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| Low English Levels Can Hurt Countries' Progress | Low English Levels Can Hurt Countries' Progress |
| (4 days later) | |
| Poor English skills hinder nations’ progress, study says | Poor English skills hinder nations’ progress, study says |
| Countries with poor English-language skills also have lower levels of trade, innovation and income, according to a report released last week. | Countries with poor English-language skills also have lower levels of trade, innovation and income, according to a report released last week. |
| The report ranks 54 countries where English is not a native language, with the top five being Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Finland and Norway. The bottom five were Colombia, Panama, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Libya. | The report ranks 54 countries where English is not a native language, with the top five being Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Finland and Norway. The bottom five were Colombia, Panama, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Libya. |
| The results were based on a survey of 1.7 million adults on five continents and released by Education First, an international education company based in Switzerland. | The results were based on a survey of 1.7 million adults on five continents and released by Education First, an international education company based in Switzerland. |
| “English is key to innovation and competitiveness,” Michael Lu, senior vice president of Education First, said in the report. | “English is key to innovation and competitiveness,” Michael Lu, senior vice president of Education First, said in the report. |
| Italy, Spain and Portugal were being held back by the fact that they had some of the poorer English skills in Europe, the report said. In the BRIC grouping, India was ranked the highest, at 14th. It was followed by Russia at 29th, China at 36th and Brazil at 46th. | Italy, Spain and Portugal were being held back by the fact that they had some of the poorer English skills in Europe, the report said. In the BRIC grouping, India was ranked the highest, at 14th. It was followed by Russia at 29th, China at 36th and Brazil at 46th. |
| Women generally scored better than men, and the gender gap was widest in the Middle East and North Africa, according to the report. — CHARLES ANDERSON | Women generally scored better than men, and the gender gap was widest in the Middle East and North Africa, according to the report. — CHARLES ANDERSON |
| Australian magnate gives millions to university | Australian magnate gives millions to university |
| The University of Sydney announced last week that one of its alumni, the Australian engineering magnate John Grill, had donated 20 million Australia dollars to his alma mater. | The University of Sydney announced last week that one of its alumni, the Australian engineering magnate John Grill, had donated 20 million Australia dollars to his alma mater. |
| The funds, worth $20.6 million, will be used to open the John Grill Center for Project Leadership, a collaboration between the business school and the faculty of engineering and information technologies. | The funds, worth $20.6 million, will be used to open the John Grill Center for Project Leadership, a collaboration between the business school and the faculty of engineering and information technologies. |
| Mr. Grill stepped down last week as the chief executive of Worley Parsons, a mining, power and construction company, but he is expected to return as its chairman next year, The Australian reported. The newspaper also said Mr. Grill’s gift was “believed to be the largest ever by a living Australian to a university in the country.” — JOYCE LAU | Mr. Grill stepped down last week as the chief executive of Worley Parsons, a mining, power and construction company, but he is expected to return as its chairman next year, The Australian reported. The newspaper also said Mr. Grill’s gift was “believed to be the largest ever by a living Australian to a university in the country.” — JOYCE LAU |
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