Generation 2000 (Part Two)

Aleksandar Nikoloski

My previous article published in Nezavisen Vesnik/Independent newspaper dedicated to the coming generation, which will turn 18 this year, born at the beginning of the new millennium in 2000, has sparked a lot of attention. Far more than I expected, to be perfectly honest. I only shared part of the visions of where the new generation is going and what can be done to help their dreams come true faster, and Macedonia to catch up with the most modern world trends as soon as possible. Unfortunately, there was no interest from the Government to implement those recommendations or to prepare a more serious plan in response to new challenges. To be honest, I’m not surprised, maybe I was naively hoping that Zaev and SDSM government would really engage and work at least in this part, but their characteristics of incompetence, inefficiency and seeing only the narrowest self-interest have also been shown in this section. Life has neither begun nor will end with this Government. In this second article, I would like to share a few more views that I think could be of great benefit to the young people in Macedonia. Considerations that, when we get the opportunity to lead Macedonia, we will do everything to implement.
One of the basic things that are most important for the 2000 generation to successfully compete in the freelance world market in all areas is the good quality that is obtained exclusively and only through strong visualization and intensive monitoring of the world trends. Apart from the formal education that is acquired at universities, there is a need for continuous education and continuous monitoring of the new trends. Online learning platforms for non-formal education are well-known, where you can get classes for subjects you choose and combine them in a way that suits you best. Their great advantage is that you are up to date with the latest discoveries of science and technology, and you can combine the subjects of your choice. For example, an IT expert can make a combination of IT subjects and biology subjects to find application of their knowledge in developing software that can be applied in studying the species of the planet. Such examples are countless.
The next advantage of these platforms is that they are very flexible, and all you need to follow them is a computer, it means the traditional way of learning where you must be physically present is abandoned. It makes them more accessible and certainly easier to follow. While some of them are free, the best ones require paying. Here comes the role of the state that has to change the classic way of scholarship associated exclusively with formal education in the faculty and to begin to sponsor this type of education, with clear criteria who, and for what can one receive a scholarship.
The next strong challenge is monitoring the technologies in the part of the news that is coming. For example, the world of phone applications is mainly divided into the platform used by Apple, then the android platform, and the attempts of Google and Microsoft to create their own platforms. All those who know this matter know that if you are an expert in one profession, you can not work in another, because it’s about platforms that are independent from one another.
But what everyone is going to tell you is that in addition to talent and learning, you need to have the latest “iPhone”, for example, to test new technologies or applications. We all know it’s expensive. Here, the state can help in at least three ways – to donate to individuals through a clear and transparent procedure, which will be related to concrete results that will have to be shown by the person who received the donation, further, the principle of so-called business angels, that is, assistance to small, new firms and startups that would receive technical assistance from the state in the form of the latest technology, also with clear and transparent criteria. And third, for the largest companies that would receive tax incentives, provided that they develop new technologies.
The last thing I want to share in this article is how to make the young people stay in Macedonia or return more often, as well as for other young people to come to the country. I already wrote about this in the previous article. I would like to share three experiences from three of Europe’s most advanced places for IT and freelance – Estonia, Berlin and Amsterdam.
When you register for the Estonian e-residency, you get a digital ID issued by the government that provides digital identification and authorization. This way you can digitally sign important documents, access safe services and make transactions – even if you do not live in Estonia. For example, e-residency will allow an Indian entrepreneur to establish an Estonian company that runs from Singapore to serve clients based in Germany. This person will also be able to use his/her digital signature to sign customer contracts throughout the entire European Union. All this will be done online, from afar, and without any problems.

The author is the Vice President of VMRO-DPMNE

Views expressed in this article are personal views of the author and do not represent the editorial policy of Nezavisen Vesnik