The University of California, Davis, has taken top spot among universities in the nation for its inclusiveness, diversity and internationalization in rankings released today (May 5). In the second annual QS USA University Rankings, UC Davis ranked sixth overall among public universities (34th among all institutions) in the nation and fourth among public universities (seventh among all universities) in California. In the diversity and internationalization category, the campus tied for top spot with the private New York University; last year it also tied for first in the category with New York University and UCLA.

Alumni engagement is one of the most powerful tools the field of international education has, but it is an often-overlooked piece of the education abroad experience. University of California-Davis (UC Davis) recently expanded the traditional returnee conference model and created the Global Learning Conference, which was open to all students interested in solving global issues—whether they had done a formal study abroad program or not. By actively bringing together study abroad participants, international students, first-generation college students, and students who have navigated intercultural spaces, the conference expanded each attendees’ network and knowledge in myriad ways. The conference launched in 2020 with more than 150 attendees, and participation is expected to double this year.  

UC Davis in the U.S. has launched a fund to support students to gain global learning experiences that advance LGBTQIA+ issues and address the needs and strengths of the community.

The UC Davis College of Letters and Science, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, and the Global Learning Hub within Global Affairs, have over $40,000 in funding for students to cover partial-to-full cost of participation on virtual global learning projects this summer.

By virtually attending the 2021 Global Learning Conference: Preparing for Your Global Future in an Evolving World, participants will further advance their global perspectives in today’s interconnected world. Now open to all students and alumni, the conference aims to help them learn to articulate and market global leadership skills, further their personal and professional goals, and interact with global leaders in their fields of interest. 

Among the many experiences lost as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has been studying abroad. Given the stay-at-home orders and health directives, the prospect of students traveling overseas became dangerous and study abroad programs have been canceled or moved online since March 2020. However, as vaccines begin to be distributed, hope for a travel-filled future lingers in the air and provides possibilities for students dreaming of a study abroad experience. 

Global Affairs has launched a new fund, the Global Aggie Award for LGBTQIA+ Rights, thanks to the generosity of former UC Davis Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor and former Interim Chancellor Ralph Hexter and his husband Manfred Kollmeier.

Grad Slam at UC Davis is organized by Graduate Studies and sponsored by Global Affairs, Public Scholarship and Engagement, and the Office of Research. The annual competition, held at the campus and system levels, asks master’s and Ph.D. students in any discipline to summarize their research for a general audience in three minutes or less.

Another shift in momentum could be toward giving students global experiences closer to home. For some students, that could mean “studying away” rather than studying abroad, getting a cross-cultural educational experience within the United States by spending time in diaspora or refugee community, often close to campus. The University of California at Davis, for example, offers global learning programs with Spanish-speaking migrant workers and Nepalese immigrants.

Meet Alea Skwara, Psychology Graduate Student and Grad Slam Finalist.