International Education Week, Nov. 17–21, celebrates the benefits of a learning experience in a different country. UW-Madison events include an International Education Week Photo Exhibit (through November 21, Red Gym) and a talk by Suhail Khan on “The United Nations: An Insider’s View” (November 20, Union South’s Varsity Hall, 6 p.m.).
The UW’s own Visiting International Student Program (VISP) offers a cross-cultural opportunity to people around the world. Participants become official students at the Madison campus, taking courses from world-class professors and making use of the facilities. The program includes summer sessions with courses lasting anywhere from one to 13 weeks.
“I did many things I have never done before: making new friends from different cultural backgrounds, studying in a second language, attending football and baseball games, researching with a professor, watching the NCAA Final Four and screaming for the Badgers,” says Xuefei, a Chinese native who participated in the Visiting International Student Program. “With no exaggeration, my time in Madison was a life-changing experience.”
Darlan, a VISP participant from Brazil, worried about adjusting to a country with a completely different culture, but he found the UW-Madison a welcoming environment.
“From my first day at UW I felt like I belonged there,” he says. “The professors are really open to answering your questions, and they really care about your learning process. The campus also has a lot of resources for international students. Madison is not a big city, but it definitely has everything you look for with a huge bonus: one of the prettiest views you have ever seen.
“Get ready to have one of the most amazing experiences of your life at one of the best universities in the world.”
For more information, contact the Visiting International Student Program coordinator at VISP@dcs.wisc.edu, 608–263-6960.