Huawei CEO: Trade dispute highlights importance of higher education

The ongoing trade dispute with the United States should encourage China to focus more on the importance of higher education at home, according to Huawei CEO Ren Zhengfei.

Huawei CEO Ren Zhengfei speaking with China Media Group on Tuesday, May 21, 2019. [Photo: China Plus]

Speaking with China Media Group, Ren said that during the Industrial Age, many people with a middle school or technical secondary school education were able to find work. But in the era of intelligent technology, he says the demand for employees who have a higher level of education has increased, and although China has emphasized the value of tertiary academic education, advanced vocational education is also crucial.

Ren says that artificial intelligence will have a major role to play in modern society. Using the example of Huawei's production lines, he says only a very small number of workers are needed, and that in the future the company's production process will be fully automated. This means there will be fewer and fewer roles available for people on the factory floor.

People who don't get a high-quality advanced education, and those who don't speak English well or use computers proficiently, will struggle to find even low-level jobs, according to the Huawei CEO.