A chance for high school and college students to develop Global Intelligence by bonding with peers from 27 countries — without leaving home.
"We may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race."
Experience the authentic essence of international classrooms without leaving your country — engage with students from 27 countries inside an immersive Metaverse campus.
Face-to-face online discussions with top professors, entrepreneurs, ambassadors, and UN officers on international relations, public diplomacy, peacebuilding, and the SDGs.
Represent your country, share your concerns, and learn from peers worldwide. Citizen diplomacy empowers every individual to play a pivotal role in mutual understanding.
All graduates receive a Cultural Competency Certificate, LinkedIn badge, exclusive BCEA merch, and Alumni Association access. Top 5% receive cash rewards up to $200.
Students are sorted into 4 rival houses competing for the annual house cup — through debates, bonding games, and cultural shows themed around Global Intelligence's Four Opens.
5 lectures, 5 discussions, and 3 panels with USC professors and global practitioners. ~1–2 hours per week, plus 30 minutes of suggested readings and videos.
Built on Gather — walk between sessions in an immersive campus, bump into peers between lectures, and study abroad without ever leaving home.
AI + game simulations including BridgeBot (a Search for Common Ground-sponsored LLM) for practicing mediation, conflict resolution, and cultural competence.
Each student submits an actionable project plan addressing a local issue. The top 3 proposals receive BCEA mentorship and up to $100 in implementation funding.
BCEA is USC's first student-run public diplomacy organization. Since 2021 we've partnered with research centers and educational institutions across China and the US, engaging thousands of students from 27 countries in cross-cultural exchange.
Founder Mark Gerzon and the BCEA team unpack the framework students live inside for six weeks every summit — the practice of opening eyes, minds, hearts, and hands across difference.
Founding Director, USC Master of Public Diplomacy Program
Founding director of USC's master's program in public diplomacy. Has advised foreign ministries and cultural agencies across the U.S., U.K., Canada, Mexico, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador · Olympic Swimmer
Syrian refugee and Olympic swimmer whose harrowing escape became an international symbol of hope. Now advocates for refugees worldwide.
President & Founder, Mediators Foundation
Architect of the Global Intelligence (GQ) framework. Has facilitated the U.S. Bipartisan Congressional Retreats and advised the UN Development Program.
Founder, USC Center for Third Space Thinking
Former Dean of USC's Annenberg School; advised President Obama's transition team and consulted for the World Bank and UN on soft-skill development for the digital era.
Co-founder, Media Rise · Architect of Shell's GameChanger
Influenced Shell's CEO to launch the GameChanger social-innovation fund, investing in SDG-aligned ventures that pair social impact with business returns.
Tsinghua Schwarzman Scholar · Grammy Academic Committee
UN Trade & Finance Certificate holder; champions cross-cultural understanding through citizen diplomacy and the arts.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia
Led the World Food Prize Foundation for two decades after a Foreign Service career spanning Vietnamese refugee policy, POW/MIA negotiations, and post-conflict reconstruction.
Co-founder, Kung Fu Cowgirl & Uncommon App
Featured on NBC, CCTV, and The New York Times. A decade-long education advisor across 19 Chinese provinces, now building U.S.-China admissions bridges from Austin, Texas.
Director, Maxwell–Newhouse Washington Public Diplomacy Program
Public diplomacy and foreign-policy veteran of USIA and the State Department. Faculty member at the Maxwell School.
Director, AMCLI · USC Center for Religious & Civic Life
NewGround fellow bridging Muslim and Jewish Angelenos through inter-faith dialogue, leadership training, and civic engagement.
Director, USC Institute of Armenian Studies
Researches language, heritage, and transnational identity. Host of the Language Therapy with Dr. K podcast.
Executive Director, USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future
Former CEO of ProCon.org. Now leads CPF, the Unruh Institute of Politics, and the USC Dornsife Poll.
Built on Gather — students walk between sessions, bump into peers, and study abroad without ever leaving home.
What a virtual summit looks like when it spills into a real room: student MCs opening the day, delegates presenting from the podium, and committee members honored for the months of quiet work behind every session.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the sponsors and partner organizations whose support makes BCEA's summits possible.
Three voices, three small moments where assumptions softened and a bridge began.
"The best memories would definitely be the icebreaker games on the first day. It was nice to meet people of different backgrounds, nationalities and professions come together to bond — albeit virtually. I got to know Chinese culture a little better, debunked some stereotypes, and met my teammates on a deeper level."
"Before BCEA I assumed most students from China were not strong in English. To my surprise, many of them conversed proficiently — and on top of that, everything in their daily life felt interconnected through one app. Without this program I'd still be carrying that bias."
"In the trend of globalization, the power of culture cannot be ignored. Through this exchange, Chinese and Singaporean youth got into positive contact — stereotypes quietly dissolved. The younger generation plays a crucial role here."
