Notre Dame Global in Photos: July 2025 | News | Notre Dame Beijing

From soaring above Teotihuacan in a hot air balloon and examining Dante’s legacy in London, to engaging in a capoeira workshop in Portugal and discussing resilience in Croatia, July highlighted the depth of Notre Dame’s global engagement. In Mexico and China, Global Research Experience students took part in pre-professional practicums and research that further immersed them in local culture. Santiago welcomed its largest-ever summer cohort, facilitating programs in literature, theology, research, and community-based volunteerism. Dublin interns considered critical issues at Ireland's international forum for thought leaders, and Kylemore students embraced Irish tradition at the Galway Races. Students in Germany studied medicinal chemistry, while those in Poland examined international law and the politics of genocide. Across Brazil and Africa, new research collaborations and university partnerships helped cast a clearer vision of the future in higher education and underscored Notre Dame's ongoing commitment to being an ever-present force for good in the world.

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.

Mexico

Before leaving Mexico City, the Global Research Experience (GRE) and Global Professional Experience (GPE) students experienced Teotihuacan from above, uniquely exploring the roots of Mesoamerican civilization. The hot air balloon ride blended ancient history with a modern twist, making their cultural journey even more unforgettable. Ten students were hosted by the Notre Dame Mexico team and engaged in pre-professional practicums and research at the American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico, Co Creando la Innovación y Sustentabilidad Social AC, Comunidad MAPFRE - Universidad Panamericana, ECOM COCOA MÉXICO, El Palacio de Hierro, and Instituto Politécnico Nacional.

Jerusalem

A large group of people, including several wearing matching "Resilience & Recovery" t-shirts, pose outdoors with Croatian and Ukrainian flags in front of a stone building and a statue of Jesus with outstretched arms.

Dr. Daniel Schwake, director of Notre Dame Jerusalem, taught at a joint program run by Notre Dame's Nanovic Institute for European Studies, the Catholic University of Croatia, and Ukrainian Catholic University, bringing together students from these institutes and other Catholic universities for a program on “Practicing Resilience” in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Rome

Seven people stand inside the ruins of an ancient Roman building with arched brick ceilings and a partially intact marble stove or oven.

Students in the Rome Summer: Classics program visited a thermopolium at Ostia Antica, with Professor Bert Lott standing behind the counter where food was once served to Roman customers. The still-life painting above the students' heads provides a glimpse of what was on the menu.

Beijing

Thirteen Notre Dame students took part in the Beijing, China Summer: Philosophy of Science joint program alongside 18 classmates from Peking University. During the three-week program, Notre Dame and Peking University students engaged in academic discussions during class and shared experiences outside the classroom. From visiting the Great Wall and Forbidden City to attending concerts and lunching with Notre Dame alums, the students maximized their short time in China.

Hong Kong

Group of people pose outside a restaurant decorated with red lanterns at night.

Notre Dame Hong Kong welcomed parents of GPE students to Hong Kong, and in mid-July, bid farewell to the students with a sunset ceremony in Hong Kong. GPE students had the opportunity to work for Four Seas Group, Negawatt Utility, Marga Group, and Farmacy, among other notable entities.

Santiago

A group of approximately twenty people smiles for a photo on a sunny day, standing beneath a tree with fall foliage. Some wear Notre Dame apparel. A slatted concrete wall is visible in the background.

Hosting 28 Notre Dame students across the Santiago Summer: Literature & Theology, Global Research Experience, Global Professional Experience, the Bridge Engineering Program, and NDBridge, the Notre Dame Santiago team wrapped up its most successful summer yet. The team hosted a session at the UC Chile San Joaquín campus to gain valuable insight regarding the students' time in Chile and how these experiences will shape their academic pursuits in the future.

Dublin

Four speakers sit on a stage in front of a large audience during the McGill Summer School 2025, in association with the University of Notre Dame. A screen behind them displays the event title, and pink uplighting illuminates ornate chandeliers.

Seven students on the Notre Dame Dublin Irish Internship Program closed out their 8-week internships in government and political placements by attending MacGill Summer School — Ireland's international forum for thought leaders — to discuss the critical issues facing the country, Europe, and the world overall. MacGill is co-sponsored by the Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies within the Keough School for Global Affairs.

Global Engagement Programs

Six people smile and make peace signs while enjoying scoops of bright yellow lemon sorbet in a kitchen.

Notre Dame Global staff members welcomed participants from the International Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (iSURE) Program into their homes, sharing a home-cooked meal and family traditions (like ice cream making in Leah Zimmer’s family). This series of dinners is one of many cultural activities that complement the iSURE students’ research and academic endeavors throughout the summer.

Kylemore

A group of students pose for a photo at the entrance to Galway Races. They stand smiling before the "Welcome to Galway Races" sign, with race card booths visible on either side. Several students wear hats and dresses.

The Notre Dame Kylemore Summer Engineering & Environmental Science Program participants enjoyed the festivities of the Galway Races Summer Festival. Students donned their finest hats and festive wear, soaking in the lively atmosphere, thrilling horse races, and this vibrant Irish tradition.

Mumbai

A group of people, some wearing traditional Indian clothing and some in casual Western attire, pose indoors holding a large University of Notre Dame flag.

The Notre Dame family in India gathered for its annual Celebrate Notre Dame Weekend. The Notre Dame Mumbai team welcomed alumni, parents, incoming and current students, staff, and friends of the University for a joyful weekend of connection, celebration, and community.

São Paulo

Group photo of twelve individuals, most wearing black "Uncovering the PFAS Threat Study" t-shirts, posing with a woman in a white blazer and peach skirt.

A documentary screening and panel discussion regarding PFAS contamination took place in Salvador, Brazil, in early July, marking the launch of a new Brazil–U.S. research partnership. Thaís Pires, director of Notre Dame São Paolo, attended the event alongside professors Márcio Bahia and Daniele Miranda, who are leading the collaborative student research project.

London

Group photo of eight people at a book launch for "Dante the Theologian" by Pierre Mandonnet. Two people are seated at a table holding the book, and six others stand behind them. A screen displays the book's cover and event information.

Notre Dame London faculty joined scholars from the School of Divinity at the University of St Andrews to examine the work of 13th-century writer Dante through a theological lens and celebrate the launch of the new publication by George Corbett, Professor of Theology at the University of St Andrews, and Patricia Kelly, Honorary Senior Research Fellow.

Global Innovation Team

Ten people stand for a group photo in a University office.

Visitors from SENAI CIMATEC University Center in Bahia, Brazil, met with members of the Notre Dame Global team and Professors Marcio Bahia and Daniele Miranda. Notre Dame and SENAI are collaborating on a joint project that focuses on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—also known as "forever chemicals." The joint project aims to establish a collaboration between Brazil and US institutions of higher learning focused on PFAS contaminants, and to develop and implement a program for PFAS analysis and awareness in Brazil.

Nairobi

Four people stand before a sign for the African School of Economics, holding a University of Notre Dame pennant.

Michael Pippenger, Notre Dame's vice president & associate provost for internationalization, and Jackie Aridi, director of Notre Dame Nairobi, visited the Africa School of Economics in Cotonou, Bénin. The two discussed the ND Pamoja Initiative as a whole and how ASE can participate in the network. Pippenger and Aridi also visited Makeni University in Sierra Leone and the Jesuit University of Africa in Côte d'Ivoire and will be visiting the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana as part of this listening tour.

Study Abroad

A group of students and faculty in white protective suits, hairnets, and blue shoe coverings smile for a photo in a sterile lab setting with large stainless steel equipment.

Germany Summer: Medicinal Chemistry & Drug Development program students spent time in Frankfurt, Berlin, and Munich as the course took them on a journey through the history and future of medicine, from ancient plant-based remedies of antiquity and the Middle Ages to the groundbreaking drugs and practices of the modern era. While in Frankfurt, students explored how today's pharmaceutical research is structured in both academic and industrial settings. They also examined the drug development process, including the various phases of clinical trials, to better understand how new medicines are tested and approved in both Europe and the United States.

A large group of people pose for a photo in a Capoeira studio. They hold the Portuguese and Brazilian flags and give thumbs-up gestures. Some wear Capoeira uniforms and hold instruments. Murals decorate the walls.

The Portugal Summer: History, Art, and Cultural Identity program was guided by Professor Ana Leticia Fauri and offered rich interdisciplinary experiences, blending history, language, and Afro-Portuguese heritage. Students took part in a capoeira workshop where they explored the art’s rhythmic movements, deep resistance roots, and cultural significance. Through moments of music, movement, and meaningful exchange, the group gained a deeper understanding of the living legacies that shape Lusophone cultures today.

A group of students and faculty pose for a photo on a grassy lawn in front of a line of evergreen trees. Several are wearing Notre Dame apparel.

Led by Professor Emilia Justyna Powell, the Poland Summer program covered a wide variety of topics in three weeks, including international law and the politics of genocide through visits to historical sites and museums in Krakow, Auschwitz-Birkenau, Warsaw, Grudziadz, Stutthof, Sopot, and Gdansk. Students also had the opportunity to travel to the north of Poland to see where Professor Powell grew up and had the privilege of meeting her parents.

Originally published by Cory Hankins at global.nd.edu on August 05, 2025.