Transfer of technology via technical assistance to Malaysia, 1971 - 1974: an overview

Abstract

The diffusion of knowledge and skills between nations, and in particular, between rich and poor nations, on a large scale, is a post Second World War phenomenon. Foreign technical assistance "refers to any external efforts in the form of advice, demonstration or performance which are (1) beyond the indigenous capabilities of the recipient itself, and (2) designed to improve specific techniques of planning, communication, control or operation." Or put in another way, technical assistance's first function is to assist in filling the gap between the skills required in a development program of a less-developed country (LDC) and the skills available in the LDC; while the second function is to strengthen and supplement the LDC's effort to increase skills and produce new skills. Thus, technical assistance programs supplement the existing stock of skills by providing operational personnel; increase the flow of skills and upgrade skills by adding facilities and building institutions for education and training within the country or by providing the same abroad.