University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) has a great reputation over the world. It is the foundation member of ‘Big Ten’. The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) of UIUC remains close corporation with Zhejiang University. International Summer Immersion Program (ISIP) for undergraduate students already has a 7-year history.
This summer, from July 7th to August 12th, 4 students of Agricultural& Biotechnology College at Zhejiang University attended this one-month research program. Along with them were 8 students from other colleges of The Faculty of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences (FALES).
ISIP program focuses on research intern. Students joined their selected laboratories after they had gained general understanding of the university. They first designed the project together with their mentors. Then, they explored the project deeply and did some experiments seriously. Through the hard work of one month, with the help of mentors and graduate students, they finished their projects. Moreover, they made their own posters summarizing their projects, some complimented by their mentors.
This experience of research definitely improved students’ experimental skills. They also got the chance to see variable research approaches, as well as research frontiers of their majors. Students also gained a general feeling about American research system by participating in laboratory meetings, talking with mentors and graduate students.
What’s more, through some informal salons and lectures, students became clearer about their future career plans. At weekends, ISIP program organized 3 short field trips to Springfield, St. Louis and Chicago. These short but wonderful trips gave students chance to experience the culture and the custom of America.
ISIP program was originally designed to improve college students’ quality, making them more competitive on the world stage. This is consistent with the aim of Zhejiang University, culturing future leaders with global perspectives. Students feel themselves benefited a lot from this program. On one hand, they left their familiar environment and entered foreign laboratories. There they learned new things, compared American research system with Chinese one. One the other hand, they also communicated with the excellent students worldwide.
