UA Little Rock Hosts Delegates from International Leadership Program

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock welcomed seven international delegates from the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program.

The delegates visited the Office of E-Learning in November as part of a three-week professional exchange to the United States focusing on technological trends in education and online learning.

The delegates, representing diverse roles in education—including a journalist from Brazil, a vice principal from Jerusalem, and a dean from the Philippines—engaged in discussions with UA Little Rock faculty and staff about shared challenges and innovations in education. Their visit to Arkansas, which was organized by Global Ties Arkansas, connected them with institutions to explore how technology is reshaping learning.

The International Visitor Leadership Program is the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program. Current and emerging foreign leaders take short-term visits to the U.S. to cultivate lasting relationships with their American counterparts in a variety of fields. Participants are nominated and selected by the staff at U.S. embassies around the world.

The participants who visited UA Little Rock include:

·  Vinicius de Oliveira, a Brazilian journalist who specializes in researching and reporting on innovation in the education sector

·  Tena Zganec, a project manager at the Innovation Centre Nikola Tesla, where she works on developing the Croatian deep-tech ecosystem.

·  Alem Habte, director of information and communications technology at the Ministry of Education in Eritrea.

·  Gideon Olanrewaju, executive director of Aid for Rural Education Access Initiative and director of digital learning and innovation for Digital Technologies for Learning Foundation in Nigeria.

·  Mike Farraj, vice principal of Terra Sancta High School in Jerusalem.

·  Dorothy Joann Lei Rabajante, dean of the School of Education of Ateneo de Zamboanga University in Zamboanga City, Mindana.

·  Shaikhkhusrav Ayubov, head of the International Relations Department at the Committee of Youth Affairs in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

During their time on campus, the group explored topics such as integrating technology into curricula, supporting faculty development for online teaching, and engaging students in virtual environments.

“We had some very enlightening conversations,” said Dr. Sharonda Lipscomb, director of online learning. “I shared resources and best practices that I’ve used as an educator to engage with learners from the onset of online instruction. I’ve always found that having students build a community and helping them find commonalities helps students feel connected early on.”

Faith Okeh, an E-Learning graduate assistant, shared a memorable experience from an online class. Okeh’s insights as a student provided valuable perspectives, particularly on building community in online learning that enhanced the conversation.

“We found it fascinating to see that educators worldwide share similar challenges,” Lipscomb said. “Engaging learners, supporting faculty, and navigating regulations are universal struggles. I was excited to garner new insight from what other leaders are doing in the education field.”

The group also exchanged ideas about partnerships between schools and organizations, teacher training, and leveraging technology to improve education globally. The visit reinforced the value of collaboration and cultural exchange in advancing education for all.

“It was inspiring to share what we’re doing at UA Little Rock and to learn from their experiences,” said Amy Brown-Westmoreland, online program coordinator. “These conversations remind us why we do what we do—better education benefits everyone. It seems that working in education is similar no matter where you are in the world.”