would work for not only polymaths but doctors, nurses, sports(wo)men, artists and every other expatriated who is akin to Mauritius.
This is where I believe “we” have failed in the last 30 odd years. Let me ask this : Who in their right mind would not love to live on a paradise island like Mauritius blessed with some of the best beaches and lagoons in the world, a beautiful climate, good food*, living close to their relatives and loved ones, expressing themselves in their own language and evolving in their own culture?
Well according to statistics and our own observations: a truckload of Mauritians. And some of the most skilled ones too unfortunately.
Why?
This is where it is not enough to merely “have” the polymaths but one needs to create the right environment to attract and retain them. I am not talking only about good pay and recognition but I’m also talking about providing everything else those people seem to be yearning for (and obtaining elsewhere). Things that those highly skilled, flexible, adaptable, sought after people can find today in other parts of the world (albeit at the expense of a painful uprooting, identity and cultural crisis).
To your point Avi, this is (in part) what Singapore offers to its citizens and visitor residents. (I am well aware that Singapore has seen the same political party (PAP) at its helm since its independence in 1965 – that free speech and press independence is not a concept it happily entertains – I myself define Singapore as a small, peaceful, stable, passive aggressive political dictatorship).
It is of course understandable that Mauritius cannot host the Olympic Games or Champions League Football or organise a Madonna concert year in year out.
However, providing excellent public transport, pushing down pollution, a world-class health care, premium grade food/produce that leads to a better and longer life (and less costs subsequently for that hypothetical world class health care system), affordable finished goods in relation to the net income of the population, easy access for everyone to everything that the motherland can offer in terms of leisure and a political system that truly fights corruption, institutionalised stealing and “passe-droit” and stands for justice, true meritocracy and progress.
And there Avi, you can and should play a role…
Mauritius success will depend of the leadership.
Improve the Government bureaucracy.
Zero tolerance on corruption.
Investment on Education.
Compensation for the best “Ploymaths” and brightest mind.
Remove politics from private companies.
Stop appoint on your own cast , appoint the best mind for the jod.
We need to start think and believe we all Mauritian.
We have to invest in ecosystem.
Heavy fines for litters.
Make Mauritius beautiful.
Hi Kevin,
Apologies for taking so long to reply to you but I needed to be in the right frame of mind 🙂
You are right when you state that “this is where it is not enough to merely “have” the polymaths but one needs to create the right environment to attract and retain them.” and then you give examples of what a “right environment” can offer:
“excellent public transport, pushing down pollution, a world-class health care, premium grade food/produce that leads to a better and longer life (and less costs subsequently for that hypothetical world class health care system), affordable finished goods in relation to the net income of the population, easy access for everyone to everything that the motherland can offer in terms of leisure and a political system that truly fights corruption, institutionalised stealing and “passe-droit” and stands for justice, true meritocracy and progress.”
That’s a lot, Kevin.
I’ll be honest.
Some of these can be tackled with the people already in Mauritius. But, for some of the things you mention, we need the help of the very best which the motherland has produced (such as people like you!)
I understand that a lot of members of the diaspora want to contribute to make Mauritius better but they have not yet decided to come back. I wonder whether we could set up a structure (at the level of Government maybe or not…) to create that bridge between those willing to help and who live in Mauritius and those who want to help (for the time being) from abroad.
This could work wonders…
What do you think? And would you like to help?
I was born, and grew up in Mauritius. I left home when I was 18 to study abroad. I have been away ever since. I do come back often to visit my family, but at this point I have spent more than half of my life living abroad. I love Mauritius, and being a Mauritian is a big part of my identity. But I have never been tempted to ply my craft back home.
I work in tech and I have had the privilege of watching some brilliant people work extremely hard on tough problems, and see what makes them tick.
To attract, and retain people like that, we need a few things:
1. Competitive renumeration. At the practical level, skilled engineers can fairly easily work anywhere they wish to, and companies from the US, CA, UK, AU, … pay quite a lot more than those in MU.
2. A culture of meritocracy. Smart people will not put up with an incompetent boss who got to where they are via “connections”, or “family name”.
3. A culture of not settling on good enough. Strong work ethic.
4. Other smart people. A players want to work with other A players.
5. Challenging problems to solve.
We can’t do much about #1, unfortunately. I’m sure we can think of some things to work on for #5. #4 is a chicken and egg situation. I believe that we should work on #2. and #3. Culture is very hard to change, but it is the one thing that has long lasting impact.
It is tempting to blame the universities. If only they would produce better engineers. What if they did. And these bright, young engineers went to work, and their seniors:
– Regularly leaned on their seniority and pulled rank
– Are just interested in doing their 9 to 5
– Get promoted because of their family name
Those seniors were once bright, young idealist engineers too. But of course people are influenced by their environment, and by their peers.
I don’t think that we need to attract back geniuses and polymaths. We simply need to not taint the next generations coming through. Mauritians like to look to Singapore for inspiration of what could be. But do we truly understand how Singapore got there? Reading Lee Kwan Yew gives a hint: A culture of meritocracy. Shock horror: Not just in the private sector, but especially in Government.
How do we change culture? By becoming better leaders.
This is an appeal to the leaders out there: Set the example. Give credit generously. Praise the team for successes achieved; put your hand up when things go wrong. Take responsibility. Let the best ideas win. Set high expectations: First for yourself, second for others. Demonstrate a strong work ethic. Show integrity. Reward based on merit.
Avinash, regarding your closing comments:
“I understand that a lot of members of the diaspora want to contribute to make Mauritius better but they have not yet decided to come back. I wonder whether we could set up a structure (at the level of Government maybe or not…) to create that bridge between those willing to help and who live in Mauritius and those who want to help (for the time being) from abroad.
This could work wonders…
What do you think? And would you like to help?”
I am one of those that are not ready to come back, but who is keen to help in any way I can. What do you have in mind?
Hi Shane,
You are absolutely right about everything. We need to find a way not to “taint the next generations” and make sure that leaders become better leaders.
This might take some time but I can tell you that some work has already started (and some important conversations initiated) for this to happen.
As for your closing remarks, I have been working on a platform for members of the Mauritian diaspora to engage with people in Government for some time. It does not need to be something complex. It just needs to be some people, initially, willing to listen and learn from each other. No need for fancy offices. And this might come earlier than you think… I’ll keep you posted.
Thanks for your insightful comment. And keep it up wherever you are 🙂
Do keep me posted Avinash. It sounds like an interesting initiative. I will contribute if I can.