Notre Dame Global in Photos: January 2026 | News | Notre Dame Beijing

From the winding streets of Rome to the vibrant neighborhoods of Puebla, Notre Dame students and faculty launched into 2026 with curiosity, creativity, and renewed energy. The Rome International Scholars wandered through the city's Garbatella neighborhood, discovering its rich history and distinctive architecture, while in Puebla, Mexico, program participants dove into a semester of professional internships alongside an in-depth focus on sustainable international development. In Ireland, Kylemore’s MFA Art Programme residents drew inspiration from the sweeping slopes of Diamond Hill during a visit from renowned portraitist Mick O’Dea. In Jerusalem, the latest ADAM coding program participants celebrated a milestone, while students in Hong Kong and São Paulo explored cultural landmarks, sampled local cuisine, and settled into city life. In Beijing, a delegation from the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations sparked dialogue on global collaboration, and in London, study abroad students brought Shakespeare to life through performance workshops. Back on campus, Fulbright scholar Dr. Richard Watuulo advanced research on 21st-century education, while visiting international students reflected on their cultural identities and global perspectives. Across continents, these experiences captured the energy, engagement, and discovery that define Notre Dame’s global community.

This photo gallery highlights some of the valuable interactions and experiences Notre Dame faculty, staff, and students have taken part in over the past month.

The selection was curated by Notre Dame Global staff working on campus and in the University's 12 global locations.

Rome

A man in a dark jacket gestures and speaks to seven attentive students on a paved path. Behind them are orange buildings with red tile roofs and lush green trees under a bright sky.

During Orientation Week at Notre Dame Rome, Professor James Schwarten led students from the Rome International Scholars program to explore Garbatella, a neighborhood with an engaging history, strong local identity, and eclectic architecture inspired by the English garden city model.

Kylemore

Three hikers stand on a golden-brown grassy hillside under a cloudy sky. A woman in an orange headscarf stands left, a man in a blue jacket with hiking poles stands center, and a woman in a green jacket raises her arms right.

Mick O’Dea—esteemed Irish portrait and figurative painter, former president of the Royal Hibernian Academy, and recent recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy from Dublin City University—visited Notre Dame Kylemore to speak on portraiture and share insights from his career. He also joined Kylemore’s MFA Art Programme residents on a hike across the sweeping vistas of Diamond Hill, drawing inspiration as they work toward their final exhibition.

Mexico

Eight smiling young adults pose in front of the ornate, colorful façade of the Templo de Santa María Tonantzintla. The church features intricate red, yellow, and blue tile patterns, statues in niches, and two bell towers under a clear sky.

The Notre Dame Mexico team kicked off the spring 2026 study abroad program in Puebla by welcoming nine Notre Dame students for a semester of academic enrichment, professional internship placements, and deep cultural immersion. From orientation to city exploration, Puebla will provide the students with countless opportunities for growth, connection, and discovery over the next four months.

Jerusalem

A bald, smiling man in a suit speaks from a podium to a diverse audience. A screen displays "ADAM Program Closing Ceremony." A University of Notre Dame at Tantur banner, featuring the Golden Dome, stands behind him.

Gabriel Mitchell, director of undergraduate studies for Notre Dame Jerusalem, delivered congratulatory remarks to participants who completed the ADAM coding program. The program provides participants with an opportunity to strengthen their academic skills, gain fluency in foreign languages, deepen their digital literacy, and pursue personal growth.

London

A Black woman with braids in a rust sweater speaks, holding a paper with colorful charts. Three young men also hold papers behind her in a room with a large screen displaying blurred figures and a table adorned with a gold Notre Dame seal.

The spring 2026 cohort of almost 200 spring semester Study Abroad students at Notre Dame London participated in hands-on Shakespeare workshops delivered by Actors From the London Stage. By exploring the epilogue of The Tempest through physical performance, students forged personal connections to the text and to one of London’s most important cultural figures.

Hong Kong

Notre Dame Hong Kong welcomed five spring semester students from the Mendoza College of Business who will take classes at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, a top 10-ranked university in Asia. Among other culturally immersive activities, students were treated to a variety of local favorites, including Hong Kong's famous pineapple buns.

Beijing

Notre Dame Beijing hosted a delegation from the National Committee on United States-China Relations (NCUSCR), with 15 delegation members, led by Elizabeth Knup, a NCUSCR board member and honorary Senior Fellow at the Asia Society. A highly respected U.S. organization, the NCUSCR plays a longstanding role in advancing dialogue, research, and cooperation between the United States and China.

São Paulo

Two smiling young people stand in front of orange streamers and balloons. A man with glasses wears a gray plaid shirt, a woman in a white dress has her hand on her hip. A welcome sign in multiple languages is to their left.

The Notre Dame São Paulo team welcomed two new students for the upcoming semester. Notre Dame undergraduate students Anna Gonçalves and Frederick White attended orientation, shopped for essentials, and participated in several cultural activities, including a visit to the Mirante at SESC and Museu do Itaú, to get them acquainted with their new Brazilian home.

Global Innovation Team

A smiling man in a black beanie, grey scarf, and tan jacket with outstretched arms, stands before Notre Dame's iconic Main Building, featuring its yellow brick and Golden Dome, against a bright blue sky.

Notre Dame Global and the Center for the Study of Languages and Cultures welcomed Fulbright visiting scholar, Dr. Richard Watuulo, from Kyambogo University in Uganda. During his three months at Notre Dame, Watuulo will conduct research exploring how to maximize national education curriculum with 21st-century skills for university-level learners.

Global Engagement Programs

An instructor in a plaid shirt gestures while presenting "What is Intercultural Competence?" on a screen to students. Seated at desks, students face the front in a Notre Dame classroom with a crucifix above a door.

Visiting international students participated in the first of four intercultural workshops led by Dr. Carrie Anne Thomas, associate director of global education for Notre Dame Global. The first session challenged students to reflect on their cultural identities as a foundation for learning, adapting, and thriving in new cultural contexts.

Originally published by Cory Hankins at global.nd.edu on February 11, 2026.