More than 19,000 leaders ranging from newly elected to experienced gained skills and knowledge relevant to their job challenges through the 500-plus educational courses offered by the Institute in 2007. Many of the local government training opportunities are done in partnership with such professional organizations as the Association County Commissioners of Georgia and the Georgia Municipal Association.

City and county officials gained confidence in improving governance through specialized leadership institutes coordinated by Vinson Institute instructional faculty in Summer 2007. The highly participatory programs focus on helping officials better understand and enhance their personal and group leadership abilities so that they can return to their communities as more effective leaders.

A select group of 20 members of the Georgia General Assembly completed the 2007 Georgia Legislative Leadership Institute. The special Vinson Institute initiative focuses on equipping newer senators and representatives with the expertise needed to be successful in today's complex legislative environment. As of December, some 300 state agency heads and senior managers completed the Executive Leadership Program conducted in partnership with the State Personnel Administration.

The year 2007 also saw the kickoff of leadership programs to better equip county tax officials and prepare the next generation of Georgia Public Library System professionals.

More than 150 newly elected mayors and councilmembers gathered in Macon in February for instruction and networking related to their new jobs in public service. Georgia county commissioners received a first-hand look at model community health-care programs during a special mobile classroom in the summer.

In 2007, more than 140 Chinese municipal and provincial managers enhanced their public administration knowledge and skills through training coordinated by the Institute's International Center. The interactive and interdisciplinary program applies the wide range of expertise of the Vinson Institute and the University of Georgia to China's governance challenges and is conducted in partnership with various administrative colleges and institutes throughout China. A key feature is the mix of in-class instruction and experiential visits to local, state, and federal agencies that allow for first-hand exposure to best practices in this country. Delegations from Beijing and Sichuan also participated in specialized training programs on-site in Georgia in the areas of city planning and jail management.

Another International Center initiative brought together academics, community officials, refugee representatives, and others for a series of forums and workshops on issues and policies surrounding immigrants and refugees in Georgia.