Higher education as a soft power tool in international relations

When it comes to international relations, one of the first concepts that comes to mind is "power." The types of power, its sources, and the ways it is used, along with its effects, are topics as much debated and studied as the concept of power itself. In an era where globalization is at the core, and both states and international civil society organizations, as well as intergovernmental institutions, are reshaping, and their effects and spheres of influence can change every day, in the field of education, especially as a result of the mobility in higher education, cultural diplomacy and education diplomacy have gained greater importance and increased effectiveness. In this context, with the aim of determining how education can be used as a soft power element starting from the definition of "power," this thesis is written. An assessment of international studenthood from the past to the present is made, and the situation of international students studying in higher education in Turkey is identified, and scholarship programs are examined. In the continuation of the study, the impact of foreign students studying in Turkey with scholarships on the relationship between their countries' diplomatic representatives and the relationship between students in this context, as well as the effect of scholarship programs, is researched and analyzed through interviews. As a result of the interviews, it has been observed that scholarship programs leave positive impressions on bilateral relations for many years and strengthen relationships into a tighter bond, especially in countries that already share common values. In conclusion, the most impactful outcomes of the study emphasize once again the importance of education diplomacy. It can be said that providing exchange programs and scholarships to students in higher education creates a cultural bond or strengthens an existing one, significantly affecting the relationship between two countries.