RCCD Welcomes First International Exchange Students from China
09/04/2026
When six students from Beijing University of Agriculture in China arrived in Southern California in late August, they became the first international exchange students to visit the Riverside Community College District, marking a new chapter in RCCD's more than 20 years of international education and laying the groundwork for a two-way academic partnership with China.
The students, selected by Beijing University of Agriculture to serve as the university's first ambassadors to RCCD, participated in the exchange Aug. 23 through Sept. 1 following a memorandum of understanding signed by the two institutions in spring 2026. The agreement grew from a March visit to China by RCCD leaders, who met with higher education institutions in Beijing and Nantong to explore opportunities for international academic exchange.
The exchange gave RCCD an opportunity to introduce international students to California's community college system while creating opportunities for RCCD students and faculty to eventually have similar experiences in China.
"This is the beginning of a new chapter for RCCD's international education efforts," said Star Rivera-Lacey, Ph.D., deputy chancellor and provost. "Bringing these students here shows that international exchange can be part of the educational experience we provide here at home. It also gives our students and faculty an opportunity to build meaningful relationships that can continue beyond this first visit."
During their stay, the students attended classes at Moreno Valley College, Norco College and Riverside City College, giving them a firsthand look at the district's academic programs and the experience of learning alongside American college students. They also stayed with RCCD faculty and classified professionals through homestays, opening doors for cultural exchange beyond the classroom.
For Halizhati, the experience offered a new understanding of community colleges and the role they play in American higher education.
"Previously, I knew relatively little about community colleges, but after this personal experience, I found that community colleges offer many learning opportunities and play an important role in the American higher education system," Halizhati said.
Their time in the region included visits to the University of California, Riverside, the Center for Social Justice and Civil Liberties, the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture, the Riverside Art Museum and the Ben Clark Training Center. They explored Riverside and Los Angeles, visited Little Tokyo, Olvera Street and Chinatown, and experienced some of the everyday places and traditions that help define life in Southern California, including a stop at In-N-Out and an excursion to Ontario Mills.
For Liu Xinqi, experiencing life in Riverside offered a perspective that could not be gained through the internet alone.
"Before I came to Riverside, I thought I could know the whole world just by using my phone and the internet," Liu said. "But after living here, I found that idea was too narrow."
The students also said they were struck by the hospitality shown to them by their host families and the district throughout their stay.
RCCD and Beijing University of Agriculture are already discussing the next step in the partnership, including a potential opportunity for RCCD students to travel to China during spring break 2027. The long-term goal is to establish semester-long exchanges in both directions for students and faculty.
Six students and nine days turned a signed agreement between RCCD and Beijing University of Agriculture into the district's first lived experience of international exchange.
To learn more about international learning, visit www.rccd.edu/studyabroad.
Published by External Relations & Strategic Communications