The Head of the Department of Political Science and Philosophy at Khazar University, Assoc. Prof. Orkhan Valiyev, traveled to the United States as part of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), organized by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, from February 14 to March 7, 2026.

This year's program was dedicated to the theme "U.S. Foreign Policy and Global Challenges" and coincided with the inaugural meeting of the "Board of Peace," among whose founding members Azerbaijan holds a place. Another distinguishing feature of the program, which has been in operation since 1940, was that this year's event coincided with the eve of the 250th anniversary of the United States' declaration of independence on July 4, 1776.

As part of the program, Assoc. Prof. Orkhan Valiyev first visited Washington, D.C., followed by Cleveland in the state of Ohio, Louisville in the state of Kentucky, and Denver in the state of Colorado.

The program brought together participants representing Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Armenia, Italy, Sweden, Malta, Slovakia, Germany, Luxembourg, Poland, Spain, Latvia, and the Czech Republic — professionals drawn from diverse fields including academia, government institutions, journalism, and non-governmental organizations.

Since February 16 fell on an official public holiday, an introductory city tour of Washington, D.C. was organized for the delegation. The tour included visits to the White House, the U.S. Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.

The intensive phase of the Washington program commenced on February 17. Participants first visited the Meridian International Center, which played a key role in organizing the program. This was followed by official meetings and sessions at the Pentagon, the U.S. Department of State, the Congressional Research Service, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the American Enterprise Institute, and American University.

In addition to a meeting with the academic faculty at American University, discussions were held with students from the United States and various European countries.

The second phase of the program began in Cleveland, Ohio, from February 21 to 25. A series of institutional visits were organized in Cleveland, including the Cleveland Council, Case Western Reserve University (Think[Box] & LaunchNet), the International Strategic Analysis Center (ISA), the Port of Cleveland, the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, and the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Two of these visits were of particular note: a visit to Case Western Reserve University, which holds a distinguished position in global research, and a meeting at Kent State University.

The meeting at Case Western Reserve University took place at its innovation center. Participants attended a lecture on the center's activities led by Prof. Michael Goldberg and were introduced to the university's laboratories. Following the lecture, a detailed tour of the center's various floors and ongoing projects was provided.

As part of the visit, a meeting also took place with Javadboy Khalilzade, a fellow Azerbaijani citizen pursuing doctoral studies in the Department of Political Science at Kent State University. The visit included a tour of the university campus, the Department of Political Science, and the university library.

On the final day in Cleveland, participants took part in an extended networking event joined by a Moldovan delegation also present in Cleveland under a separate IVLP program.

The third phase of the program commenced in Louisville, Kentucky, from February 25 to March 2. Visits were organized to a number of institutions, including the Louisville International Relations Committee, Southern Indiana and the River Ridge Development Authority, the Muhammad Ali Center, the Kentucky Horse Park and Museum, the Kentucky YMCA Youth Association, the Kentucky Economic Development Association, and the Kentucky Manufacturers Association.

Participants also visited the Muhammad Ali Center and the Kentucky Horse Park and Museum. At an event held at the Kentucky YMCA, participants had the opportunity to observe students from a program with 8,000 high school members participating in United Nations simulation exercises.

One of the highlights of the Louisville visit was a hospitality dinner hosted at the home of retired Prof. Gloria Murray.

On March 3, the delegation traveled to Denver, the capital of Colorado.

The Denver program, which continued through March 7, included visits to the renowned Josef Korbel School at the University of Denver, the Cybersecurity Center at Metropolitan State University, the Colorado State Capitol, and Rocky Mountain National Park.

At the conclusion of the program, group leaders presented participants with a pin certifying their status as alumni of the U.S. Department of State's IVLP program.