News
GVSU Students Travel to Switzerland for Swiss Exchange Program
September 17, 2024
In July, a group of Grand Valley computing students traveled to Switzerland on a faculty-led trip to learn more about machine learning, data engineering, and culture of the Swiss. Students arrived in Switzerland and began two weeks of classes at Zurich University before taking a cohort of Swiss students back to Allendale for rigorous study in deep learning and data visualization.
Students work in a project-based structure, choosing from a list of projects to work on over the two weeks. Lectures teach students about processing and transforming data to be used in their projects. Some projects this year included programs that helped computers classify plants and machine learning algorithms used to determine prices of apartments. Swiss students worked with emeritus professor Dr. Paul Leidig regarding the health of underwater coral.
Grant Gordon, a GVSU Computer Science major, attended the Swiss exchange. Gordon has a fascination with machine learning and artificial intelligence, which is the reason why he chose this study abroad program. Additionally, he enjoyed networking and learning alongside students from a different background than his.
Faculty lead and professor Ira Woodring said the trip gives students hand-on experiences. He stated, “We go to a business or organization and we see what sort of data science projects they are doing, real world things.”
Hiking through the Swiss Alps, navigating ancient castles, and exploring data centers are just some of the activities this year’s group did. A big event included the Euro 2024 soccer tournament, where students were able to join crowds and parades as Switzerland knocked out defending champions Italy. Back in Allendale, many of the Swiss students really enjoyed exploring Holland and Lake Michigan. The time spent navigating a new country leaves an outstanding cultural mark on both the Swiss and American students.
Overall, Mr. Woodring said the Swiss Exchange provides students with
amazing opportunities, academically and personally. “Monday through
Thursday, we are in class with professors who are experts in their
field, but on the weekends, students are free to explore and meet new people.”
For more information about the College of Computing’s study
abroad opportunities, click here.
Article written by Maxwell Ritchie, Digital Media Specialist
Graduate Assistant, for the College of Computing.