The Global Summer Entrepreneurship Summit has fostered international collaboration and provided 21 students from Ukraine and South Korea with enhanced skills and knowledge to become leaders in entrepreneurship. As part of the intensive program, some of the students will travel to Washington, D.C., on July 20-25, to meet political leaders, ambassadors and learn about U.S. democracy.

Led by faculty from the School of Entrepreneurship at CSUSB’s Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration, the summit provides students with a robust understanding of entrepreneurship through sessions on critical entrepreneurial topics and a curriculum designed by the professors. In addition to academic learning, the summit offers cultural enrichment and sightseeing opportunities for the participants.

During the trip to Washington, D.C., students will meet with U.S. congressmen; Oksana Serhiyivna Markarova, ambassador of Ukraine to the United States; tour the Library of Congress and U.S. Capitol, as well as visit monuments, such as the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and National Gallery of Art. This transformative experience was made possible from a memorandum of understanding CSUSB established in 2023 with the Lviv Polytechnic National University in Ukraine, one of Eastern Europe’s largest technical universities, to enhance international understanding, friendship and collaboration between the institutions.

Participants in the Global Summer Entrepreneurship Summit consists of 17 students from Ukraine and four students from South Korea. The Ukrainian students hail from Lviv Polytechnic National University, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, and Ukrainian Catholic University, while the South Korean students are from Seoul Cyber University. Additionally, two faculty members from the Ukrainian institutions accompanied their students.

“(The Global Summer Entrepreneurship Summit) facilitated and sponsored by Cal State San Bernardino for the students of Lviv Ivan Franko National University offers Ukrainian students immense experience and opportunities in both business education and self-development,” said Nataliia Dolinska, associate professor at Ivan Franko National University of Lviv. “The program is essentially valuable for the Ukrainian young people, whose mission is to rebuild and develop the country’s economy after the war, establish strong and lasting relations with international partners, and ensure the future prosperity of Ukraine as a strong strategic partner in both economic and political affairs. We hope that the values and mission that both universities share will contribute to the development of strong and longstanding cooperation. 

“The forthcoming educational trip to Washington, D.C., will be an amazing experience for both students and faculty,” Dolinska said. “Meetings with U.S. senators, congressmen and diplomats will provide opportunities for students to observe political and governmental processes, as well as a chance to share their views of life and current situation in Ukraine. This unique possibility is a privilege that Ivan Franko National University of Lviv appreciates and is grateful for.”

Robert J. Nava, vice president of University Advancement and executive director for the CSUSB Philanthropic Foundation, expressed his immense appreciation to Norma Krayem, vice president, Van Scoyoc Associates, and Albert Kammler, director of government relations, Van Scoyoc Associates, for their incredible work in arranging the tours and visits with the elected officials on the trip.

“The Global Summer Entrepreneurship Summit exemplifies the power of international collaboration and education. By uniting students from Ukraine and South Korea, this transformative program not only enhances their entrepreneurial skills but also broadens their global perspectives,” said Nava. “Through academic sessions, cultural enrichment, and meetings with political leaders in Washington, D.C., these students are empowered to become future leaders in entrepreneurship and ambassadors of cross-cultural understanding. This program, made possible by dedicated faculty and generous supporters, fosters invaluable opportunities for learning, growth and international cooperation.”