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Time of India
20 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Top 10 countries with the best education systems: Who's leading the global classroom?
The CEOWorld rankings reveal the top 10 countries with the best education systems, based on quality and opportunity. While the UK, US, and Australia lead globally, countries like Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands stand out for affordability and innovation. These insights can help students make informed decisions about where they can thrive academically, personally, and professionally. The question matters now more than ever, as students across the globe weigh their future amid rising tuition fees, stricter immigration policies, and an increasingly competitive job market. Not everyone is lucky enough to be born in a country with a world-class education system and for millions of students, especially in developing nations, studying abroad is more than a dream; it's a lifeline to opportunity, independence, and personal growth. According to the latest 2024 CEOWorld global education rankings, here are the top 10 countries that are acing the education game, based on two key indices: Quality and Opportunity. 1. United Kingdom Quality Index: 78.2 Opportunity Index: 69.79 Home to Oxford, Cambridge, and a long tradition of academic excellence, the UK tops the 2024 rankings. With a robust public education system, global research powerhouses, and generous scholarship opportunities, it's no surprise the UK continues to attract students from over 200 countries. According to the UK's Department for Education, the country ranks second globally in academic citations. Faculty credentials across Russell Group universities are among the highest in Europe and QS consistently ranks multiple UK institutions in the top 10 worldwide. The UK Parliament's education review confirms that over 5% of GDP is allocated to education. With a 99% literacy rate and inclusive higher education access, the UK continues to offer opportunities for both domestic and international learners. 2. United States Quality Index: 72 Opportunity Index: 68.74 The US holds its ground at #2, thanks to its unrivaled higher education ecosystem, which includes Ivy League institutions, STEM innovation, and expansive endowments. Despite its high cost, the US remains a top choice due to its research output and career-building opportunities post-graduation. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the US leads the world in Nobel laureates, academic research funding, and publications. Seven of the world's top 10 universities are located here. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation notes the US has over 4,000 accredited colleges. A 99% youth literacy rate, coupled with strong federal aid programs, ensures higher education access despite rising costs. 3. Australia Quality Index: 70.5 Opportunity Index: 67.52 Australia punches above its weight with eight universities in the global top 100. Its vibrant international student culture, generous post-study work rights, and strong linkages to industry make it a preferred destination in the Asia-Pacific region. According to the Australian Department of Education, universities here are heavily research-oriented and backed by industry partnerships, especially in climate science, medicine, and tech. The department also reports that nearly 6% of GDP is dedicated to education. With a literacy rate of 96%, the Technical and Further Education (TAFE) system also provides vocational routes to higher education, expanding access across socioeconomic lines. 4. Netherlands Quality Index: 70.3 Opportunity Index: 67.21 With a wide range of English-taught programs and a progressive education model, the Netherlands has emerged as a European education hub. It balances academic freedom with strong employability prospects, particularly in design, engineering, and sustainability studies. The Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science reports that Dutch universities are globally ranked and focus on interdisciplinary research in fields like sustainability, water management, and social innovation. With a 99% literacy rate and nearly 5.3% of GDP invested in education, according to Eurostat, Dutch institutions boast high postgraduate completion rates and a focus on employability. 5. Sweden Quality Index: 70.1 Opportunity Index: 66.96 Sweden's education model is built around innovation, student welfare, and gender equity. The country also invests heavily in public education and research, while maintaining one of the highest literacy rates globally. According to Statistics Sweden and the European Research Council, Sweden ranks among Europe's highest in research publications per capita, especially in environmental and gender equity fields. The Swedish Ministry of Education and Research confirms a 100% literacy rate and over 6.8% of GDP allocated to education. Sweden ranks among the world's highest in per-student investment. 6. France Quality Index: 69.9 Opportunity Index: 66.3 With prestigious institutions like Sciences Po and Sorbonne, France blends cultural richness with academic depth. Despite language barriers in some public institutions, France's appeal lies in its affordability and growing number of English-medium programs. The French Ministry of Higher Education and Research highlights the academic leadership of CNRS and the influence of grandes écoles in global disciplines such as literature, law, and politics. France maintains a 99% literacy rate and spends about 5.5% of GDP on education, according to National Education Ministry data. English-medium programs and scholarship options have expanded for international students. 7. Denmark Quality Index: 69.8 Opportunity Index: 62.54 Denmark's approach to education emphasises collaborative learning, social equity, and creativity. While tuition is free for EU students, non-EU international students are increasingly looking toward Denmark for its work-life balance and research-driven campuses. The Danish Agency for Higher Education reports high-quality faculty and leading research in green tech, life science, and renewable energy. According to the Ministry of Children and Education, tuition is free for EU students, and most domestic students benefit from state-funded education. Denmark spends around 6.3% of GDP on education. 8. Canada Quality Index: 69.8 Opportunity Index: 61.01 Known for safety, inclusivity, and multicultural campuses, Canada continues to be a top destination for Indian and Asian students. Strong university-industry linkages and favourable immigration pathways make it a pragmatic choice for long-term settlement. Universities Canada and QS report that Canadian institutions rank consistently in the global top 150 and offer applied programs in AI, healthcare, and sustainability. According to Statistics Canada, with a 99% literacy rate and 5.9% of GDP dedicated to education, Canada provides a strong support system and career prospects for international students. 9. Germany Quality Index: 69.5 Opportunity Index: 60.64 Zero or low tuition in public universities, a strong emphasis on engineering and applied sciences, and robust technical education pathways help Germany stand out in the global education landscape. According to the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, institutions like those in the TU9 alliance are global leaders in engineering and applied sciences. Germany maintains a 99% literacy rate and robust dual education models, merging classroom and workplace learning. Education spending stands near 5% of GDP. 10. Switzerland Quality Index: 68.3 Opportunity Index: 60.12 Switzerland rounds out the top 10 with its elite institutions like ETH Zurich and EPFL. The country also ranks high for scientific research output, multilingual programs, and industry According to the Swiss Federal Statistical Office, ETH Zurich and EPFL regularly lead in global scientific output. Switzerland has among the highest R&D spends per capita in the world. With a 99% literacy rate and around 5.2% of GDP allocated to education, Switzerland's multilingual and vocational education systems offer flexibility and high employability. What should students take away from these rankings? The CEOWorld 2024 rankings, based on feedback from over 196,000 respondents across academia, business, and policymaking, reflect both perception and performance. While rankings alone shouldn't determine where to study, they do provide an important starting point for evaluating return on investment, academic quality, and career prospects. While countries like the UK, US, and Australia remain dominant due to their reputation and infrastructure, emerging destinations such as the Netherlands, Germany, and Sweden offer an excellent balance of affordability, innovation, and inclusivity. Ultimately, the best education system is one that aligns with your goals, supports your career aspirations, and offers an environment where you can thrive academically and personally. Choose wisely, not just where education is best rated but where it best fits you. Is your child ready for the careers of tomorrow? Enroll now and take advantage of our early bird offer! Spaces are limited.
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Venice wedding could cost up to $11 million: Report
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and fiancee Lauren Sanchez will tie the knot next month. The wedding is expected to take place from June 24 to June 26, 2026 in Venice, Italy. As the date gets closer, the number of rumours have also gone up. In the latest update, a report by NewsNation suggests that the couple may not be spending nearly as much of their billions as initially rumored. The report quotes a source who said 'It's going to be very intimate — just family and close friends. Under 200 people.' Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's wedding cost Guests likely to be invited to the wedding include Kris and Kim Kardashian, Gayle King, Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom, Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, Brian and Victoria Grazer among others. The wedding is rumoured to cost around $9.5 to $ 11 million, the NewsNation report adds. This estimated cost is based on various calculations, including expenses for hair, the dress, flowers, and the wedding planner. As per CEOWorld, top-tier wedding planners like Colin Cowie can charge up to 20% of the total wedding cost to organize a flawless multi-day celebration — which means for a wedding costing at least $9.5 million, his fee could be a staggering $2 million. Dress, hair, makeup and flowers may make up to $525,000. Will Lady Gaga, Sir Elton John perform at Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's wedding A previous report suggested that the couple has hired Lady Gaga and Elton John to sing at their wedding. The NewsNation report denies the rumours, calling them 'false' and 'ridiculous'. Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's wedding venue revealed Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's wedding is expected to take place from June 24 to June 26, 2026 in Venice, Italy. A report by The Sun has revealed the likely venue of the wedding. The couple has reportedly chosen a stunning open-air theater on a Venetian island as their wedding venue. 'The word is that they have booked the theater which has been restored,' a source told the publication. "It's not your usual venue for a wedding, it would be iconic,' the source added. "Everyone is talking about the wedding and it's going to be a huge celebration." AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jeff Bezos-Lauren Sanchez wedding to be ‘intimate,' under $15M: Exclusive
Welcome to 'The Scoop' — the ultimate back-to-the-office water cooler cheat sheet, your go-to source for all things everyone really wants to know! Get the latest on everything from the political swamp maneuvering in D.C. and Hollywood drama to jaw-dropping small-town shenanigans from Paula Froelich. (NewsNation) — The Italian extravaganza of the Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez wedding is almost upon us. Set to take place in Venice, Italy, at the end of June, it is not, as suggested in other outlets, going to be a huge spectacular event costing hundreds of millions of dollars. In fact, a source close to the couple told me, 'It's going to be very intimate — just family and close friends. Under 200 people.' Meghan, Harry 'diss' Victoria Beckham; Harry faces charity woes: Source Rumors of performances by Lady Gaga and Sir Elton John are also 'false,' my source said, adding, 'That's ridiculous.' What is to be sure — it will be lovely and the event of the year. While the guests are preparing — picking out outfits, getting last-minute tweaks at the plastic surgeons and jockeying for the right seat at the right table — final finishes are being made to the elaborate plans. And with finishes come the bill, which, when broken down, looks like it will set Bezos back millions of dollars — but not so much as compared to, say, the Ambani wedding last year, which cost the richest family in India over $600 million to pull off. So, how much will it cost? In order to entertain the guests, which, as I first announced, will include Kris and Kim Kardashian, Gayle King, Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom, Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, Brian and Victoria Grazer among others, one must not skimp. And by my calculations, without skimping, the check will clear at around $9.5 to 11 million. According to CEOWorld, high-end wedding planners like Colin Cowie can charge up to 20% of the entire wedding cost to orchestrate a perfect multi-day event — and for a wedding that costs a minimum of $9.5 million, his fee would be a whopping $2 million. The wedding guests (and the bridal couple) will be staying at the Aman Venice and the Gritti Palace, both of which are estimated to cost $500,000 a night to book out. Cost for three nights for the Aman (which has only 24 rooms and suites and will be for family), $1.5 million; cost for the Gritti Palace for two nights (for guests), $1 million. Total: $2.5 million Oscar de la Renta couture dress: $250,000. Lauren Sanchez has been known to spend $200,000 on couture dresses, so why would her wedding dress be any different? King Charles refusing chemo, could see Harry at end of month: Insider Hair and makeup will be about $100,000 (if the couple is covering all hair and makeup for the event). And flowers could cost $175,000. This was the cost for the Ambani wedding flowers — and why would we expect less from the Bezos'? Matthew Oliver Weddings estimates a high-end wedding costs the couple $50,000 for food and drink for 50 people. The Bezos wedding is expected to be at least 200 people, so $200,000 it is … and multiply that by three days … with tax, we can assume the food and drink bill will be close to $600,000 (this could easily double based on how many crates of Veuve Clicquot are quaffed) Let's say an ultra high-end photographer like Annie Leibovitz was engaged… the cost for three days of Leibovitz's talents would be near $500,000. This is tricky. While most guests will be flying themselves, service people (trusted hair and makeup artists, technicians, botox injectors, etc) will not be expected to pay for their flights. Let's assume 10 people will have their first-class flights to Venice during high season, which will cost around $100,000. Plus the cost of a private jumbo jet for Sanchez, Bezos and their families: $200,000. Day trips, planned outings and the cost of the yacht Koru not only to be parked outside Venice for a week but also to engage in a few sailing trips for guests: $500,000. Katy Perry not welcome back in Las Vegas for residency: Source Bezos proposed to Sanchez with a humongous, 30-carat, cushion-cut diamond engagement ring, said to be worth around $5 million. And why would the engagement ring outshine the wedding jewels? I am conservatively placing this cost at another $5-10 million (although if Sanchez has an Ambani-style necklace, earrings and more to match her large décolletage, it could be millions more). The total cost (without the honeymoon) conservatively comes to $9.5 – $11 million… only slightly more than it cost to send Sanchez and her pals to space, so… bonus! Have fun, y'all! Reps for Bezos and Sanchez didn't return emails. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Forbes
06-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The Reason Wall Street Panicked Over Tariffs
The tariff game challenge: Producing all winners Wall Streeters knew President Trump was going to levy tariffs on countries near and far. They were aware that the list would include long-time trading partners. They expected that standing trade agreements would be disregarded. Plus, they knew Trump would use reciprocal, higher tariffs if another country introduced or upped tariffs on U.S. goods. And they knew all of this would be done without the Congressional input or approval. So, why did the stock market plummet? Was Warren Buffet the only person taking preventive action by selling stocks to raise cash? The answer is likely that Wall Streeters thought President Trump was on the side of money-making. Therefore, certainly, they thought, his actions would somehow benefit Wall Street. Wall Streeters appear to have forgotten the two key principles of successful financial actions that are missing from President Trump's planning: First, successful financial actions need to abide by laws and regulations. If not, they are viewed as "rogue" and carry high risk of being overturned with the principal actors being punished. Second, successful financial actions depend on ethical, principled actors. The two primary requirements are honesty and humility. Without them, distrust and disrespect undermine the actions. Humility can be misinterpreted as being weak. However, in business leadership, humility is strength. It represents many qualities that are necessary for a business team's success. Below is a good humility and non-humility attribute listing from CEO World (July 4, 2020) in "Being Humble: The Importance Of Vulnerability And How Leaders Can Embrace It" by Ben Renshaw: The key attributes of arrogance and humility Much of the tariff discussion is myopic - centered on today. However, what we see now has been a decades-long creation as countries worked together to foster mutual trade benefits and economic well-being. Understanding that history is the key to foreseeing the uncertainties and risks of the new tariff actions. There is an excellent description of U.S. tariff history by the Congressional Research Service. ("CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.") This "U.S. Tariff Policy: Overview" article (updated January 31, 2025) contains the information necessary to evaluate President Trump's actions. Reading the entire two-page write-up is important. Below are a few paragraphs that are especially relevant today (underlining is mine): Wall Street's "surprise" sell-off may last for some time, particularly if a new tariff "war" erupts. Worse, though, the fallout from the tariff increases are not the only uncertainties facing the U.S. economy and financial markets now. (See "Significant Uncertainties Put U.S. Stock Market At Risk") Also, remember that uncertainties can be more worrisome than known risks. Dismal uncertainties can easily become frightening. What to do now? Based on my sixty years of investing, I prefer to hold cash and watch events play out. The purpose is not to sit out until the dust settles because stocks will have risen by then. Rather, it is to wait until the unknowable uncertainties become understandable risks, and then a sense of overdone selling combined with a hint of improvement appears. (At that point negativity is still rampant, so the weak prices begin to look attractive.)
South China Morning Post
31-03-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
What China taught me about religious tolerance
Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at [email protected] or filling in this Google form . Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification Advertisement It has now been several weeks since I embarked on an interventional cardiology fellowship at Rizhao International Heart Hospital, a private hospital affiliated with Qingdao University, in Shandong province. According to CEOWorld magazine's list of 'World's Most Religious Countries 2024', Indonesia is the seventh most religious country, with a score of 98.7 out of 100. Meanwhile, China was listed as having the highest percentage – 91 per cent – of atheists in the world. Initially, like many Indonesian Muslims who travel to China, my biggest concern was food as many Chinese dishes contain pork. There is very little information available about Rizhao online. Personally, I am an arek Suroboyo (a person from Surabaya) who carries the 'Bonek' (dare-to-risk) spirit, so I am used to taking risks and adapting quickly. When we first arrived in Rizhao, my colleague, a cardiologist from Lombok, and I were welcomed with a dinner at the hospital. We were asked if we drank alcohol. When we explained that being Muslims, we do not consume pork or alcohol, we were served halal food. Advertisement Our accommodation is about 1.5km from the hospital, and there are no 24-hour convenience stores or restaurants nearby. So, every day, we have all three meals at the hospital's cafeteria. At first, we had to ask which items were halal. But by the third day, they had already separated the halal and non-halal food, so we no longer had to worry about what we could eat.
