Lee Hamilton, director of the Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars and former U.S. Representative from Indiana, says that “the internationalization of American education is soft power in action.” In an opinion piece for the Indy Star, Hamilton discusses the need for the U.S. “to remain an appealing destination for the next generation of world leaders.” In order to accomplish this, Hamilton advocates several points of action: streamlining the visa application process, extending the amount of time foreign students can remain in the U.S. post-graduation, and increasing job opportunities for American-educated foreigners.

According to Hamilton, foreigners who study in the U.S. are an important tool in public diplomacy:

The educational experience of international students -- and their exposure to America's cultural and social richness -- strengthens our country's bond with foreigners like little else and contributes to the sciences, the arts, sports, and countless other aspects of our society. These bonds could make all the difference since today's university students are tomorrow's leaders.

Hamilton also encourages outbound exchange programs, saying “government and private support also should facilitate the expansion of study abroad programs for American students all over the world.” In order to remain internationally competitive, says Hamilton, “[w]e should expand support for two-way educational exchanges, like the Fulbright Program, which are powerful and cost-effective diplomatic tools that pay dividends for decades.” Doing so “will strengthen our country and enhance the quality of our lives.”