Towards a knowledge society

This year’s Global Knowledge Index (GKI) has placed Bahrain in the fourth spot in the Middle East region. Coming behind the UAE (19th), Israel (20th) and Qatar (43rd), Bahrain was placed 44th in the global report overall. The index comprises seven indicators: Pre-University Education, Technical Vocational Education and Training, Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation, Information and Communications Technology, Economy and General Enabling Environment. The Global Knowledge Index serves as a roadmap for the sustainable development of societies.

It helps countries in the region and globally to formulate a forward-thinking strategy to support knowledge and promote it as a main component in building a stronger knowledge economy while ensuring sustainable development. Bahrain scored highest in economy and Information and Communications Technology indices scoring 24th and 34th ranks respectively. Elsewhere, Bahrain was ranked 55 in Pre-University Education, 36 in Technical Vocational Education and Training, 42 in higher education, 98 in Research, Development and Innovation, and 81 in General Enabling Environment. The report was published by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF).

“The 2018 edition of the Global Knowledge Index is a testimony of our efforts in paving the way for pioneering projects and initiatives that catalyse our societies’ effort towards producing, disseminating and localising knowledge in the world,” said Jamal bin Huwaireb, MBRF’s Chief Executive. Khaled Abdel Shafi, Director, Regional Hub for Arab States, UNDP said that “knowledge is our strong ally. Its application develops capabilities and expands opportunities in multiple sectors of our lives, from education to economy to technology”.

Dr Hany Torky, Chief Technical Adviser of the Arab Knowledge Project, said, “Data can help the Arab region speed up development in the right direction, embracing the technology of the future, where the Global Knowledge Index also plays an important role in encouraging the countries to make their data available.” Switzerland, Singapore and Finland took the top three spots in the index.