Donald Trump’s administration’s decision to block Harvard University from enrolling international students. The reason for the move is not to put more financial pressure on the school.

The decision made by the US Department of Homeland Security on Thursday revoked Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification, citing an “unsafe campus environment”. This is not limited to foreign students not able to attend the university, but also means that existing international students must transfer or lose their legal status.

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The decision caused a dilemma to thousands of students, including those who may have thought to study for a better future and work in government offices. Amid Harvard’s decision, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology on Friday said it would unconditionally accept Harvard students so they can study “without disruption,” seizing the opportunity to grab talent.

The university has educated eight U.S. presidents, including most recently Barack Obama. Beyond American shores, countless international students have walked Harvard’s hallowed halls before ascending to positions of political power in their home countries.

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List of world leaders from Harvard

The ban now jeopardises this rich tradition, raising questions about where the next generation of global decision-makers will hone their skills. According to Bloomberg, the list of current world leaders who are Harvard alumni underscores the profound impact the institution has had on international governance:

  • Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada: A towering figure in international finance, Carney led both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England. He earned his Bachelor of Economics from Harvard in 1988.
  • Lawrence Wong, Prime Minister of Singapore: Wong, who recently secured his mandate to lead Singapore, received a Master’s in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School in 2004.
  • Lai Ching-te, President of Taiwan: A former kidney doctor, President Lai obtained a Master of Public Health degree from Harvard in 2003.
  • Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece: Mitsotakis earned his Bachelor’s degree in Social Studies from Harvard, later returning for an MBA from Harvard Business School.
  • Daniel Noboa, President of Ecuador: The scion of wealthy banana exporters, Noboa received his Master’s in Public Administration in 2020 from Harvard Kennedy School.
  • Maia Sandu, President of Moldova: Sandu, a pivotal figure in the former Soviet republic, obtained a Master’s degree in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Public Administration in 2010.
  • Duma Boko, President of Botswana: A Harvard-educated human-rights lawyer, Boko received his Master of Laws at Harvard Law School in 1995.
  • Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai, Prime Minister of Mongolia: The current Mongolian Prime Minister earned a Master’s degree in Public Administration in 2015 from Harvard Kennedy School.

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