As the discipline of public administration continues to expand internationally, the need for future public servants to be exposed to a variety of cultures and communities is continuously increasing. A study abroad partnership between ADA University in the Republic of Azerbaijan and UCF allows undergraduate students to study at either university for up to two semesters. “More and more, students are looking for opportunities to enhance their classroom learning and better understand the world around them. Participating in a study abroad program allows students to continue their studies in a new environment and within a different culture,” says Stephanie Krick, associate lecturer and director of undergraduate public administration programs at the UCF School of Public Administration. Experiences such as this advance critical thinking skills, cultural awareness, and provide a more thorough understanding of the importance of public administration on an international level.
Azerbaijan is located along the Caucasus mountain region between Southeastern Europe and Southwest Asia. Home to two designated UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites, Azerbaijan boasts a population of over 9.5 million people. Baku, the largest city in the country and home of ADA University, lies along the Caspian Sea. Baku has become increasingly popular for tourism and international learning for students and faculty in recent years.
“This moment is especially rewarding because the idea was suggested by an alumnus of our master’s in public administration program, Vener Garayev, ’08 MPA ’11PhD. It is always exciting when alumni contribute to the learning process for our current and future students,” says Naim Kapucu, professor and director of the School of Public Administration. “We look forward to working with this university that holds similar values of diversity, collaboration and social responsibility. This is a tremendous opportunity to support students’ expansion of knowledge and increase the interconnectedness of the discipline of public administration.”
For students interested in this opportunity, please reach out to Dr. Stephanie Krick.
The School of Public Administration at the University of Central Florida is dedicated to providing a quality education to undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in pursuing careers in nonprofit management, urban and regional planning, research administration, emergency management and public administration. We strive to create a brighter future for our students so that they, in turn, can better serve the community.