ATHENS, Ohio -- It used to be that politically interested college students were lucky to land an internship in Columbus and thrilled to get the chance to go to Washington.

But 11 enterprising Ohio University students are extending the possibilities this fall as they travel to the United Kingdom to intern in the newly established National Assembly for Wales. And these students will be blazing the path for other young Americans. The Welsh Assembly has picked Ohio University to be its gateway for American interns. Many Welsh politicians see the advantage in hiring American college students.

"American investment in Wales is by far the most significant of any overseas investor," said Welsh Assembly Cabinet Member Andrew Davies. "The internship with Ohio (University) is important as, naturally, we are particularly keen to explore means of furthering Wales' links with America."

Unlike the United States, which has 50 state governments, the United Kingdom has just recently established regional governments. Public referendums in the late 1990s created regional legislatures in Scotland and in Wales. The assemblies have the power to spend public resources and set priorities in areas ranging from agriculture to education. Program director and Ohio University political science professor Harold Molineu said that the program is built upon previous efforts with American interns.

"Many of the politicians in Wales had American interns when they worked in the House of Commons in London and found them to be particularly helpful," Molineu said. "This is a marvelous opportunity for students to spend time abroad in an exciting program."

The students will be living and working in Cardiff, the capital of Wales.