Redefining Higher Education Exchange Programs Through Soft Power and Cultural Identity

Higher Education Exchange Programs (HEEPs) are no longer just about sending students across borders to earn academic credentials. Increasingly, they are being recognized as platforms for the reciprocal exchange of knowledge, experience, and—critically—culture. For me, HEEPs are part of a broader architecture of international engagement that facilitates mutual understanding and creates human bridges between societies. As such, they should be seen as more than academic opportunities: they are tools of diplomacy, partnership, and influence.

This redefinition is deeply rooted in the theory of soft power, as developed by Joseph Nye. Unlike hard power, which relies on coercion, soft power is the ability to shape others’ preferences through attraction. Countries exercise soft power by making their culture, political values, and foreign policy appealing. Education—and higher education in particular—is a powerful soft power instrument. It allows states to share their ideals in subtle yet profound ways, cultivating admiration, trust, and long-term influence.

When international education is grounded in reciprocity rather than one-way influence, its diplomatic value increases. Programs that encourage mutual learning—where both host and home countries exchange ideas, customs, and practices—go beyond simple training or instruction. They become mechanisms for empathy and collaboration. PNG students studying abroad, for instance, don’t merely absorb information from their host countries; they also serve as cultural ambassadors, sharing Papua New Guinean perspectives and traditions in return. This dual flow fosters more equitable and enduring international relationships.

Nowhere is this more evident than in China’s use of higher education diplomacy under the Belt and Road Initiative. Since 2014, China has strategically integrated education into its soft power outreach, offering scholarships and training programs to countries like Papua New Guinea. These programs are not just about capacity-building; they also serve China's broader foreign policy aims by cultivating networks of affinity. PNG is now the largest recipient of Chinese government scholarships in the Pacific, and hundreds of students, professionals, and public servants have participated in academic and cultural exchanges that deepen Sino-PNG ties.

A compelling example of this dynamic is the 2017 cultural showcase organized by PNG students at Zhejiang Gongshang University in China. During the university’s International Cultural Day, PNG students used the event to present bilums—handwoven bags that symbolize national identity in PNG—as part of a wider exhibition of Melanesian culture. Clad in bilum-inspired attire bearing the national colors, the students performed traditional dances and displayed artifacts that drew enthusiastic attention from the Chinese audience. As one student noted, their goal was simple: “to show and share our culture so people will know there’s a country called Papua New Guinea with beautiful traditions.”

Screenshot taken from Peter S. Kinjap's article

This event illustrates how HEEPs create spaces for cultural diplomacy. The bilum is more than a bag—it is a vessel of heritage, creativity, and community. When PNG students present it on the global stage, they are not just celebrating their culture; they are cultivating curiosity and respect for their nation. Such soft power gestures work in both directions. While PNG students promote their identity abroad, they also absorb Chinese language, history, and values through their academic and social immersion. These lived experiences help dismantle stereotypes and nurture goodwill on both sides.

What makes such exchanges uniquely impactful is their ability to influence perceptions long after formal studies end. Students often carry these intercultural encounters into their future roles—as diplomats, policymakers, educators, or business leaders—where the impressions formed during their academic years shape how they approach international partnerships. In this sense, higher education becomes a diplomatic investment. PNG students who understand and appreciate China are likely to support stronger bilateral ties, just as Chinese communities touched by PNG culture may foster deeper regional cooperation.

In conclusion, Higher Education Exchange Programs, when approached as platforms for shared learning and cultural expression, become powerful soft power tools. They help nations like PNG assert their identity on the world stage while gaining access to global knowledge systems. They also enable large powers like China to project influence through engagement, not imposition. By celebrating both the intellectual and cultural dimensions of these programs—like the bilum showcase in Zhejiang—we can better appreciate the quiet diplomacy they perform every day, one classroom and one conversation at a time.