Release of results of Global Knowledge Index (GKI) 2024 [MBRF Knowledge Summit Special Issue]

This article is part of a Special Issue featuring highlights of the 9^th Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) Knowledge Summit and associated 3^rd UNESCO World Open Educational Resources (OER) Congress.

One of the major events at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) Knowledge Summit was the release of the results of the Global Knowledge Index (GKI) 2024¹.

About the GKI

Initiated in 2017, the GKI is a pioneering tool in the realm of knowledge and development developed by the United Nations Development Program – Regional Bureau for Arab States (UNDP RBAS) and MBRF. It is part of the Knowledge Project, a joint initiative between UNDP RBAS and MBRF that aims at supporting countries of the Arab States region and beyond in their journeys to build knowledge societies to achieve sustainable development. A new phase of the Knowledge Project and a new decade of partnership between UNDP RBAS and MBRF began in 2021, with new and enhanced initiatives extending until 2030.

The GKI serves as a comprehensive framework for understanding and measuring knowledge-related performance globally. It encompasses seven composite sub-indices:

• pre-university education
• technical and vocational education and training
• higher education
• research, development and innovation (RDI)
• information and communications technology (ICT)
• economy
• enabling environment.

The 2024 index covers 141 countries, which is nearly three-quarters of the globe, with eight new additions. This year’s edition continues to utilize the refined methodology introduced in 2021. Looking ahead, the GKI is set for an upgrade to reflect the dynamic realities of global development, in a continuous effort to keep the index relevant and adaptive to changing global trends.

Results of the GKI 2024

The `GKI 2024 results were announced during an MBRF Knowledge Summit panel discussion titled “UNDP and MBRF Partnership – Advancing Knowledge in the Arab States Region and Beyond.” Dignitaries participating in the panel session included His Excellency Dr. Abdallah Al Dardari, UN Assistant Secretary-General, and UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States; His Excellency Jamal bin Huwaireb, CEO of MBRF; and Dr. Hany Torky, Chief Technical Adviser and Project Manager, Knowledge Project – UNDP, with moderation by Mayssoun Noueihed, Senior News Anchor, Al Arabiya.

Apart from the United States, which came in seventh, the top ten rankings are dominated by European nations. Reflecting MBRF’s knowledge leadership, the UAE has earned a significant ranking in GKI 2024, topping the list in the Arab world and ranking 26^th globally with an index value of 60.9.

The top 20 ranked countries for 2024 are shown below. For detailed information and interactive tools, explore the GKI dashboard, rankings, and country profiles:

• Dashboard: interactive insights and visual data representations.
• Rankings: comparative overview of countries based on their GKI performance.
• Country profiles: Detailed analyses of individual country performances.

Header image source: UNDP RBAS – MBRF Knowledge Project.

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