Switzerland ranked first in Global Knowledge Index

The Global Knowledge Index is based on a combination of six sectoral indices including preuniversity education; technical vocational education and training (TVET); higher education; information and communications technology; research, development and innovation (RDI); and, finally, economy, in addition to a general sub-index on the general enabling environment.

The Index’s first edition saw Switzerland take first place with 71.8 points out of 100, closely followed by Singapore (69.5), Finland (68.5), Sweden (68.3), Netherlands (68), the United States (67.2), Luxembourg (66.2), the United Kingdom (65.6), Denmark (65.2) and Norway (64.3).

The index is calculated through 133 variables covering various vital sectors in the country, such as enrolment, graduation and drop-out rates in schools; literacy; unemployment; life expectancy at birth; e-government; political stability; regulatory and legal frameworks; patents; private-sector indicators; quality and availability of human resources (students, teachers, professionals and researchers), among other criteria.

Also among the Index’s notable results were the Philippines and Azerbaijan ranking fourth and 11th, respectively, in technical vocational education and training, while the UAE ranked second in economy.

Dr. Hany Torky, Chief Technical Advisor of the Arab Knowledge Project, described the Global Knowledge Index as “a major step” in the comprehensive and sustainable knowledge-based development drive in the UAE. In its first edition, the index includes 131 countries, selected based on the availability of reliable and credible data. The Project aims for the index to become a practical tool that supports decision-makers and stakeholders around the world.