J-1 Visiting Scholar Program on Art of Discovery and Innovation
The University of Wisconsin (UW)-Madison is a public research university in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. The UW is one of America’s Public Ivy universities, which refers to top universities in the United States capable of providing a collegiate experience comparable with the Ivy League. The sprawling campus is situated along Lake Mendota and is consistently ranked as one of the most beautiful in the United States.
The Graduate Student J-1 Visiting Scholar Program on Art of Discovery and Innovation is a specially designed academic program for postgraduate students to study at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. During the 4-month program, participants will attend three research meetings per week. The meeting will be the form of lectures, presentations, discussion, mentoring, and fieldtrips. This J-1 Scholar Program is to enhance research capability demanded by the research-oriented graduate schools in the United States.
Academic Contents: Participants will learn literature review and reference search techniques, paper and thesis writing, experimental design, data analysis, survey techniques, creativity, presentation skills, and other tools required for highest level of research. Also, participants will work as a group on various projects to learn the teamwork and leadership role.
Since the research uses the same principle of discovery and scientific approach, students in any majors can apply for this J-1 Scholar Program. Since we have 13 schools and colleges, and 22,000 faculty and staff, the scholars can exchange their study ideas with various professionals on campus.
This J-1 scholar Program will also focus on improving participants’ use of English to communicate in the American university setting, both in academic and social situations. In addition to public speaking practice and improving presentation skills, participants will learn more about the expectations of academic writing in American universities, improve their citations in research papers, draft a final reflection paper, and give a final presentation about their experience at Illinois. Participants will receive appropriate feedback to improve their writing skills in English, and also practice peer-editing the work of fellow participants.
Enrichment Experiences: In order to better experience the American higher education system, participants will tour or have discussions with the following units:
Campus Tour, Athletic Center, Library, Engineering Campus, Registrar’s Office, Graduate College, Area Study Centers, Writing Center, Leadership Center, Student Health Center, Counseling Center, Academic Advisors, Dean’s Office for College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Study Abroad Office, International Programs Office, China Scholars and Student Association, Student Residential Life, Greek Life Office
Campus Culture: During the J-1 Program, scholars will have opportunities to interact with current University of Wisconsin faculty, staff, and students. They may also have opportunities to attend campus lectures, and are able to use the Wisconsin libraries and recreational facilities.
Cultural Excursions: To learn first-hand about the local community, participants will attend Wisconsin sporting events and visit a nearby dairy farm to learn about their local agricultural lifestyle. There will be a visit to the state capital building of Wisconsin in order to learn about state-level politics. Students will also visit Michigan Avenue, Lake Michigan, and other cultural and historical sites in Chicago.
Accommodation: Participants will be placed either in campus apartment housing or in private apartments in the campus community. Many short-term accommodation options are at least partially furnished with basic furniture (e.g., bed, table, refrigerator), but participants will need to purchase bed linens, towels, and kitchen utensils. A designated Wisconsin staff member can assist with accommodation arrangements, but the lease will be in the name of the participant.
Meals: Meals are the responsibility of the participant (a welcome and farewell meal will be provided for participants, and a monthly group lunch). Lunch and dinner at most restaurants around campus cost approximately $6-10 USD. There is a wide range of cuisine around the Madison campus, which includes many Chinese restaurants and Chinese grocery stores.
Program Inquiry and Enrollment: Xu Nan (xunanjohn@hotmail.com; Representative of the J-1 Program); Prof. Jae K. (Jim) Park, jkpark@wisc.edu.
