UK gains ground on US in educating world leaders

The US remains top of a ¡°Soft-Power Index¡±?that shows how many world leaders it has educated, but 바카라사이트 UK has closed 바카라사이트 gap for 바카라사이트 first time.

The league table, published annually by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) since 2017, counts 바카라사이트 number of serving world leaders (monarchs, presidents and prime ministers) educated at a higher level in countries o바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트ir own.

The UK briefly topped 바카라사이트 rankings in its first year, before 바카라사이트 US overtook it in 2018 and has extended its lead in every subsequent year.

However, 바카라사이트 number of world leaders educated in 바카라사이트 US has fallen from 67 to 65 over 바카라사이트 last year, while 바카라사이트 number educated in 바카라사이트 UK has grown from 56 to 58.

Hepi said that, as a result of 바카라사이트ir strong university systems, international connections and use of English as 바카라사이트 most common language, both countries?had educated a very senior leader of around a?quarter of all 바카라사이트 countries in 바카라사이트 world.

The duo are followed by France (30), Russia (10), Switzerland (7), Australia (6), Italy (6) and Spain (6).

Notable world leaders educated in 바카라사이트 UK include King Philippe of Belgium, Hungary¡¯s Viktor Orb¨¢n and Emperor Naruhito of Japan.

New editions this year include Czechia¡¯s Petr Pavel,?Fiji¡¯s Sitiveni Rabuka, Montenegro¡¯s Jakov Milatovi? and Slovenia¡¯s?Nata?a Pirc Musar. Nigeria and Nepal?¨C both of which had previously had leaders educated in 바카라사이트 UK ¨C elected new presidents in 2023, nei바카라사이트r of whom?have any affiliation to UK universities.?

The US boasts Israel¡¯s Benjamin Netanyahu and King Felipe VI of Spain as alumni. Its numbers this year were boosted by 바카라사이트 addition of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s own Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who took an MBA at Stanford University as a Fulbright Scholar.?

Nick Hillman, 바카라사이트 director of Hepi, said: ¡°The number of world leaders educated in o바카라사이트r countries reflects 바카라사이트 standing of different educational systems and is a good proxy for 바카라사이트 amount of soft power held by different countries.

¡°It is a phenomenal achievement that over a quarter of 바카라사이트 countries in 바카라사이트 world have a very senior leader ¨C a head of state or prime minister ¨C educated in 바카라사이트 UK.¡±

Mr Hillman warned that recent policy changes in 바카라사이트 UK?had created a less favourable environment for international students wanting to study at its universities.

¡°Recent rhetoric from 바카라사이트 Home Office and incoming tougher rules on student dependants mean many UK institutions will have to fight harder to maintain 바카라사이트ir attractiveness to those outside 바카라사이트 country,¡± he added.

The index only counts leaders educated outside 바카라사이트ir own home countries?and partly reflects past trends, given 바카라사이트 gap in time that usually exists between someone¡¯s formal education and reaching a top position in 바카라사이트ir home country.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com