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Global Summer School

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About

Welcome to the VIPP Global Summer School

July 23 - August 12, 2023

Take your summer to the next level! Join us at Michigan State University for the VIPP Global Summer School. Expand your academic knowledge, experience American and international culture, and enhance your career competitiveness. VIPP's Global Summer School is an opportunity for university students to experience American college life. Enjoy cross-cultural collaborative learning, work with classmates from around the world, and learn from the world-class faculty at MSU! Programs feature hands-on experiential learning, teach real-world problem solving, and are led by expert instructors. To add to the excitement of your American experience, Global Summer School programs feature a trip to the East Coast, including Niagara Falls, Washington D.C. and New York City. Take time to explore our website for program summaries, itineraries, key features, and application information.

VIPP Global Summer School 2023 Flyer (PDF)

 

Summer 2023 Programs

This summer VIPP is offering the courses Creative Entrepreneurship, and Social Media and Social Change. Click on the tabs above to learn about each program.

Summer School Highlights

VIPP's Global Summer School provides a fully immersive academic and cultural experience, and includes:

  • More than 35 instructional hours including classes, guest lectures, cultural activities, and field trips.   
  • Cultural excursions to Detroit, the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and the beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline and sand dunes.
  • One-week-long East Coast trip including Niagara Falls, Washington D.C. and New York City.
  • Opportunities to meet and share experiences with college students from around the world, including German Fulbright students.

Program Fee

  • $3,900 USD Early Bird Price (If paid by May 15, 2023)
  • $4,100 USD Regular Price (If paid between May 16 - June 16, 2023)
  • Group Price: $3,900 per person (same as Early Bird Price) if more than 5 from the same university
  • $300 discount for previous VIPP Global Virtual Summer or Winter School attendees

Fee includes tuition, on-campus housing, MSU breakfast and lunch, local transportation related to the program, Detroit airport pick up (designated time only), health insurance, all field trips and all expenses of the East Coast tour (shared room.) Fee does not include international or domestic airfare, dinner, or any other living costs.

Application

Summer School application is open now through June 16, 2023. Review the admission requirements in the Applications tab above, and prepare necessary materials prior to beginning your online application.

Check Out the Global Summer School Experience!

 

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Creative Entrepreneurship

Creative Entrepreneurship

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Creative Entrepreneurship Program Flyer (PDF)

 

Course Description

Have you ever thought about starting your own business? Do you have a problem in your daily life or in your community you'd like to solve? Do you have an idea for a new product or a new system to help improve people's lives? Creative Entrepreneurship is designed to help you discover the mindset of an entrepreneur while exploring creative thinking strategies. This broad view course will introduce students to the world of entrepreneurs and their principles and habits while teaching critical thinking methods so students can think-up innovative ideas. Students will prove to themselves that they can produce innovative solutions under pressure, and more than just once! Students will gain understanding of situation evaluation, ideation of solutions, evaluation of solutions, and how to share the solutions successfully to a wider audience (investors), as well as how to read consumers (target markets) and how to market their innovation or start-up. Through hands-on projects, students will explore various aspects of innovation needs or catalysts. German Fulbright Summer Institute Students will take this course alongside Global Summer School students, presenting a unique opportunity for cultural exchange.

Instructor

Professor Ross Chowles is professor of practice in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations at Michigan State University where he teaches branding, the creative process, how to create commercial video, and ideation techniques. Chowles is co-founder of the Jupiter Drawing Room in Cape Town, Africa’s most awarded independent advertising agency. Chowles and his agency have received numerous awards from South African and international organizations, including Clio, Epica, and Cannes. In 2015, Ross was appointed to the international board of the One Club for Creativity and has since had the privilege of judging all over the globe, from Canada to South Korea and China.

Certificate

Upon successful completion, students will receive an MSU Certificate of Global Young Professional Program (GYPP) by the Visiting International Professional Program and MSU College of Communication Arts and Science. This course is equivalent to 1 MSU credit, but no official MSU credit will be awarded. However, your home institution may grant you credit for this course. Check with your institution about credit questions.

Social Media & Social Change

Social Media and Social Change

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Social Media and Social Change Program Flyer (PDF)

 

Course Description

This course explores relationships between social media and social change in global contexts. The topics covered focus on the uses of social media (also referred to as new or digital media) to mobilize masses of people in various locations over the last 30 years. Specific cases, such as the Zapatista uprising of 1994, Greta Thunberg’s climate change movement, Reddit and the GameStop story, Brexit, and cryptocurrencies, illustrate the role of social media across global contexts. We will be using a workshop format to define concepts, analyze case studies, and develop collaborative online projects. The course will address the following questions:

  • Could the movement propagate or even exist without contemporary internet technology and social media platforms?
  • Is the movement governed/coordinated by a central agent, or is it decentralized?
  • Who is the target audience for the social media campaign?
  • How do individuals participate in the social movement through social media?
  • What are the fundamental discursive devices (slogans, catch phrases, themes, memes, etc.) used on social media platforms to create a social movement?

Instructors

Dr. Ivan Maksymyk, PhD, CFA teaches high level courses in machine learning and programming at the HEC Montreal Department of Information Technology, with a focus on deep learning and neural networks, and machine learning applications in finance. He holds a PhD in Theoretical Particle Physics from the University of Montreal, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst. Dr. Maksymyk has expertise in web development and programming, as well as cybersecurity and intellectual property protection.

Dr. Salah D. Hassan, PhD is an associate professor in the Department of English and Director of the Global Studies in the Arts and Humanities Program at Michigan State University. He is also a core faculty member in the Muslim Studies Program. He teaches courses that focus on literatures of empire, anticolonial intellectual movements, and Arab American and Muslim American cultural production.

Certificate

Upon successful completion of the program, a joint certificate will be awarded by the Visiting International Professional Program and Michigan State University Global Studies in the Arts and Humanities. This course is equivalent to 1 MSU credit, but no official MSU credit will be awarded. However, your home institution may grant you credit for this course. Check with your institution about credit questions.

Program Details

Program Details

VIPP's Global Summer School provides a fully immersive academic and cultural experience, and includes:

  • More than 35 instructional hours including classes, guest lectures, cultural activities, and field trips.   
  • Cultural excursions to Detroit, the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and the beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline and sand dunes.
  • One-week-long East Coast trip including Niagara Falls, Washington D.C. and New York City.
  • Opportunities to meet and share experiences with college students from around the world, including German Fulbright students.

Program Dates & Itinerary

Program Dates: Sunday, July 23 to Saturday, August 12, 2023

  • Arrival and Check-In at Dorm: July 23
  • Program at MSU East Lansing Campus: July 24 to August 4
  • East Coast Trip: August 5 to August 12 (7 nights 8 days)

Daily Schedule

Students will participate in a full daily schedule of classes, field trips, and enrichment activities.

  • All morning sessions will take place from 9 am to 11:30 am.
  • All afternoon sessions will take place from 2 pm to 4 pm unless noted otherwise.

Program Fee

  • $3,900 USD Early Bird Price (If paid by May 15, 2023)
  • $4,100 USD Regular Price (If paid between May 16 - June 16, 2023)
  • Group Price: $3,900 per person (same as Early Bird Price) if more than 5 from the same university
  • $300 discount for previous VIPP Global Virtual Summer or Winter School attendees

Fee includes tuition, on-campus housing, MSU breakfast and lunch, local transportation related to the program, Detroit airport pick up (designated time only), health insurance, all field trips and all expenses of the East Coast tour (shared room.) Fee does not include international or domestic airfare, dinner, or any other living costs.

U.S. East Coast Trip Information

VIPP Summer School programs include a field trip to the U.S. East Coast from August 5 - 12. The following is a tentative itinerary. All travel is by bus. Note that the detailed schedule is subject to change. 

Day 1 (Sat, Aug 5) Depart from MSU campus, travel to Niagara Falls 

Day 2 (Sun, Aug 6) Tour Niagara Falls

Day 3 (Mon, Aug 7) Depart to Washington, D.C.

Day 4 (Tues, Aug 8) Washington, D.C. Tour including the White House, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Memorial, Smithsonian Museums, etc.

Day 5 (Wed, Aug 9) Depart for New York City Area

Day 6 (Thurs, Aug 10) Tour of New York City including Wall Street, World Trade Center Memorial, Times Square, and Statue of Liberty 

Day 7 (Fri, Aug 11)  Shopping at Woodbury Outlet in New Jersey 

Day 8 (Sat, Aug 12) Return to home country on your own 

* Official program ends on the night of Friday, August 11 and hotel rooms are booked until Saturday morning. Students are free to arrange their own return trip anytime during Friday.

Contact Us

Contact us at vippmsu(at)msu.edu for further information.

 

Housing, MSU & Travel Information

Living on Campus

Summer School students will live on campus in Owen Hall. This dormitory is ideal for students who desire a living environment conducive to study. Read more about Owen Hall and take a virtual room tour.

Room Features:

  • Suite-style bathrooms
  • Single rooms
  • Weekly housekeeping
  • All rooms fully furnished
  • In-room Wi-Fi
  • Cable TV and high-speed internet included
  • All utilities included
  • Barrier-free housing
  • Co-ed floors

 Building Features:

  • Free laundry
  • 24/7 emergency maintenance
  • Wi-Fi in public areas
  • Air conditioning in public areas
  • Classrooms
  • Music practice room
  • TV lounge
  • Meeting space
  • Sparty's Refresh Cafe
  • Thrive Dining Hall (allergen-free)
  • Bike storage

MSU Campus Information & Map

campus2.pngThe campus of Michigan State University is located in East Lansing on the banks of the Red Cedar River, and comprises a contiguous area of 5,200 acres. Built amid virgin forest, the campus opened in 1855. Today MSU's campus is home to 538 buildings.

Learn more about activities on MSU's campus

MSU Main Campus Map (PDF)

Take a Virtual Tour

Getting Around Campus

There are many ways to get around MSU's campus including walking, biking, e-scooter, bus, and car (charging stations for electric cars are available.) Learn more about transportation options on campus and traveling to East Lansing.

Campus Bus System

The Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) bus system is free for all students during fall and spring semesters along all on-campus routes. These routes serve all university apartments, residence halls, commuter lots and main campus facilities. Most on-campus routes run until 2:30 a.m. after which the Night Owl service provides late night transportation at a discounted student rate. In addition to the free on-campus routes, there are also routes that extend to the surrounding off-campus areas of East Lansing, Lansing, Okemos and Haslett. For off-campus routes, students can pay per ride or purchase passes.

Biking and Bike Rentals

Visit the MSU Bikes Service Center website to learn more about bike rental on campus. Visit the MSU Parking Services website to find out how to obtain a permit for your own bike. 

Explore Our Campus

To see more of MSU's beautiful campus, check out this virtual tour, featuring many short video clips and stories. Use the MSU interactive map to find various locations on campus, and read about campus safety.

How to get to MSU: Airports & Public Transportation

Michigan State University is located in East Lansing, a vibrant college town. It is just minutes away from Michigan’s capital city, Lansing. The MSU campus is a 15-minute drive from Capital Regional International Airport (LAN). Taxicab service costs approximately $15. Ask them to take you to Owen Hall at MSU (Its address is 735 E Shaw Ln, East Lansing, MI 48825)

The MSU campus is a 75-minute drive from Detroit Metro Airport (DTW). VIPP will provide a bus to pick you up from the Detroit airport and bring you to East Lansing, provided you arrive within the designated pick up time (to be announced.) If you need to travel to East Lansing outside of the bus pick up time, the Michigan Flyer Airport Shuttle offers bus transportation to East Lansing for $32. Buses run several times a day, and travel takes approximately two hours. The East Lansing stop is the last stop. Once you get off the bus, grab a taxi and ask them to take you to Owen Hall at MSU (Its address is 735 E Shaw Ln, East Lansing, MI 48825). It is only a 5 minute drive. 

Another way to get to MSU campus is to fly to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and then take an AmTrak train from Chicago downtown Union Station (CHI) to East Lansing, Michigan (LNS). It is approximately 4 hour ride. It takes 5 minutes from East Lansing train station (1240 South Harrison Road, East Lansing, MI 48823) to Owen Hall. You can check the AmTrak daily schedule on its website www.amtrak.com.

Using Michigan Flyer from Detroit Airport (DTW)

If you arrive at the Detroit Metro Airport within the designated pick-up time, you will take a bus provided by VIPP to East Lansing. The following are instructions for taking the Michigan Flyer shuttle bus if you do not arrive within the pick-up time:

After arriving at the Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) and picking up your luggage, you will use the Michigan Flyer bus to travel to East Lansing. East Lansing will be the last stop the bus makes after leaving the airport. There are two Michigan Flyer stops at DTW: McNamara Terminal and North Terminal. It is very important that you know which terminal you are arriving and find out the correct pick up time in that terminal. 

You can find this information in this Airlines-by-DTW-terminal.pdf or visit Detroit Airport website for further information. For example, if you are flying with Delta Airlines, you will be arriving at McNamara Terminal. Locate Michigan Flyer's stop in the McNamara Terminal below and find out exact pick up time. If you are flying with United Airlines you will be landing in North Terminal. Find Michigan Flyer's stop and the pick up time in the North Terminal below. 

You can save money by pre-paying and booking online in advance. A one-way ticket is $32. You don't have to print the ticket. When you arrive at the terminal, go to the bus stop, and just tell the driver your name. They will check you in electronically. If you choose to pay with cash, the fares are slightly higher and you will need exact change. It is best to pay in advance online through the link above. Make sure to arrive to your terminal before your departure time to ensure you don't miss the bus. For more information and a departure timetables, refer to the Michigan Flyer schedule.

Below is pickup information according to the Michigan Flyer website. Again, it is very important that you know which terminal you are arriving and find out the correct pick up time in that terminal. You can find this information in this PDF. Airlines-by-DTW-terminal.pdf  Or visit Detroit Airport website for further information. For more information about the Michigan Flyer, please visit their website.

At McNamara Terminal,  the Michigan Flyer stop is located on the Departure Level/ Level 3. Follow signs like for “Municipal Transportation” and “Ticketing/Check-In.” Its stop is just outside and to the left of the doors labeled “International Ticketing/Check-In, Air France, AeroMexico.” If you need assistance, just ask an airport official "How do I get to check-in for Air France?"

  • DO be aware that NOT all elevators go up to Departures Level 3, where our Michigan Flyer-AirRide stop is located. Be sure to take an elevator that goes all the way up to “Ticketing/Check-In” on Level 3.
  • DO NOT follow signs that say “Bridge Walk to Parking” or “Ground Transportation Center.”

At North Terminal, Michigan Flyer picks up passengers in the Ground Transportation Center (GTC). Once you come down the stairs or elevator to the GTC, exit the door to your left and proceed to Stall #1. Look for the small Michigan Flyer/AirRide sign.

For more information about the Michigan Flyer, please visit their website.

About Michigan State University

Michigan State University Spartans work to advance the common good with the uncommon will. The nation's pioneer land-grant university, MSU began as a bold experiment that democratized higher education and helped bring science and innovation into everyday life. Today, MSU is one of the top research universities in the world and home to a diverse community of dedicated students, scholars, athletes, artists, scientists, leaders.

  • History & Strong Academics: Founded in 1855, MSU is one of the top research universities in the world. MSU offers more than 200 programs of undergraduate, graduate, and professional study in 17 degree-granting colleges.
  • Picturesque Campus: Our huge campus occupies 5,200 acres of land with 538 buildings. It is almost like a small city, but you will quickly feel at home on our stunning and safe campus. Summer is the best time to enjoy the beauty of our campus.   
  • American Campus Life: MSU is the largest residential college in the US. You will stay at one of the residential halls and have access to all facilities and experience American college life. Our residential hall offers great food options, high-speed internet, cable TV, exciting sports, recreation, and entertainment opportunities.
  • Dedicated Faculty & Staff: Michigan State University employs approximately 5,300 dedicated faculty and academic staff who are there to support you.
  • Central Location: Our great location in East Lansing offers exciting field trips to the city and nature. We will take you to Lansing, Michigan's capital city as well as Detroit, the reviving auto city. Lake Michigan, the world's fifth-largest lake in the world is only one hour away. You can visit Chicago by car or by train over the weekend. American Culture and Social Science summer programs even include a trip to the East Coast!   
  • Diversity: Over 50,000 students come from all 50 states in the United States and more than 138 countries worldwide. You will make American as well as international friends all in one location.
  • Want to know what’s happening on campus during your visit? The MSU events calendar provides a daily list of campus events. Explore everything from art exhibitions to music concerts. 

Application

Application Information

Summer School application is open now through June 16, 2023. Please carefully read the information in the Program Details tabs, as well as the admission requirements and application information below, prior to beginning the online application.

Admission Requirements & Before You Apply

The VIPP Global Summer School Program looks for mature, academically motivated and curious students who are willing to experience different cultures and broaden their horizons.

Requirements

To apply, you must:

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Be an undergraduate or graduate student at an accredited college or university (must provide a copy of valid student ID)
  • Have a minimum of Intermediate level English language skills
  • Note that Summer School programs are not MSU credit-bearing courses. However, your home institution may accept them as credits towards your degree. Consult with your home institution about credit questions.

Before You Apply

Before applying to our program, be sure to:

  • Familiarize yourself with your program of interest and learn about where you will study, travel, and live.
  • Carefully consider the mental, emotional, and physical challenges of the program.
  • You will have to upload a digital copy of your student ID. Have it ready before starting an application. 

Application

Summer School application opens on March 1, 2023 and closes on June 16, 2023. Review the admission requirements, and prepare necessary materials prior to beginning your online application.

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Tuition Payment

Tuition Payment

We strongly encourage you to make a payment early to apply for a Visa. We will issue a receipt for the tuition payment and that may be helpful in passing the Visa interview.

Refund Policy

There will be no refund available unless a student gets rejected for a U.S. visa or has a health emergency. All refund appeals require a signed letter of explanation and supporting documentation. The appeal letter must be written and signed by the student. For a medical problem, we require verification of the severity of the condition that prevents you from coming to the US and participating in the program. We require a letter, typed on official letterhead, from a physician or a relevant healthcare provider. The letter must be signed and delivered/mailed in a sealed envelope. Emails or unsigned letters on plain stationery are not acceptable. The final decision on refund is at VIPP’s discretion.

How to Pay

Tuition payment is made online on the VIPP Cashnet website.

An Important Message about the U.S. Visa

All foreign citizens who wish to travel to the United States must obtain a U.S. visa. For general information about U.S. visa, please visit US Department of State website. After we review your application we will send you an invitation letter. However, this letter is not a U.S. visa nor does it guarantee your entry to the U.S. You must check the U.S. embassy website in your home country to find out all necessary documents to apply for a non-immigrant visitor visa (B1, B2). About a US visitor visa, check https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visitor.html for details. 

  • B-1 visa classification is for business travelers to consult with business associates, attend a conference, settle an estate, or negotiate a contract.
  • B-2 visa classification is for tourists on vacation and, people coming for medical treatment, a social event, or participation in amateur contests for no pay.

A short-term training workshop like the summer school program will be classified for B-1 visa type. To obtain a B visa, You must fill out a DC-160 form, pay the visa fee, schedule your visa appointment, and pass the visa interview. You must schedule an appointment for your visa interview, generally, at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where you live. Wait times for interview appointments vary by location, season, and visa category, so you should apply for your visa early. VIPP strongly encourages you to pay the tuition early to process a visa. Don'wait until the deadline! It is your responsibility to check the visa process and prepare all documents needed. 

The following documents will be helpful to pass the visa interview:

  • Formal invitation letter from VIPP 
  • Program fee payment receipt. This will be issued by VIPP once we receive your payment.
  • Your valid student ID.
  • A supporting letter from your home institution signed by the international office or your department chair.
  • Your bank statement or parent's (or other sponsor's) bank statement to demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to purchase a return air ticket. Any other asset-like properties and cars belonging to the family may be useful too.
  • Booking confirmation of your return air ticket. 
  • You also must have a valid passport from your home country when you apply for a U.S. visa.  

Visa Waiver Program 

Some countries such as the Republic of Korea, Japan, and the European Union participate in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). VWP enables most citizens or nationals of participating countries to travel to the U.S. for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without first obtaining a visa. Still, in order to travel without a visa on the VWP, you must have authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). Please check the details of process at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's official site: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/. They strongly suggest applying for an ESTA at the time of booking their trip and no later than 72 hours prior to departure. 

At the Airport 

Obtaining a visa does not guarantee automatic entry to the U.S. When you arrive in the U.S., officers from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the airport will interview you to check the purpose of your visit. It is always a good idea to prepare our invitation letter and your return flight ticket back to your country.

Visa information Chinese (PDF)

 

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Speakers

Guest Speakers

In addition to classes, all VIPP Global Summer School students will enjoy guest lectures by expert speakers covering a variety of topics. Check back here for speaker profiles and lecture topics.