Join VIPP’s Global Virtual Winter School for an immersive international exchange experience without leaving your country. Global Winter School provides a cost-effective way to study abroad virtually. Enjoy cross-cultural collaborative learning, work in real-time with classmates from MSU and around the world, and learn from MSU’s world-class faculty. All of the innovative programs in the Global Winter School feature hands-on experiential learning, teach real-world problem solving and are led by expert instructors. VIPP has trained over 4,000 international professionals over the last 30 years. We understand what students and young professionals need to build a successful career. Expand your academic knowledge and enhance your career competitiveness with a Global Virtual Winter School program.
This winter VIPP is offering two courses. Click on the tabs above to learn more about each course.
Upon successful completion students will receive an MSU Certificate of Global Young Professional Program (GYPP) from the Visiting International Professional Program and the relevant MSU college.
Virtual Winter School online application is open November 1 - December 16, 2024. Review the admission requirements in the "Program Details and Application" tab, and prepare necessary materials prior to beginning your application.
We are pleased to offer ten scholarships for the 2025 Virtual Winter School, each valued at $400 to support students in pursuing their studies. Please click on the "Program Details and Application" tab above to learn how to apply for a scholarship.
Students who take part in the 2025 Global Virtual Winter School program will receive a $300 discount for any 2025 VIPP Global Summer School Program. Join us this winter online, and then join us again this summer on the beautiful campus of Michigan State University for our in-person program! Go Green!
In today's super-connected world, social media plays a powerful role in sharing information, shaping our perspectives, influencing behavior, and driving trends. With the rise of digital platforms and an ever-evolving content landscape, understanding the principles behind storytelling and content creation has never been more critical. This course offers a unique introduction to the world of media, content creation, and storytelling through the lens of an American university experience.
Engage with diverse media, from Hollywood blockbusters to viral TikTok trends. Discover how storytelling varies across cultures, industries, and platforms while exploring media’s influence on global audiences. Through practical assignments, interactive discussions, and global media case studies, participants will gain hands-on experience and an insider's perspective on media industry trends, job markets, and creative processes. Students will develop a storytelling piece—whether a short film, ad campaign, or social media content—and receive feedback to sharpen their work for real-world impact. Dive behind the scenes of production and boost your career prospects in the media and creative industry!
Japan and S. Korea Standard Time: 9:30pm - 11:00 pm
China, Philippines, Malaysia Standard Time: 8:30pm - 10:00pm
Indonesia (Jakarta): 7:30pm - 9:00pm
East Lansing, MI (EST): 7:30am - 9:00am
(Or check your local time here.)
Zoom and D2L - Students must use a device with a working camera and microphone
Amol Pavangadkar, a Professor of Practice and Senior Specialist at Michigan State University, is an award-winning educator and media professional with expertise across multiple fields. Holding graduate degrees in tv, radio, and film, as well as financial management and human resources, he also has an undergraduate degree in electronics. Beyond academics, Amol actively produces short films, commercials, and TV pilots, mentoring students using industry-standard equipment. His recent documentary work addresses critical global issues, including race, the pandemic, human trafficking, trauma response, and climate change communication.
Recognized for his significant contributions, Amol is the only MSU faculty member to receive the prestigious Faculty Seminar Fellowship from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (2012). He has also been honored with the MSU Faculty Impact Award (2016), the iTeachMSU Teaching Award (2019), and India’s Balgandharva Puraskar for excellence in media and arts.
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.
AI is rapidly changing our world, sometimes in unexpected ways. This course provides students with an opportunity to deepen their knowledge and share their own views about artificial intelligence and the concept of the digital mind. We will examine the benefits, limitations, and dangers of new AI tools, including ChatGPT and generative AI for creating art and music. We will ask ourselves where these tools are taking us as a civilization and what they show us about ourselves and our own strengths and limitations as creative beings.
Students will acquire a basic understanding of the inner workings of Large Language Models and how best to use these tools to increase creativity and productivity. Through presentations by the instructor, class discussions, and interactive student presentations, students will develop intuitions for spotting and demythologizing the catastrophist discourse that sometimes overstates the ultimate cognitive powers and dangers of AI, develop a vocabulary for thinking about the future of AI and the question of artificial consciousness, and discover the history of the rise of the digital mind through the 20th century.
Japan and S. Korea Standard Time: 9:30pm - 11:00pm
China, Philippines, Malaysia Standard Time: 8:30pm - 10:00pm
Indonesia (Jakarta): 7:30pm - 9:00pm
East Lansing, MI (EST): 7:30am - 9:00am
(Or check your local time here.)
Zoom and D2L - Students must use a device with a working camera and microphone
Dr. Ivan Maksymyk teaches high level courses in machine learning and programming at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales (HEC) Montreal, Department of Information Technology. Dr. Maksymyk holds a PhD in Theoretical Particle Physics from the University of Montreal, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst. His work focuses on deep learning and neural networks, and machine learning applications in finance.
Dr. Maksymyk has expertise in web development and programming, as well as cybersecurity and intellectual property protection. He is the author of the new book The false prophecy of machine consciousness, a counter-cultural examination of (the future of) artificial intelligence.
Upon successful completion of the program, a certificate will be awarded by the Michigan State University Visiting International Professional Program. 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.
The VIPP Global Virtual Winter School Program looks for mature, academically motivated, and curious students who are willing to experience different cultures and broaden their horizons.
Admission Requirements:
The Virtual Winter School online application is open November 1, 2024 - December 16, 2024. Review the admission requirements, and prepare necessary materials prior to beginning your application.
Step-by-Step Online Application Instructions (PDF)
Program Dates
Time Commitment
Course Platform
Zoom and D2L - Students must use a device with a working camera and microphone
Program Fees:
Digital Storytelling: $800
AI in Today's World: $1,000
Payment Deadline:
We are pleased to offer ten scholarships for the virtual Winter School, each valued at $400 to support students in pursuing their studies.
Eligibility and Application Process
1. Complete the Regular Application
Start by submitting an application for admission to the Winter School. Only students admitted to the program are eligible to apply for the scholarship.
2. Submit Scholarship Documents
After being admitted, applicants can apply for the scholarship by providing the following:
Selection Criteria
Scholarship recipients will be chosen based on academic merit and financial need.
Notification and Obligations
Notification: Successful applicants will receive an email notification with further instructions.
Withdrawal Policy: If you are selected but are unable to attend the program, you must notify us at least one week before the start date to allow the scholarship to be offered to another student.
If you have any questions about the application or selection process, please don't hesitate to contact us at . We look forward to welcoming you to our Winter School program.
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.
Dedicated Faculty & Staff: Michigan State University employs approximately 5,300 dedicated faculty and academic staff who are there to support you.
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.
We invite you to come back in person for future courses to enjoy all that Michigan State University and its campus have to offer.
Some highlights of the MSU experience include:
Picturesque Campus: Our huge campus occupies a 5,200 acre 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.
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!
Students in the Global Virtual Winter School enjoy learning, collaborating, and sharing ideas. Students explored the relationships between social media and social movements in global contexts, and how technology has changed the way people mobilize around current events. For their final presentations they researched and shared about a wide range of fascinating topics. Read about some of our VIPP Winter School students, and check out their final project presentations below!
Yixuan WuHello, my name is Yixuan Wu, you can call me Ava. I study in Zhejiang University, majoring in law. I like traveling, reading nonfictional literature and watching movies. I am also interested in social media and social movement. I have joined a club at school themed at news. In the future, I want to be a lawyer to pursue justice.
Presentation: "Fake News and the Morality Police in Iran" (PDF)
Tianlan XiaI am Tianlan Xia, a year two university student majoring in Political Science in Zhejiang University. I have always been interested in the role of social media in social movements, so I took this course and got a lot out of it.
Presentation: "The Sanitary Napkin Movement on Weibo" (PDF)
Yixuan XieMy name is Yixuan Xie, a freshman from Jimei University majoring in Japanese. Having a fascination with music, language and especially sociology, I dream to do some research related to language use and gender research. Though I'm an introverted person who is not very good at talking, multicultural communication is still very interesting for me, so it was an amazing experience to participate in VIPP Winter School, I did have a lot opportunity to discuss and deepened my understanding of social media and its social impact in this program, also I met professors and classmates who were always kind and inspiring.
Presentation: "LGBTQ Online Movements in the Face of Censorship" (PDF)
Jing LiMy name’s Jing Li, and I’m a senior student from Communication University of China. My major is communication engineering, but I also took some courses related to film shooting and convergence media for my hobby. Besides movies, I love singing and dancing, everything to do with music. I have joined this course because I want to learn more about media and I really love this course.
Presentation: "What is Your Tone on Social Media" (PDF)
Xiaowen GongHi there! My name is Xiaowen Gong. I am 19 years old and I’m a sophomore in the Communication University of China. Meanwhile, my major is Television Editing and I’ve learned a lot of theory in subjects like mass-communication and documentary. In my spare time, I always enjoy watching movies and playing the violin. As for my future plans, I hope I can make a little bit contribution to the development of human society with my professional knowledge and real actions.
Presentation: "The Microaggression in Social Media" (PDF)
He ZhuI am He Zhu, English name is Congratulations, majoring in Broadcasting and Anchoring in Communication University of China. I love art, singing, painting and Chinese calligraphy. I am curious about everything. I yearn for freedom and knowledge. It is enough for me to have a job that can realize my self-worth in the future.
Presentation: "Is the Social bot Good or Evil?" (PDF)
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