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

From ancient wonders to cutting-edge research, Notre Dame students and faculty continued to make their mark around the world this June. In India, students explored the Taj Mahal, visited film studios, and experienced Mumbai’s rich culinary landscape. Across Nairobi, Beijing, Santiago, and São Paulo, students immersed themselves in local culture and sharpened their global perspective through conservation and urban exploration, lab work, and professional work experience. In Kylemore and Rome, academic inquiry ranged from scientific fieldwork to interfaith scholarship, while in Dublin, a special event celebrated the legacy of Irish poetry and drama. In South Bend, the University's iSURE program welcomed students from Mexico and Panama for hands-on STEM research alongside Notre Dame faculty, with another cohort set to arrive in July. From Athens to the Aran Islands, the University’s global network continues to foster learning, connection, and community across borders.

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.

Mumbai

Ten students stand in casual attire, smiling at the camera with the Taj Mahal in the background.

As part of their summer studies, a group of students from the India Summer Program and Mumbai Global Professional Experience (GPE) flew to Agra to visit the iconic Taj Mahal—the 17th century marble masterpiece and UNESCO World Heritage Site built by Emperor Shah Jahan as a tribute to love. During their time in India, students also had the chance to visit famous actors at the iconic Bollywood Studios, take a scenic ferry ride to the ancient Elephanta Caves, and immerse themselves in the country’s rich culinary landscape by exploring a variety of local cuisines and dining experiences.

Nairobi

Global Research Experience (GRE) and Global Professional Experience students began their seven-week immersion in Nairobi with a cultural orientation that included visits to the iconic Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) and the Giraffe Centre. ND undergrads Ryan Hutt and Madeline Schmitz are working with the Institute for Economic Affairs (IEA) in Nairobi, while recent grads Monica Nokes and Bennett Schmidt are conducting research at the Mpala Research Centre in Nanyuki. All four students took part in a shared one-week orientation designed to deepen their understanding of Kenyan culture, society, and policy before beginning their placements.

Beijing

Notre Dame Beijing Global Professional Experience students visited the Temple of Heaven and explored the capital city's alleys and hutongs to experience traditional Beijing life. They also took part in a Chinese calligraphy class and practiced writing with a brush and ink. GPE students in Beijing have been placed with a wide range of entities like Caixin Media, SEE Fund, and the Beijing Social Work Development Center for Facilitators.

Kylemore

Two people with their arms outstretched stand smiling on a dark, flat, rocky surface in front of a large, layered, dark rock formation. Other people are visible in the background walking on the rocks.

Notre Dame Kylemore’s Summer Science students enrolled in Parasitology and Compassionate Care in Medicine classes enjoy a Sunday at the Aran Islands, known for their ancient ruins and spectacular caves. The trip featured a scenic ferry ride to the islands, a hike to natural formations like Poll na bPéist on Inis Mor, and exploring archaeological site Dún Aonghasa, where students marveled at the imposing stone walls perched along the cliffside.

Dublin

Grace Wilentz, Notre Dame Dublin Writer in Residence, was joined in conversation by Peter Fallon—publisher, editor, and founder of The Gallery Press, Ireland’s pre-eminent publisher of Irish poetry and drama in the 21st century—to celebrate 55 years of Gallery. Peter founded the press at age 18 and decided to publish poems by his professors at Trinity College Dublin—one of whom he still publishes today, the acclaimed Irish language poet Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin. The Gallery Press has now published over 500 books by Irish poets and playwrights like Marina Carr, Brian Friel, Seamus Heaney, Derek Mahon, and Grace Wilentz, to name a few.

Santiago

A group of approximately twenty students and one faculty member pose for a photo on a rocky overlook with a view of the ocean and a distant coastline under a cloudy gray sky.

The Notre Dame Santiago team welcomed the largest number of summer students to date. With a total of five different programs running throughout the summer, a total of 30 students are taking courses, conducting research, and engaging in lab work and service opportunities in Chile.

Mexico

Six students in matching denim shirts pose in front of the Sacred Heart of Jesus statue, with red geraniums and green trees in the background on the University of Notre Dame campus.

Thirteen students from Mexico and Panama participated in the 2025 International Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (iSURE) Program. The 8-week program connects students from institutions like the Universidad Aeronáutica en Querétaro (UNAQ), Universidad Politécnica de Santa Rosa Jáuregui (UPSRJ), Universidad Politécnica de Yucatán (UPY), Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla (UPAEP), and Universidad Santa María La Antigua (USMA) with Notre Dame faculty to conduct hands-on STEM research and global collaboration.

Rome

Two individuals with lanyards stand in the Vatican Library. A man in a dark suit and blue patterned tie gestures with his hands while speaking. A woman with glasses and wearing a black cardigan listens attentively beside him. Frescoes and ornate wooden furniture adorn the library walls.

Stephen M. Metzger, associate professor at Notre Dame Rome and assistant in the Manuscript Department of the Vatican Apostolic Library, and Alicia Sachau, Notre Dame assistant director of academic conferences, are pictured in the Vatican Library during the Rome Kabbalah Symposium. The event brought together international scholars to explore the history of Kabbalah in Italy. This landmark collaboration between the Vatican Library, the University of Notre Dame, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem aims to help consolidate an international network of scholars dedicated to the study of kabbalistic texts and the cultivation of a new generation of skilled researchers focused on paleography study.

São Paulo

A group of students and faculty sit around a long, wooden table at a restaurant, smiling for a photo. Plates, drinks, and silverware are scattered on the table.

The Brazil Summer: Race & Immigration Studies group led by Professor Marcio Bahia gathered for a farewell dinner, joined by students from Campus B, the Global Professional Experience (GPE), and the Semester Study Abroad program. Notre Dame São Paulo’s Director, Thais Pires, and Program Assistant, Rafaella Dantas, were also in attendance. The group celebrated shared experiences and reflected on all they had learned during their time in Brazil.

Hong Kong

Six students sit around a table with empty dishes and a small blue and gold University of Notre Dame pennant.

Notre Dame Hong Kong gathered current Global Professional Experience students to discuss the collaborative work they've taken part in so far this summer. GPE students based in Hong Kong and Taiwan have worked with notable companies like Four Seas Group, Negawatt Utility, Marga Group, Farmacy, and OBI.

Jerusalem

Gabriel Mitchell, Notre Dame Jerusalem’s director of undergraduate studies, traveled to Athens, Greece and in Ankara, Turkey to take part in discussions related to regional connectivity and energy cooperation.

GEP

A person wearing a blue Patagonia t-shirt writes a diagram on a whiteboard. The diagram appears to be a technical schematic, possibly related to computer vision or robotics, with labels like "RGB images" and "40GS." A computer monitor displays code and a 3D model.

June brought the arrival of 41 iSURE Session I students, and 53 others will join in July for Session II. iSURE students spend eight weeks conducting research with Notre Dame faculty. Student Linrui Shou, pictured here, works on calculations for a project led by Dr. Tingyu Cheng in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering.

Originally published by Cory Hankins at global.nd.edu on July 02, 2025.