Does a programming competition in Thailand show the future of the world economy?
Success in the competition requires a high level of intelligence, genuine team formation and rigorous training. It is the antithesis of the intellectual levelling and narcissistic cult of safe spaces that has infected American and, perhaps to a lesser extent, British universities.
The finals have just been completed in Thailand. The top five are:
1. St. Petersburg State University
2. Shanghai Jiao Tong University
3. Harvard University
4. St. Petersburg Institute of Physics and Technology
5. University of Warsaw
The list of universities in the top ten, the top fifty and the total number of finalists is interesting. If this competition reflects the current level of intelligence of university students, then the future for China, patches of the rest of Asia, and Russia and Eastern Europe looks bright. The USA may do well if -- a very big if -- it can continue to attract large numbers of Chinese students and immigrants. For Africa and Western Europe, including the UK, the economy of the 21st century may be bleak.
Below, countries are ranked according to the number of universities in the top ten, the top fifty and all finalists.
Rank | Country | Top 10 | Top 50 | Total Finalists |
1 | Russia | 5 | 10 | 12 |
2 | USA | 2 | 6 | 23 |
3 | Poland | 2 | 3 | 3 |
4 | China | 1 | 10 | 17 |
5 | Brazil | 2 | 6 | |
6 | Japan | 2 | 4 | |
7 | Ukraine | 2 | 3 | |
8= | Belarus | 2 | 2 | |
8= | Taiwan | 2 | 2 | |
10 | Bangladesh | 1 | 3 | |
11= | Canada | 1 | 2 | |
11= | Iran | 1 | 2 | |
11= | South Korea | 1 | 2 | |
11= | Vietnam | 1 | 2 | |
15= | Argentina | 1 | 1 | |
15= | Croatia | 1 | 1 | |
15= | Finland | 1 | 1 | |
15= | Hong Kong | 1 | 1 | |
15= | North Korea | 1 | 1 | |
15= | Singapore | 1 | 1 | |
21 | India | 6 | ||
22 | Egypt | 4 | ||
23= | Mexico | 3 | ||
23= | Syria | 3 | ||
25= | Australia | 2 | ||
25= | Colombia | 2 | ||
25= | Netherlands | 2 | ||
28= | Chile | 1 | ||
28= | Cuba | 1 | ||
28= | Czech Republic | 1 | ||
28= | Jordan | 1 | ||
28= | Macao | 1 | ||
28= | Pakistan | 1 | ||
28= | Peru | 1 | ||
28= | Philippines | 1 | ||
28= | Slovakia | 1 | ||
28= | South Africa | 1 | ||
28= | Spain | 1 | ||
28= | Switzerland | 1 | ||
28= | Thailand | 1 | ||
28= | UK | 1 | ||
28= | Venezuela | 1 |
