Bahrain rated strong performer in ‘Knowledge Infrastructure’

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain has been ranked 4th globally for “Researchers in higher education” on the latest Global Knowledge Index (GKI), which rates the Kingdom as a strong performer in terms of its knowledge infrastructure.

Bahrain also ranks high on GKIs global Information and Communication Technology rankings, where the Kingdom enjoys superior ratings in 3G/4G network coverage, households with internet access, mobile broadband internet traffic per subscription, and Internet users.

The ranking further highlights the vulnerable employment rate, households with Internet access at home (%), internet users (%), mobile broadband internet traffic per subscription, and researchers in higher education (%) as the areas of strength in Bahrain.

The index also outlines certain areas of improvement for Bahrain, including academic freedom, renewable energy consumption (%), researchers in business enterprises (%), ecological footprint per capita, enrolment in vocational education, and gender parity.

Overall, Bahrain ranks 55th out of 154 countries and 51st out of 61 countries with very high human development.

UAE, Saudi

From the GCC, United Arab Emirates is at the 11th spot. The GKI ranks UAE as a leading performer in terms of knowledge infrastructure.

Neighbouring Saudi Arabia is at the 40th spot, where its GKI score is 57.6. Kuwait holds 48th rank, Oman 52nd and Qatar 38th rank.

Achim Steiner, the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, said that many developing countries are demonstrating notable advances in key knowledge sectors.

“That includes Barbados in pre-university education; the Philippines in technical and vocational education and training; Lebanon in higher education; or Bahrain in ICT.”

Sectoral performance

Sector-wise, Bahrain shines bright on the ICT index, ranking 30th globally, where the Kingdom is behind none in 3G/4G mobile network coverage.

Closely following are Economy at 43rd rank, Pre-university education at 68th, Technical and vocational education and training as well as Higher education at 76th, Enabling environment at 91, and Research, development and innovation index at 94.

The index, a joint initiative by the United Nations Development Programme and the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, serves as a vital tool to monitor the knowledge status of countries in areas including education, innovation and information and communications technology (ICT).

The index was widely reviewed at the seventh session of the “Knowledge Summit” held last March at Expo 2020 Dubai headquarters.