Published 12:05 IST, November 14th 2019
Belgian child could follow mentor to Oxford after completing his first degree at 9
Belgian 9-year-old genius could follow mentor, John Wilkes, to Oxford after finishing his first degree at the age of 9 and becoming the youngest graduate
A 9-year-old boy from Belgium, Laurent Simons, is all set to become the world's youngest graduate at the end of 2019, sparking a competition among the world's top universities to enrol the young boy as one of their students. According to reports, Laurent has an IQ of 145 and will be completing his degree in electrical engineering from the Eindhoven University of Technology in the month of December and may follow on the path of his mentor, John Wilkes, who went to Oxford to pursue his studies.
'Oxford is the ideal place for Laurent'
A professor of mathematics based in Switzerland, John said that it was a delight to teach the young kid and added that he tutored the kid when he was six years old and taught him things that a 16-year-old would learn.
Wilkes also said that he would recommend Oxford as the ideal place for Laurent to go and study as he would learn as a student in an environment that would help him grow instead of simply being taught by professors and for that Oxford is the perfect place for him. Wilkes further added that Laurent worked best when he had a good feeling about someone and instantly connected with them and said that the main motive is to achieve that.
'There is a lot of competition'
Laurent said he wanted to go to California to study but his father said that he could be lured away with the likes of Oxford and Cambridge and also it will be convenient for the entire family.
The young kid's father stated that there is a lot of competition for him to enrol for the course and even if he decides to go to America then they will go along with him and balance out the time with Laurent's grandparents to take care of the kid.
According to reports, professors from America's best universities are already trying to convince the genius to enrol with them with numerous offers for Master's and PhD programs. A few people have already assigned homework to the boy after casual skype interviews.
'World's youngest graduate'
Simons began his university studies in the month of March and will be completing it in a span of 9 months in the month of December. He is on course to smash the world record held by Michael Kearney since the year 1994, who had graduated from a university at the age of 10. Laurent finished secondary school at the age of 8 after completing 6 years of his education in a span of a year and a half as his parents watched him collect his school diploma in a hall full of students who were 18 years of age.
(With inputs from agencies)
Updated 12:49 IST, November 14th 2019