A Visiting Student Program
2024-2025 Highlights
- 218 students attended the Global Study Program
- 3.42 average GPA
- 43% were above 3.7 GPA
- 33 participating universities
- 6 countries
Student Satisfaction
100% of students would recommend the Global Study Program.
Akiho Nagahashi
Xinyu Liu
Felix Speicher
Dewei Wang
Golden Grain Seminars Give Nanjing Agricultural University Students a Closer Look at Research and Academic Life
In fall 2026, the Global Study Program at UC Davis welcomed 27 undergraduate students from Jin Shanbao College at Nanjing Agricultural University (NAU) in China. During their three-month academic study program, students took courses alongside UC Davis students, experiencing different teaching models and U.S. university classrooms.
The students, who majored in subjects such as agronomy, plant protection, resource and environmental sciences, horticulture and animal science, had the opportunity to explore these fields at one of the leading agricultural universities in the U.S. To enhance this experience, NAU and Access Programs at UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education developed the Golden Grain discussion seminar series. Designed specifically for NAU students as a supplementary component of the Global Study Program, the series provided opportunities to engage with UC Davis professors, explore scientific questions and gain a deeper understanding of the university’s research and academic environment.
“With a passion for knowledge at the frontiers of agricultural science, they are writing a new chapter of study and practice for NAU Jin Shanbao College students on a foreign campus,” said Yue Wang, faculty lead for the Life Sciences Overseas Training Program at NAU.
Professor Bo Liu of the UC Davis Department of Plant Biology led the first seminar. During the roundtable discussion, Liu shared insights into research methods, academic growth and campus life, and discussed the research environment at UC Davis, including how laboratories operate and how faculty and students collaborate. He also offered advice on topics of interest to international students, such as balancing coursework and research training and making the most of opportunities to experience American university teaching methods and academic culture. The seminar concluded with a question-and-answer session, giving students a chance to ask questions and share their concerns about their research direction, participation in laboratory projects and adapting to life in the United States.
According to Wang, the Global Study Program has “enabled students to make significant progress in coursework, cross-cultural adaptation and academic exchange.”
One student noted that Liu’s reminder, “research requires patience and the cultivation of insight,” gave them a clearer understanding of the mindset and dedication needed to succeed in academic research.