We are pleased to announce that The International Public Policy and Management Institute (IPPMI) recently received a $400,000 Legislative Fellows grant from the United States State Department, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Over the next two years the Martin School will facilitate internships in government agencies and legislative bodies for twenty participants from Cambodia, Indonesia, Mongolia and Taiwan. Additionally, the Martin School will help with the selection of fifteen American professionals who will travel to participate in similar internships in Cambodia, Indonesia, Mongolia and Taiwan. This award would not have been possible without the help of the offices of the Kentucky congressional delegation. We are particularly grateful for help from the congressional office of Ben Chandler as they wrote a letter of support for the project. It is a great honor for the Martin School to serve as a host for the Fellowship program and be a part of this international exchange. We look forward to this as a great opportunity for expanding our international activities and thank the IPPMI Director, Doo Oak-Kim and especially the IPPMI administrator, Sarah Walters, for their hard work on the proposal.

Ministry of Public Administration and Security, the Republic of Korea and the International Public Policy and Management Institute of the Martin School of Public Policy and Administration at the University of Kentucky, USA(Hereinafter referred to as “the Sides”), desiring to enhance mutual understanding and friendship by promoting the One-Plus-One Matching Program in Public Administration-have reached the Memorandum of Understanding(hereinafter referred to as “MOU”)

Purpose of MOU: The Sides will endeavor to carry out the following exchanges and cooperative activities:

• Offer selected officials of the Korean Government the opportunity to complete the requirements for a Master of Public Administration degree, English language courses, professional field visits and internship practicum in the United States
• Exchange and training of faculty, staff and officials to share experiences and ideas in the field of public administration;
• Exchange of academic information, materials and publications related to education and training program;
• Any other academic exchanges or cooperative activities that may be jointly decided upon by the Sides such as one year long professional training.

The IPPMI was recently awarded a Fellowship Exchange Program grant from the Bureau of Cultural and Educational Affairs, US Department of State. The IPPMI is an implementing agency for the professional exchange program of ECA.

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the United States Department of State fosters mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries around the world. It is responsible for the United States Cultural Exchange Programs.

Director of IPPMI, Dr. Doo Oak Kim, was commissioned this week as a Kentucky Colonel by Government Steven Beshear, Governor of Kentucky. Kentucky Colonel is an honorary title bestowed upon an individual who has made a significant contribution to society. To become a Colonel, an individual must be nominated by a Colonel and must be commissioned by the sitting Governor of the Commonwealth. Only the Governor knows the exact reasons they select to bestow the commission of Kentucky Colonel on an individual, but Governor Beshear must have seen the leadership and dedication Dr. Kim showing through IPPMI in advancing the skills and abilities of international profesionals in the areas of public policy and management.

Some famous recipients of the Kentucky Colonel commission include Muhammad Ali, Winston Churchill, Bill Clinton, Clark Gable, Bob Hope, Lyndon B. Johnson, Elvis Presley, Harland "Colonel" Sanders, and Tiger Woods. We congratulate Dr. Kim on the recognition he has received for his service to IPPMI.