Has a world leader ever gone back to school?

Jimmy Carter worked for free. He and Rosalynn help build houses with Habitat for Humanity.

George W Bush was reading stories in an elementary school in Sarasota, FL when 9/11 took place.

@elbanditoroso You’re writing this as if this is something wrong.

Adolf Hitler finally fulfilled his dream to attend an art school in Argentina after he faked his death at the end of WW2. At least according to some theories.

Juan Manuel Santos, the former President of Colombia, returned to academia after his presidency. Santos, who served as President from 2010 to 2018 and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2016, completed a Master of Public Administration at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government in 1981. After his presidency, he returned to Harvard as a fellow at the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies and the Angelopoulos Global Public Leaders Fellowship program.

https://acei-global.blog/2018/07/20/5-current-heads-of-state-who-studied-in-the-usa/

Here are others courtesy of chat gpt
1. Shimon Peres (Israel)
Background: Shimon Peres, who served as both Prime Minister and President of Israel, was a key figure in Israeli politics for decades.

Academic Pursuit: After his extensive political career, Peres continued to engage in academic and intellectual pursuits. He didn’t specifically go back to finish a degree, but he was actively involved in academic and research institutions and promoted educational initiatives. He founded the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, emphasizing the importance of education and technology.

2. Frederik Willem de Klerk (South Africa)
Background: F.W. de Klerk served as the President of South Africa from 1989 to 1994 and played a crucial role in the end of apartheid.

Academic Pursuit: After his presidency, de Klerk returned to academia to enhance his knowledge. He enrolled at Harvard University in the United States for a program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government.

3. Yukio Hatoyama (Japan)
Background: Yukio Hatoyama was the Prime Minister of Japan from 2009 to 2010. He has a background in academia with a doctorate in engineering.

Academic Pursuit: After his tenure as Prime Minister, Hatoyama returned to the academic world. He became involved with educational initiatives and research, particularly focusing on promoting regional peace and cooperation through academic institutions.

4. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Liberia)
Background: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first female President of Liberia, served from 2006 to 2018 and is a Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

Academic Pursuit: After her presidency, she continued her education by enrolling in a program at the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government to further her knowledge in public administration and policy. She has also been a visiting scholar and has continued to engage in academic and policy discussions globally.

5. Tony Tan Keng Yam (Singapore)
Background: Tony Tan was the President of Singapore from 2011 to 2017.

Academic Pursuit: Before his presidency, Tan had a strong academic background and had served as a professor and university administrator. After his presidential term, he returned to academia and continued to contribute to educational institutions and initiatives, though not to complete a degree specifically.

6. Sebastián Piñera (Chile)
Background: Sebastián Piñera served as the President of Chile twice, first from 2010 to 2014 and then from 2018 to 2022.

Academic Pursuit: After his first presidential term, Piñera returned to academia. He took courses and engaged in academic activities at prestigious institutions such as Harvard University, focusing on economics and public policy.

7. Mohamed Nasheed (Maldives)
Background: Mohamed Nasheed was the President of the Maldives from 2008 to 2012.

Academic Pursuit: After his presidency, Nasheed enrolled in a graduate program at the University of East Anglia in the UK. He pursued further studies in environmental science and climate change, areas of particular interest to him given the Maldives’ vulnerability to sea level rise.

8. José Mujica (Uruguay)
Background: José Mujica, known for his humble lifestyle, served as the President of Uruguay from 2010 to 2015.

Academic Pursuit: After his presidency, Mujica became actively involved in academic settings, participating in lectures and educational events worldwide. He did not pursue a degree but contributed to academic discourse on political science and governance.

9. Laura Chinchilla (Costa Rica)
Background: Laura Chinchilla served as the President of Costa Rica from 2010 to 2014.

Academic Pursuit: After her presidency, Chinchilla returned to academia and enrolled in postgraduate studies at Georgetown University in the United States. She focused on political science and international relations.

@Caravanfan while most of those are interesting, about half of them don’t mention education after government service.

@elbanditoroso I didn’t care enough to screen the answer on Chat GPT

Not awkward and very common.

We are all world leaders and should give back.