Europe Falls Short in Higher Education

U.S. and British universities consistently win kudos, and that could spell trouble for the Continent's competitiveness

Europe is renowned for taking good care of its citizens. Universal health care, a generous safety net for the unemployed, and free education from preschool through graduate studies—all are widely available in the Old World, thanks to a long tradition of social protection. But one area where Europe falls short is higher education. Rankings of the world's top universities are consistently dominated by U.S. institutions. Indeed, in the 2007 edition of a respected annual survey ………… the U.S. took 8 of the top 10 slots—the same number as last year. U.S. schools also grabbed 7 of the top 10 positions in a recent ranking by the Times of London Higher Education Supplement in Britain. …………Lack of financing is a key weakness. …………European leaders are aware of the global race for brainpower, and educational reform is already under way in some countries. [View Full Article]