UW Russia Relationship a Model for Others

The American Ambassador to the Russian Federation says other states and nations should follow the University of Wyoming's lead.

In concluding remarks at the 2005 Russian Exchange Symposium in Moscow, Ambassador Alexander Vershbow said Wyoming's 12 year association with Saratov, Russia, illustrates how an entire nation can be involved in diplomacy.

Lewis Bagby, a founder of the UW Saratov program and director and professor of international studies, says, "Since the symposium, I have been asked how our example might be used as a model in other states/provinces of the two nations. This will unfold as a strategy for the embassy over time. I'll help them as much as they want and as much as I can."

When the relationship was formed in 1993, representatives of Russia and UW thought concentrating efforts in one "Oblast," or region of Russia, rather than spreading out across Russian's 11 time zones, would be a better use of human and financial resources, Bagby says.

The concentration has allowed Wyoming's relationship with Saratov to grow to include multiple initiatives centered on academic, governmental, citizen, service group and business exchanges.

"There's so much to tell, it's hard to know where to start," Bagby says of the many progressive programs UW has established with the Russian state.

UW has been instrumental in establishing and supporting new colleges and programs at Saratov State University, including a business college and a law and psychology forensics program. The university has also entered into cooperative agreements with other Saratov institutions such as Saratov Socio Economics University, the Saratov Agriculture University, Saratov Medical University, the Saratov Academy of Management/Public Administration, and the Saratov Pedagogical Institute.

This year, the American Association of Museums linked the University of Wyoming Art Museum with the Saratov State Radishchev Art Museum. The partnership is designed to enhance collaboration, share resources and digital archives, engage in the exchange of directors and personnel, and plan exhibit exchanges.

UW hosts visiting scholars, junior faculty, young leaders, undergraduate and graduate students from Saratov as much as possible, according to Bagby. By hosting Saratov visitors, UW opens the door for Wyoming students and faculty members to take part in exchanges to Russia. Rotary International, a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders, has added fuel to the Wyoming Saratov relationship by sponsoring several exchange opportunities for youths and university professionals of both nationalities.

Many UW professors have traveled to Russia to teach classes or implement new programs while others initiate collaboration from home. In 2003, a project was developed for UW's e business master's degree program to train Saratov Socio Economics University faculty and administrators and Saratov business representatives, in business electronic media.

UW Saratov has also enjoyed a steady summer exchange program since 1993 just four months after the city was officially opened to westerners. More than 100 UW students have lived with Russian host families and taken intensive Russian language courses through the program.

For more information on Wyoming Saratov programs and exchange opportunities, contact Bagby at (307)766 3677 or e-mail lbagby@uwyo.edu.

Posted on Wednesday, July 20, 2005