Message from Northern Illinois University

Warmest congratulations and best wishes to all involved in the inauguration of the Certificate/Diploma Programs in Participatory Governance and Local Leadership! We here at Northern Illinois University are honored and pleased to be a part of this international project, cooperating with the Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration (SLIDA) and the Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL) to promote good governance at grassroots levels through a specially-designed curriculum. In one aspect of this citizen exchange sponsored by the US Department of State, eight colleagues from Sri Lanka came to the US in September 2004 and worked diligently to create programs and modules that would meet the needs of Sri Lankan officials and citizens. In the return portion of the citizen exchange, colleagues from our University will assist in delivering modules in Sri Lanka and in reviewing the curriculum with Sri Lankan experts.

At Northern Illinois University we value highly our cooperative relationship with our colleagues at SLIDA and OUSL, and we welcome the opportunities provided by our cooperation for our faculty and students to exchange perspectives and information with friends from Sri Lanka . Through such interactions and interchanges, we as members of universities in different countries make the world not only a smaller place, but also a better place, for all our citizens. I know that all participating in the collaboration and in the programs have the determination and capacity to achieve the objectives of the project, and I wish them every success as they move forward to support good governance in the beautiful nation of Sri Lanka .

Deborah L. Pierce

Deborah L. Pierce, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Division of International Programs
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb , Illinois , USA