The Great Global Rebalancing and a New Chapter in Education

Bahrain is set to become home to the Middle East’s first green university with the announcement of Terra Academia Bahrain, a collaboration between Veolia, Terra Academia International (TAI), and the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF).

Speaking at the event, macroeconomist Sony Kapoor highlighted the global context for this initiative, pointing to the Great Global Rebalancing, a shift of capital, talent, and opportunity from mature Western economies to emerging markets with young, growing populations. The United States and other wealthy nations hold large shares of global finance, but aging populations and slower growth are prompting investors to look elsewhere. Countries like India, China, and Sub-Saharan Africa are adding millions of new workers each year, creating new potential for global economic growth. The pandemic further accelerated change, proving much modern work can be done remotely, with services crossing borders efficiently and with minimal environmental impact.

Terra Academia Bahrain aims to harness these trends by focusing on sustainability, renewable energy, and knowledge-based industries. By 2030, the university plans to train 5,000 students and professionals through a state-of-the-art campus hosting multiple partner universities and a comprehensive online learning platform. Strategically positioned between the Global North and South, the initiative is designed to attract talent, investment, and innovation, positioning Bahrain as a regional hub for sustainable growth.

Experts say the university is more than an educational institution, it is a catalyst for the Great Global Rebalancing. By linking human capital with financial and natural capital, Terra Academia can help redirect global investments toward sustainable infrastructure, renewable energy, and resilient economic development.

“We are at the cusp of a new chapter in globalization,” Sony Kapoor notes. “One that can deliver greater prosperity, meaningful employment, and a healthier planet. By investing in human and natural capital, we are not just educating students, we are shaping the architects of a sustainable, globally balanced future. The Great Global Rebalancing is not just a theory. It is a call to action. And the green university is one of its most powerful instruments.”

As emerging markets gain prominence and global capital seeks new opportunities, Terra Academia Bahrain is set to demonstrate how education, sustainability, and finance can combine to create a more balanced and prosperous world.