According to the 2021 HEFI Soft-Power Index, US higher education institutions lead over every country in educating the highest number of serving world leaders. The UK remains in second place and France retains its third spot.
This year, the US has educated a total of 65 serving world leaders, eight more than the UK that has educated 57. France, with 30 serving world leaders, claims the third spot, followed by Russia and Australia with 10 each.
The results have shown a further improvement in the performance of the US. When the index was launched in 2017, the UK was at the top although the relative standing of the US has only improved ever since.
France has, however, seen a significant drop over the last few years in the number of serving world leaders educated in the country.
Also Read: Record Number of Indian Students Accepted by UK Universities: UCAS
The UK-based agencys director Nick Hillman added that France peaked in 2018 and 2019 with the number rising to 40.
Leaders educated in the US include former prime minister of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi from Egypt, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain, Kyriakos Mitsotakis from Greece, Lee Hsien Loong from Singapore and Michael D. Higgins from Ireland.
Wish to Study Abroad?
Hillman further said that the recently-improved UK rules for international students from outside the UK is good news for the country. In addition, the old target to significantly reduce total net inward migration to below 100,000 has offered a new way to a new target to welcome at least 600,000 international students every year by the end of this decade. The UK also introduced the new graduate route visa, enabling more international students to choose the country for higher education.
Also Read: UK Moves India from Red to Amber List; Relaxes 10-Day Mandatory Hotel Quarantine Rule
However, the current obstacles to crossing national borders due to Brexit and Covid-19 do not ensure the UKs strong performance in measures such as the annual HEPI Soft-Power Index.
Leaders educated at UK institutions include newly elected president of Bolivia Luis Arce, LSE grad and prime minister of Nepal Sher Bahadur Deuba, prime minister of Jordan Bisher Al-Khasawneh, presidents of the Seychelles Wavel Ramkalawan and Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan.
Source: The PIE News
