US and UK higher education drive global soft power

The 10th edition of the Soft-Power Index, published by HEPI and Cambridge University Press & Assessment, highlights the significant global influence of American and British higher education. The report reveals that the United States and the United Kingdom have collectively educated 126 current world leaders, with the US educating 66 and the UK educating 60.

At the institutional level, Harvard University, the University of Oxford, and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst are ranked as the top three institutions for educating global leaders. The report notes that while the US and UK lead in soft power through education, both nations face evolving landscapes regarding international student recruitment and policy.

In the United States, a federal judge recently blocked a Trump administration rule that sought to replace the “duration of status” system with fixed admission periods for international students. This legal intervention maintains existing arrangements while the challenge continues. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom is navigating its own shifts in international recruitment, including discussions around the Graduate Route and a forthcoming International Student Levy.