Big data and big aspirations converged this summer when 20 international students got a taste of University of Wisconsin-Madison in the UW Advance program. Students from six Chinese universities—the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Guangdong University of Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Northwestern Polytechnical University, and Northeastern University—concluded their Badger experience with a ceremony at Kronshage Residence Hall on Aug. 10.
UW Advance is a three-week residential program that provides rich academic experiences, enhances English-language skills, and immerses international students in local and regional culture. The summer 2018 program also explored one of the job market’s hottest fields: big data, which involves analyzing giant data sets to identify important trends and patterns.
In addition to examining the world through the lens of data analysis, the students learned from one another and built friendships through their interactions in English classes, faculty lectures, workshops, recreational activities, volunteer experiences, and more. The activities roster also included field trips to medical software company Epic, Devil’s Lake State Park, and the classical-music performance series Concerts on the Square. See below for a gallery of photos from the culmination ceremony.