Oxford’s New Admissions Tests 2026

By Olga Azarova, Education Expert at World Education, Science and Innovation Organisation

When people hear that University of Oxford is changing its undergraduate admissions tests, the first reaction is often: “So Oxford is making it simpler?”

That interpretation misses what’s really happening.

Oxford has announced that from 2026 it will move away from several of its own subject-specific admissions tests and instead use a smaller set of standardised, computer-based tests run by UAT-UK — a collaboration between Imperial College London and University of Cambridge. These tests are delivered online via Pearson’s global test-centre network.

This isn’t about lowering the bar. It’s about how universities compete, how they manage risk and scale, and how they try to make selection fairer when demand keeps rising.

If you are a Woman, join WWF in Davos, 9-12 July 2026!

All women in business are invited in WWF Davos 2026!

5 Key Benefits of attending the World Woman Forum 2026 in Davos:

1. Global Networking
Connect with influential leaders, executives, policymakers, and entrepreneurs from 50+ countries, expanding your international reach and opening doors to global collaboration.
 

2. Leadership Insights
Gain exclusive access to strategies, success stories, and future-focused insights from top women leaders across industries shaping the world economy. 

 

3. Policy & Innovation Influence
Be part of high-level discussions that shape policies on gender equality, sustainability, and innovation—with a chance to influence global change.
 

4. Empowerment & Growth Opportunities
Participate in mentoring sessions, workshops, and investment pitch platforms designed to support the growth of women-led initiatives and startups.
 

5. Visibility & Recognition
Showcase your voice, ideas, or brand on a prestigious international stage, gaining recognition among global media, partners, and changemakers.

World Woman Forum official

EBRD’s Record €654m in the Baltics in 2025: Why This Is More Than a Big Number

Source: EBRD press materials (dated 3 February 2026)
Topic: EBRD investment results in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania for 2025

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) invested a record €654 million in the Baltic states in 2025, beating the previous high of €540 million in 2024. This isn’t just a new peak in annual financing. It’s evidence that the Baltics are shifting from “green pilot projects” toward a scaled, system-level rebuild of energy security—while simultaneously strengthening the region’s capital markets to fund the next stage of growth.  

1) What happened: the country breakdown—and what it signals

Infographic 1. EBRD investments in the Baltic states: €540m (2024) → €654m (2025) (+€114m, ~+21.1%). Source: EBRD. 

EBRD investments in 2025 (Baltics):

• Lithuania: €339m across 17 projects (all-time high)
• Latvia: €160m across 13 projects (all-time high)
• Estonia: €155m across 14 projects (continued strong performance)

Total: €339m + €160m + €155m = €654m

Approximate shares of the total:

• Lithuania: ~51.8%
• Latvia: ~24.5%
• Estonia: ~23.7%

Lithuania’s majority share underscores how quickly its pipeline of bankable infrastructure and transition projects is maturing. Latvia’s record year suggests a step-change in investment readiness, while Estonia’s stable delivery highlights consistency: clean power, grid upgrades, and digital infrastructure remained central in 2025. 

2) The defining feature: over 95% went to green transition and energy security

Harry Stine — America’s Agricultural Visionary: From Farm Boy to a $10 Billion Legend

UPDATE – 5 FEBRUARY 2026: Twelve years have passed since the original profile of Harry Stine was published. During that time, his fortune has tripled, and technologies once dismissed by competitors have reshaped the global seed industry. While Silicon Valley focused on artificial intelligence, Harry Stine quietly led a third agricultural transformation from the small town of Adel, Iowa.

Today, his innovations influence millions of hectares of farmland worldwide and play an increasingly important role in global food security. 

 
Wealth and Influence

According to Forbes, Harry Stine’s net worth now stands at approximately $9.9 billion, placing him among the world’s 150 wealthiest people. Despite his immense fortune, he remains one of America’s most grounded billionaires — still deeply connected to the farmland where his story began.

Unlike many modern billionaires, Stine avoided the spotlight for decades, quietly building one of the most influential agricultural businesses in the world.