October 10, 2011
For Immediate Release

University Marketing & Communications: Mike Rigert (801) 863-6807
Written by: Dallin Kauffman (801) 863-7191

Five Ukrainian leaders participating in the Open World Leadership Center program will spend Oct. 14-21 in Utah examining the state’s education system hosted by Utah Valley University’s Office of International Affairs & Diplomacy.

While in Utah, the delegates will discuss education issues with several state entities such as the State Office of Education, Utah Education Association, and Utah System of Higher Education. They will also visit with administrators and educators at UVU, Mountain View High School in Orem and other local institutions.

“Ukraine is a country vital to the United States’ interests in Eastern Europe,” said Rusty Butler, associate vice president of international affairs & diplomacy. “Its pro-Western leanings make it an anomaly among its neighbors, something we wish to have our students learn firsthand. This delegation of key decision makers will have great influence among their peers while allowing our students and faculty to engage with them.”

Managed by the independent Open World Leadership Center at the Library of Congress, Open World enables emerging Eurasian political and civic leaders to work with their U.S. counterparts and experience American-style democracy at the local level.

The Open World Leadership Center awards grants to UVU’s Office of International Affairs & Diplomacy to administer this and other similar exchanges since 2007.

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About UVU

Utah Valley University is located in Orem, Utah, and is home to nearly 33,000 students. UVU began as a vocational school during World War II, and in the seven decades since has evolved into a technical school, community college, state college and, finally, a comprehensive regional teaching university. UVU is one of Utah’s largest institutions of higher learning and offers programs ranging from career training to high-demand master degrees, with emphasis on undergraduate education.