Global Students Celebrate Innovation, Leadership and Connection at Cal Poly Pomona
Summer 2026 was a season of growth, innovation and global connection for Cal Poly Pomona’s Global Education Institute (GEI).
Through international programs ranging from university-level leadership and entrepreneurship to STEM exploration and athletics, GEI, part of the College of Professional and Global Education’s Global Campus welcomed students from around the world to experience CPP’s learn-by-doing philosophy, academic expertise and vibrant campus community.
Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Leadership in Action
Now in its twelfth year, the Student Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Leadership Program (SIELP) continued this summer with 17 students from Kewen College of Jiangsu Normal University, Shanghai Business School, Shanghai Ocean University and Shanghai University of Engineering Science. From Aug. 1 to14, students took part in a two-week experience that combined leadership and teamwork, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, group projects, cultural activities, university and industry visits, and opportunities to connect with American students.
The students presented their final projects on Aug. 12 before celebrating their graduation with faculty, instructors and program staff. The presentations were judged by Yufan (Frank) Lin, assistant professor in the College of Business Administration, and Jim Hays, instructor and curriculum coordinator of the Cal Poly English Language Institute. Following the presentations, students participated in a graduation ceremony and lunch before completing an English-speaking test.
For student Zhou Ziyu from Chengdu, China, the experience went beyond learning about business and technology.
“I think this program really has taught me a lot no matter it’s about the leadership teamwork or those lectures about artificial intelligence,” she said. “This program has taught me how to use my own ideas into practice like how to start a business how to find an opportunity from our real life.”
A major feature of SIELP 2026 was the integration of artificial intelligence into the innovation and entrepreneurship curriculum. Students explored how AI can support business research, consumer insights and decision-making while also learning to consider the accuracy and limitations of emerging technologies. Their learning came together in three final group projects examining how AI could be used to understand consumer perceptions and business opportunities in areas including sportswear, coffee and the fresh grocery market.
Cultural learning was also an important part of the SIELP experience. Students explored Southern California through fieldtrips and cultural activities, while opportunities to interact with American students helped them build friendships and learn from one another. Their schedule included a CPP campus tour, cultural exchange activities, visits to the University Library’s Maker Studio and W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center, and trips to Los Angeles, San Diego and other Southern California destinations.
Building relationships was another important part of the experience. Students participated in ice-breaker activities, social mixers and cultural exchanges with American and international students. For Zhou and her classmates, Cal Poly Pomona also became more than a place to attend classes. After visiting other universities in the Los Angeles area, including UCLA, Zhou said Cal Poly Pomona stood out because of its welcoming environment.
“I think the best option for us is Cal Poly Pomona because it’s big and beautiful, and it feels like home to us,” she said.