Growing up in a remote area of rural Zimbabwe, Shingirai Taodzera witnessed firsthand the importance of education as he observed his parents embody the value of education in their work as schoolteachers. “Through my parents, I learned the value of education as a tool for unlocking potential,” he said.
This piece explores how empathy, when practiced consistently and deeply, can serve as a powerful motivator in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. By countering desensitization and embracing empathy starting from within, individuals can take meaningful action toward a more equitable, compassionate, and sustainable world.
Finding the opportunity to immerse herself in Scotland’s culture and landscape, Anya Nygaard, a third-year environmental science and management major and geographic information systems minor, studied abroad this past summer and had an experience like none other. From exploring the vast Scottish Highlands to countless adventures in Edinburgh, she fulfilled her University Writing Program requirement while spending meaningful time with her lively cohort. Through a blend of journalism and environmental studies, Anya refined her research and writing skills during her four-week stay.
Fulbright Chile and the University of California, Davis, are pleased to announce the continuation of their joint sponsorship program for Fulbright Chairs, which has been running annually since 2022. Applications will be accepted August 1, 2025 until October 30, 2025.
Taking on a mission to expand awareness about global learning opportunities at UC Davis, the Aggies Near and Far podcast club produces educational episodes each month. It is led by Ph.D. candidate and fourth-year graduate student Jannet Torres Espinoza, who takes her knowledge of Latin American Literature, Culture, and Human Rights and applies it to podcasting.
In 2023-24, Kurt Rohde, Stacey Parker and Robin Hill were selected for a Grant for Advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for their project A BowerHaus for a Post-Anthropocene World - A Tale in Two Chapters.
“A BowerHaus for a Post-Anthropocene World,” a novel musical and visual work devised by students and professors in music and art seeks to address the urgency of habitat remediation and protection.
UC Davis Professors Valeria La Saponara, Isaya Kisekka, Eliska Rejmankova, Zhaodan Kong, Sanjai Parikh, Yufang Jin and UC Merced Professor Erin Hestir, along with international collaborators, received a 2024-25 Seed Grant.
The climate crisis is no longer a distant issue but an emergency. Its effects, such as rising temperatures, extreme weather, and environmental degradation, are disrupting communities and impacting lives around the world. Community education and engagement are critical to combat this crisis, and universities must prepare students with the knowledge and skills needed to address this challenge and help create a sustainable future.
University leaders from around the globe gathered on campus May 7-9 to discuss existential threats facing higher education. “When the truth is under siege, the university must not flinch,” said Fanta Aw, executive director and CEO of Nafsa: Association of International Educators, and keynote speaker at the event, the Annual Network Meeting and Presidential Symposium for Universitas 21, or U21.
On April 5, 2025, the UC Davis International Center hosted over 150 students, alumni, staff and global professionals for the 5th annual Global Learning Conference, themed Cultivating Authenticity in an Interconnected World.
