Padrtová and Jirušek at prestigious governmental program in the US
Barbora Padrtová and Martin Jirušek participated in a prestigious three-week International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) organized by the US Department of State. The IVLP is a program offered to selected individuals from various countries around to the world, facilitating the first-hand experience with a policy-making and implementation in selected fields.
Barbora took part in the IVLP program titled “Towards a More Safe and Secure World International Peace and Security”, which included a variety of appointments at the U.S. Government, including the State Department, Department of Defence, Department of Homeland Security, Border Patrol, Law Enforcement and many others. Barbora thus had the chance to visit five destinations across the US – Washington D.C., Colorado Springs, El Paso, Tampa and New York City. She had the chance to study U.S. security and defence policy-making processes and perspectives on global issues as well as specific security issues. Discussed topics included regional conflicts, weapons proliferation, homeland security, international terrorism, etc. She also had the opportunity to discuss the role of the UN and other international organizations in dealing with security policy and global crises right at the UN headquarters in New York.
Martin took part in the IVLP program titled “U.S. Energy Policy – Security, Independence, and Innovation”, which offered a colourful experience including meetings with the governmental officials dealing with respective issues on a policy level as well as first-hand experience with policy implications within various field trips. He visited Washington D.C., Reno, Seattle, Tulsa and Boston. He talked to federal and state policymakers as well as practitioners implementing policies in their everyday life. Apart from the top level of the US policymaking, Martin could acquaint himself with policy implications for the US energy infrastructure, education and urban planning.
