UVU’s Balkans Study Abroad program offers MPA students one of the most distinctive international learning opportunities in higher education.
The Utah Valley University Balkans Study Abroad program offers Master of Public Administration students an immersive international learning experience in Southeast Europe, including Kosovo, Albania, Macedonia, and neighboring countries. Based at the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety, the program integrates coursework in disaster vulnerability, emergency management, homeland security, and comparative criminal justice. These areas are central to contemporary public administration practice.
The program blends academic rigor with hands‑on public service in ways that meaningfully shape students’ professional trajectories. Students examine public safety and governance systems through both U.S. and regional perspectives while gaining direct exposure to public service challenges in a developing international context.
One of the defining features of the program is its emphasis on applied collaborative learning. Students work alongside local cadets and community members, taking active roles in teaching disaster preparedness and public safety concepts. This applied approach shifts the focus from passive listening to joint intellectual effort, improving communication, engagement, and retention. Participants can more effectively translate theory into practice while developing leadership and cross-cultural competencies.
Jared Wandell is a former MPA student and participant in the program. He noted the importance of faculty expertise and how the experience helps set him apart from others in his field. “Having individuals there who knew the region, the history, and the emergencies that had happened was incredibly valuable. There aren’t many people who can say they had the opportunity to study in the Balkans.”
The program also provides meaningful cultural immersion through guided travel, local engagement, and exploration of historical and civic institutions throughout the region. Former MPA student Cherise Jensen described the experience as uniquely transformative, observing, “You don’t get another experience like study abroad—especially in a place where people are so accepting and inviting, and where students are the ones teaching and sharing what they’ve learned.”
Open to students from diverse academic backgrounds, the program enables participants to connect global learning to their individual professional goals. For MPA students, the experience has demonstrated clear career value, with participants reporting enhanced job readiness and increased competitiveness for public service and emergency management roles.
