RSS DEV Community

Sowing Futures: How Technological Education Transforms Generations

The distribution of human talent is relatively equal worldwide, but opportunities are not. The author's curiosity was sparked by an old radio, leading to a self-taught journey in electronics and programming. A gift of a CP400 computer and its BASIC manual opened a door to educational opportunity, changing the course of the author's life. This personal experience mirrors what happens when vision and strategic investment in education are applied on a larger scale, even in unlikely places. The story of Computer Science at the Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG) illustrates this, as a group of visionaries invested in computing education in the 1960s. The university's acquisition of an IBM 1130 computer was a declaration of intent to be part of the digital future. The community came together to raise funds for the necessary infrastructure, symbolizing collective engagement in the transformative power of education and technology. The investment in people, including international collaboration and faculty training, built a globally recognized center of excellence. Today, UFCG alumni hold prominent positions in top technology companies, and the university has attracted important technology companies and R&D centers, transforming the local and regional economy. The lesson from both the author's story and the saga of Campina Grande is that investing in education is the most powerful investment with the highest long-term return, and it remains crucial in a world shaped by technology.
dev.to
dev.to
Create attached notes ...