MSU President Lou Anna Simon is committed to transforming MSU from a Land-grant university to a World-grant university. She launched a special initiative, Boldness by Design, in 2005 during the sesquicentennial year of the university which includes five imperatives: enhance the student experience; enrich community, economic, and family life; expand international reach; increase research opportunities; and strengthen stewardship.

In keeping with Boldness by Design global imperative the department has signed a memorandum of agreement with the Zhejiang University College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science. According to the 3+1+X agreement students will complete three years of the undergraduate degree in their home institution and will attend their senior year in biosystems engineering at MSU taking senior level courses including the capstone design sequence. These course credits will transfer to their home institution which will grant their bachelors degree in biosystems engineering. Students will continue on for their MS degree in biosystems engineering at MSU. Students interested in taking advantage of this agreement have the opportunity to spend a five-week summer internship in the various labs of the department prior to entering the program. A group of eight students participated in summer internship during 2008 and a second cohort of nine students came during 2009 summer. Students were assigned to different faculty members depending on their interests and in addition to gaining valuable lab experiences they had excellent social interactions with other MSU students and went on several cultural tours within the state of Michigan.

MSU is committed to developing an in-depth relationship with China and has established an office of MSU China programs in Beijing.