Open World Program by Congressional Office for International Leadership

Funded by the U.S. Congress and administered by the Congressional Office for International Leadership, the Open World Program is a ten-day professional exchange built on the foundational values of authentic communication and immersive cultural experiences. Starting in Washington, D.C., delegates explore the concepts of American federalism, culture, and leadership.

Delegates engage with Members of Congress and their staff to discuss common challenges and participate in unfiltered dialogue. Traveling to communities across the United States, delegates meet with their professional counterparts to share expertise and establish lasting partnerships. During the program, delegates stay with host families, giving them an intimate view of American life.

Open World topics have included accountable governance, women as leaders, NGO development and management, public health, economic development, and the environment. In addition, Open World has sponsored visits by members of several parliaments and has an ongoing Rule of Law component, which brings Eurasian judges to the U.S. to learn about the American judicial system. Unlike many exchange programs, participation in the Open World Program is limited to individuals nominated for having shown leadership in their field. In addition to their professional achievements, the typical participant is about 35 years old, comes from a regional city, and holds an advanced degree. Knowledge of English is not required for participation in the program, and preference is given to those who have never visited the United States.

Since its launch in 1999, 23,000 individuals from a wide variety of professional fields have traveled to over 2,000 communities in all fifty states to meet and share knowledge with their professional colleagues, and to learn about life in America. From 2007 up until now, the Open World Program counts more than eight hundred Georgian alumni. American Councils for International Education in Georgia continues to collaborate with the U.S. Embassy to proudly implement the program.