The World is Our Campus

Fall 2025

This summer, I had the opportunity to visit the Rice Global Paris Center and was struck by the vibrancy of the academic and cultural exchange taking place there. Tucked in the heart of one of the world’s great cultural capitals, the center is bustling with activity — hosting classes, convening international scholars and researchers, connecting alumni and building bridges between continents. Our European hub is doing exactly what was envisioned when we opened its doors: creating new opportunities for Rice faculty and students to learn, teach, collaborate and thrive on a global stage.

While there, I spoke with several students who were experiencing life outside the United States for the first time. They were taking everything in with wide eyes — Parisian architecture, cuisine and culture — and finding joy in the unexpected. I also connected with faculty who are energized by the possibilities the center offers: new research collaborations, interdisciplinary partnerships and the chance to deepen their impact on global challenges.

These moments reaffirm just how essential global engagement is to Rice’s mission. Whether it’s a student discovering a new culture or a faculty member forging a new international partnership, these experiences cultivate empathy, adaptability and curiosity — traits that are vital in today’s interconnected world and organizations. They challenge our assumptions, broaden our perspectives and help us better understand the complexity of the problems we aim to solve.

This is why this kind of engagement is a core pillar of Rice’s strategic plan, Momentous: Personalized Scale for Global Impact. Our most pressing challenges — whether they concern energy, public health, climate change or national security — do not stop at borders. Meaningful progress depends on international collaboration: diverse perspectives, cross-cultural insights and shared solutions.

Over the past few years, Rice has been ambitiously expanding its global presence. In addition to our Paris Center, we launched Rice Global India and, most recently, joined the Venice International University Consortium, an alliance of two dozen top institutions committed to advancing international research and education. We are proud to be only the third university in the Americas to join this prestigious group.

These efforts are already bearing fruit. In the most recent QS World University Rankings, Rice rose more than 20 spots to 119 globally — a reflection of our academic excellence, international reputation and growing research footprint. The real impact is seen in the experience we offer our students and the influence our faculty have around the world.

We will continue to strengthen our global partnerships — deepening ties with existing collaborators and identifying new regions where our faculty and students can make a difference. This includes expanding international research initiatives, launching valuable study abroad opportunities, and forging relationships with industry and nongovernmental organization leaders whose work aligns with Rice’s core strengths.

Our goal is not simply to be present around the world — it is to be engaged. That means building partnerships that are reciprocal and enduring. It means preparing our students to lead in a global context. And it means ensuring that the solutions we pursue here in Houston are shared with and shaped by communities across the globe.

As you’ll read throughout this issue of Rice Magazine, the Rice community is making an impact far beyond campus borders. Whether in Europe, India or here in our own city, our faculty, students and alumni are advancing knowledge, lifting lives and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. The world is our campus. And I couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead.