K-12 Outreach
In accordance with the Wisconsin Idea, the European Studies (ES) program runs and supports outreach programming to K-12 educators and students with the primary aim of providing the K-12 community with information, resources and events that help to promote the study and teaching of Europe, the EU and European issues. With Europe a key player on the international stage, our outreach fits more broadly into the goal of internationalizing education, providing cross-regional, transnational and comparative perspectives for further study.
We offer professional development workshops and mini-courses for educators across the state often in collaboration with our Wisconsin International Research Consortium (WIRC) partner centers, and we sponsor events and support K-12 students through diverse programming often in partnership with WIRC (e.g. World Cinema Day, Italian Day, World Appreciation Day etc…).
ES understands that each of our events is not just a stand-alone activity, but that our programming also develops a community of educators and students with a direct connection to our center and staff, and who may become regular participants at our outreach events. These activities also develop awareness within the K-12 community that the center is a resource that can be accessed by, for example, former K-12 students as they enter UW-Madison and continue their European and internationally focused studies at the University.
We work in conjunction with Madison College for the Global Studies Passport Program. Interested in outreach opportunities or teacher workshops? Please contact europe@international.wisc.edu.
Teacher Workshops
To see what we offer, please click here.
Brussels Study Tour
Brussels Study Tour is accepting applications for 2025! During this week-long tour educators learn about the European Union in situ. View the current call for applications here.
Past Activities
Brussels Study Abroad Tour
The Jean Monnet European Union Center of Excellence (JMEUCE) at UW-Madison previously took applications for study trips to Brussels, Belgium.
- In 2024, Mikki Maddox, a social studies teacher at Necedah Area High School, shared her experience here.
- In 2023, Mary Hunter, an International Baccalureate Educator in the Green Lake School District in Wisconsin, participated and shared her experience here.
- In 2022, Adam Wimberly from Kimberly High School, Kimberly, WI (2020 and 2021 trips were postponed due to travel restrictions). You can read Adam’s experience here.
- In 2018, the recipients were Lisa Hollman from Madison College and UW-Madison undergraduates Violet Richardson and Jordan Jerrett. You can read Lisa’s experience here.
- In 2017, Julie Buckman from Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College and UW-Madison undergraduate Clara Jeon received this travel grant and shared their experiences here and here.
- In 2016, Joel Ryan from Madison College received the community college travel grant to spend one week in Brussels learning about the European Union. He shared his experience here.
Torsten Schimanski “The Response to the Skills Gap Issue: Apprenticeships!”
Torsten Schimanski, Director of Open Enrollment Training for the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program (NJMEP), spoke to the American Council on Germany Madison Warburg Chapter at Madison College on Nov. 15, 2017 about the importance of apprenticeships to building a vibrant economy.