The literacy rate of the total female population aged six years and more rose from 35 percent in 1976 to 52 percent in 1986, from 56 to 65 percent in urban areas and from 17 to 36 percent in rural areas. In the same period male literacy rose from 59 to 71 percent. Harvard, established in 1636, started as a small college for clergy training and has since become a hub for business, law, and medicine.
MIT and Stanford, newer by comparison, embody the rise of technology-driven education, blending academia with industry collaboration and entrepreneurship. NYU Abu Dhabi, University of Nottingham Malaysia, and Duke Kunshan University are examples of how elite institutions expand globally. Cross-border research programs allow students and faculty to tackle worldwide challenges — from sustainable energy to global health.
