From exploring sustainability in Chile to examining geopolitics in Estonia and development in Ghana, the Global Gateway Initiative immerses students in world issues through hands-on, faculty-led experiences abroad. Designed for students from across disciplines, Global Gateway combines academics, global engagement, and cohort-based learning to push students beyond campus and into new cultural and intellectual environments.
This summer, 76 students from disciplines across campus will participate in three-week programs in Chile, Estonia, Ghana, Korea, and Washington, D.C. Courses examine topics ranging from climate change and sustainability to geopolitical history, national development, international development, politics, and psychology.
The program is designed to make global learning more accessible. With support from the Office of Student Financial Aid and the Division of Enrollment Management, Global Gateway covers tuition, program fees, and airfare, helping reduce financial barriers that can prevent students from studying abroad. Students also benefit from traveling as part of a close-knit cohort guided by UW–Madison faculty leaders.
The Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) serves as the program provider for all current international locations and, beginning in 2026, will fund the Global Gateway in Chile program.
“Thanks to partners like the Office of Student Financial Aid and CIEE, study abroad is made even more accessible through Global Gateway,” said Dan Gold, assistant dean, International Academic Programs. “Our hope is to continue to alleviate barriers to students studying abroad so they can focus on experiences that are transformational academically, personally, and professionally.”
Spotlight on 2026 Global Gateway programs
Global Gateway in Chile will be led by Sara McKinnon, professor of rhetoric, politics, and culture, Department of Communication Arts. McKinnon is also the director of the Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies Center. During the program, she will lead 15 students in exploring how climate change affects Chile and the Southern Cone of South America, and ways groups are developing justice initiatives and resilient solutions to address its effects. Upon returning, students will be able to connect their program experiences with sustainability activities both on and off campus.
Tristin Chapman from Sparta, Wisconsin, who is majoring in psychology and Spanish, is looking forward to taking what has been learned on campus into new contexts away from the classroom.
“My main academic goal is to deepen my understanding of global perspectives and connect those insights to the disciplines I’m already passionate about, including psychology, Spanish, and sustainability,” Chapman said. “Immersing myself in a new cultural and academic environment will help me strengthen my language skills and broaden how I think about people, policies, and places.”
Global Gateway in Estonia will be led by Liina-Ly Roos, assistant professor, Department of German, Nordic, Slavic +. Over the course of the program, Roos will lead 15 students in exploring how Estonia has developed from a post-Soviet country to a highly advanced digital society that values close connection to nature and environmental sustainability. Upon returning, students will be able to connect their program experiences with RISE-AI activities.
Anika Upadhyaya, an industrial engineering major from Madison, Wisconsin, is looking forward to participating to further examine how digital infrastructure and policy influence sustainable development and everyday life in Estonia.
“I hope to learn how different societies implement technology to support environmental and economic progress,” Upadhyaya said. “These insights would help me think more globally about engineering, systems, and problem-solving in my future career.”
Global Gateway in Ghana will be led by Gay Seidman, Martindale Bascom Professor of Sociology; and Heinz Klug, John and Rylla Bosshard Professor of Law. Together, they will lead a group of 15 Badgers in an investigation of how indigenous culture, colonial legacies, natural resources, and international pressures shape development strategies in Ghana.
Luna Galata, a political science major from Blaine, Minnesota, is excited about the prospect of not only immersing in a new culture but also bringing back experiences and lessons to campus to share with her fellow students.
“In many of my political science classes, we often discuss why some countries experience stronger economic development than others, and I’m excited about the chance to explore these questions through real-world experiences,” Galata said.
Global Gateway in Korea will be led by David Fields, associate director of the Center for East Asian Studies. During their time in Korea, Fields plans to visit sites across the country that illustrate how forces divided the Korean Peninsula and created the two radically different Korean states as we know them today. In doing so, the group will explore Korea’s history with the United States, its neighbors, and between North and South Korea.
Aubrie Hanna, an information science major from Delavan, Wisconsin, is eager to participate in the program to strengthen Korean language skills while exploring new cultures and perspectives.
“I also hope to explore how different cultures shape technology and design, which aligns with my interests in user experience,” Hanna said. “This will help me develop skills and insights that I can use in my future academic and career goals.”
Global Gateway in Washington, DC will be led by Amy Gangl, director of undergraduate studies in the Department of Political Science. Gangl plans to examine the psychology of political polarization while students sharpen their critical thinking about the current political climate.
Briana Rios, a legal studies major from Chicago, is looking forward to linking insights to future professional goals.
“My academic goal for this program is to learn more about the field of law and gain a broader understanding of legal systems,” said Rios. “I hope to become a lawyer in the future and work with organizations like the Innocence Project to help individuals who have been wrongfully convicted. This program will help me build knowledge and connections that support those goals.”
Follow the Global Gateway participants this summer as they share first impressions, discoveries, reflections, and more on the Study Abroad Student Stories website.
Story by Steve Barcus