马克斯·鲍卡斯中国中心
The Max. S Baucus Institute China Center
Preparing the next generation of Montana leaders to tackle the greatest economic and global challenges of our time.
Our Mission
Following his tenure as U.S. Ambassador to China, Max Baucus set out to ensure that the next generation of Montana students could access the educational and professional opportunities that firsthand experience in China unlocks. To that aim, the Baucus Institute China Center currently offers a wide range of world-class, all-expenses-paid programs to take students to China.
Through in-depth pre-departure education, the Baucus Institute China Center prepares all of our students — regardless of what exchange program they attend — to understand the nuances of China, not just what they read in the headlines.
Upon their return, the China Center at the Max Baucus Institute continues to support our students through alumni networks, further opportunities for study, and professional experiences. Our students have gone on to intern at major corporations, obtain prestigious China-related scholarships, pursue further graduate study, and build careers in public service. No matter what their ambitions are, our goal is to develop future leaders prepared to tackle challenges at home and abroad.
Our Curriculum
Pre-Departure
Following their acceptance to one of our study abroad programs in late February, every Baucus Institute China Center student begins two months of curated preparation. Starting with a crash course in Mandarin and continuing with talks from leading China scholars, including Max Baucus, students gain the insights and lenses they need in order to make sense of what they are seeing and learning on the ground.
In-Country Programs
The Max Baucus Institute has been sending students to China for nearly a decade. Our track record of programs has evolved over the years, and continues to grow. Each has been built for a different kind of student, interest, and level of commitment. A student can begin with a two-week exchange or commit to a full year of language study. Our internship program has placed students at leading organizations like Shanghai Disneyland, the South China Morning Post, and Nature and Future. Our study abroad programs bring students to tour the offices of leading Chinese innovators like Lenovo and Xiaomi. No single program or opportunity is the same, but each provides students with hands-on experience and behind-the-scenes knowledge.
Post-Program Opportunities
A program doesn’t end when students land back in Montana. The China Center is built to carry momentum forward — connecting students to the opportunities and next steps that turn time in China into a career. Through alumni networks, mentorship from past scholars, connections to our partner organizations, and annual gatherings, we ensure our students stay engaged long into the future.
Our Current Programs
China 1: CUSEF Next Gen Scholars
Duration: 2 weeks
Locations: Hong Kong, Beijing, Chengdu
The program includes many seminars and visits to high-tech, cultural, and rural sites, providing opportunities for students to learn about Chinese culture, green technology, environment, rural development, and language.
China 2: Climate Emphasis
Duration: 3 weeks
Location: Wanxiang Polytechnic, Hangzhou
Students will be hosted on Wanxiang Polytechnic’s campus, bookended with trips to Beijing and Shanghai. Students learn about China’ s sustainability efforts, with lectures and site visits to power plants, EV manufacturers, and more.
Peking University
Duration: 2 weeks
Location: Peking University, Beijing
A summer program at Peking University, long regarded as China’s intellectual and political heart. Coursework spans Chinese history, politics, and culture, paired with full immersion in campus life in Beijing.
Baucus Scholars at Fudan University
Duration: Semester or Full Academic Year
Location: Fudan University, Shanghai
A full academic year of intensive Mandarin at one of China’s top universities. Located in Shanghai, this program is for students most serious about learning the Mandarin language and gaining exposure to the heart of China’ s economic world.
Baucus Leaders — Asia
Duration: Summer
Location: Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore
Paid professional placements with organizations at the frontier of their fields, the Institute’s flagship leadership experience, extended to Asia.