The Annual Anticipation Way

The Annual Anticipation Way

NIU’s 2026 Fall semester is starting in one week on the dot, and things are heating up at the studio! We’re anticipating an awesome year thanks to the preparation and hard work of our studio members and we look forward to seeing everyone soon!

With less than a month away, we’re getting revved up and ready for STEM Fest, a large annual gathering that increases public awareness of STEM activities, careers, and education. We’ll be there to support innovative initiatives and we hope you will be, too!

Vespa Mode has been warming up its engine and getting ready for new riders. The studio workers that take care of it have fixed a few practical problems like a wonky handlebar and model base. By the time everyone’s back, she should be ready to roll.

Our leader, Federico Bassetti, completed “Train-the-Trainer” from the Scrum Alliance. With this training, he’ll better understand requirements, be able to complete trainer preparation, and deliver excellent learning experiences to different audiences and environments.

71 North has a brand new podcast coming out - 71 North Our Way! We’re creating weekly episodes (with AI assistance) in an effort to communicate the studio’s culture and promote its programs.

Check out our most recent episode about physical, digital, and virtual stewardship at 71 North here!

Starting this fall, 71 North Partnership Studio will host the Undergraduate Research to PhD (UR2PhD) program, expanding opportunities for students to develop research, mentoring, and leadership skills while strengthening the future research workforce.

Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate students can gain hands-on experience through research preparation and training courses, workshops on research careers and graduate school pathways, and funding opportunities that help them continue their research experiences.

Prior research experience is not required for acceptance to the program. The course culminates in the creation of a research proposal that we hope students implement after the course concludes. To apply for the Undergraduate Research Training Course, click on this link.

Graduate Students

Graduate students can strengthen their leadership and mentoring skills through a synchronous virtual mentorship training course that is designed to guide students in developing an effective and personalized mentoring philosophy. Participants will have the opportunity to connect with peers from universities across the country and earn a course completion certificate. If eligible, graduate students who successfully complete the course will be compensated with a stipend of $1,000. To apply, click on this link.

UXcel courses and certificates are now available for 71 North Partnership Studio members. The studio will be offering the Pro-Level UXcel benefits (free) to members!

Course Completion Certificates are awarded upon finishing individual interactive lessons or multi-level career paths in UX, Product Management, or AI. These are free for Pro and Team subscribers (not available on the Starter plan) and remain permanently attached to your account even if your subscription expires. They serve as proof of learning and continuous upskilling and are suitable for adding to LinkedIn or portfolios to demonstrate commitment to specific topics.

Learn UX Design, Product Management & AI Skills

Learn in-demand UX design, product management & AI skills with bite-sized interactive courses, career paths, and live events. Join 500k+ professionals advancing careers.

In our experience, UXcel courses have been easy to understand and useful in the workplace. If you’re interested in the offered courses, we recommend you check them out!

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