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YEARTH University Academic Program

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Y

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YMISSION

Prepare leaders with ethical values to contribute to the sustainable development of the humid tropics and to construct a prosperous and just society.

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YACADEMIC PROGRAM

• 4 year program• Degree: B.S. • Title: Agronomy and

Natural Resources• 202 credits• 89 courses• 420 students• 1466 graduates

(2009)• 42 professors• Ratio

student/professor is 10:1

Our Priority: Youngsters who want to study agriculture and sustainability and are coming from under served parts of the world

EARTHEDUCATIONAL MODEL

EARTHEXPERIENCE

EARTHStudent

(Entrance profile)

Graduate with

EARTH seal(Exit profile)

VocationEntrepreneurshipLeaderhipEthicsCommunication skills

Ethically and socially minded Sustainability conciousEntrepreneurially mindedTeam orientedLeaderEffective communicatorProblem solverSolid technical knowledge

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YACADEMIC PROGRAM

• Promotion Program• 1200 applications• 700-800 interviews• 250 candidates• 112 Freshmen class

• Academic Preparation Program

• 15-20 candidates

• Academic Support and Follow-up and Program

Our Priority: Youngsters who want to study agriculture and sustainability and are coming from under served parts of the world

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YFinancial Aid Program

50% Financial

Aid

Full Financial

Aid

50% - Full Financial Aid

20%

30%

50%

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YPillars of our Educational Model

Ethicalvalues

Holistic educational

model

Technical and scientific

knowledge

Entrepreneurial mindset

Social and environmenta

l responsibility

Year 2 CONSOLIDATE AND

CONTINUE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS BUILDING

- Sustainable management of production

Year 3COMMUNITY INTERACTION - Social awareness

- Apply and share knowledge with communities

- Integrate and apply basic knowledge

Year 4DEMONSTRATE

INTELLECTUAL AND PROFESSIONAL CAPABILITIES

- Analysis and synthesis- Professionalism

- Responsibility and independence

AGENTS OF CHANGE

Year 1KNOWLEDGE AND

BASIC SKILLS- Agriculture & natural resources

- Complementary sciences- “Holistic” vision- Entrepreneurship- Communication

Internship

Community

Experience

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YLearning System

• Experiential Learning• Multidisciplinary• Student Centered• High learning levels

– Creativity and Innovation– Search for answers and solutions– Critical Thinking– Independence and Responsibility

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YLearning System

• Focus on Process– Continuous and Progressive– Constant Evaluation and

Monitoring– Creation of Opportunities for

Experimentation and Innovation

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YExperiential Learning (Keystone Courses)

1. Work Experience

2. Entrepreneurial

Projects

3. Service Learning

4. Internship Program

5. Professional

Experience

6. Graduation Project

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YEntrepreneurial Projects

• In their 1st year, students craft a business idea, structure and defend a feasibility study, and found an agribusiness company.

• In their 2nd and 3rd they operate their company, evaluate and close operations.

• Take 7 modules which include: accounting, project administration, marketing and project evaluations

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YEntrepreneurial Projects

Food Industry19%

Animal17%

Services3%

Agriculture61%

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YEntrepreneurial Projects

• Loan of up to: $3,000.00 / Project• Interest rate: 22% on the balance (in CR colones)• Disbursement according to cash flow• Labor to be paid at end of project• Distribution of net profits:

• 80 % to the entrepreneurial projects (students)• 20 % to the entrepreneurial projects Fund

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YEntrepreneurial Projects

1532 2

1

34

4 4 4

4

65 9 7 8

10 11 12 1317

12

6711

7 61 1 211

21 1 1 3 2 2

0

9

18

27

1996 1997 1998 199 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Year

# o

f ap

pro

ved

pro

ject

s

EP with Loss PrincipalPrinc.+Int. Princ.+Int.+labor(part)Profit

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YService Learning

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YService Learning

I

II

III

IV

Service LearningGuácimo

Service LearningLa Flor

Service Learning

Internship

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YService Learning: La Flor

- Seven Weeks off campus

- What was required:- Switching to a seven week “trimester approach” during 3rd year- Arranging course loads for faculty- Faculty spending a week off campus- Thinking of practical academic activities while off campus

- While in La Flor- Home stay- Community Engagement (2 days)- Entrepreneurial consultancy (2 days)- Academic assessment (1 day)

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YInternship

• Takes place in the last quarter of third year

• Sequence:• Orientation (7 weeks)• Internship (15 weeks)• Analysis (full trimester)

• Students find and negotiate internship options & conditions

• components: professional and social volunteering

• Evaluated by a on-site supervisor and a faculty advisor

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YInternship

• Countries of origin• Latin-America• Europe:

• England, Poland• Italy, Spain

• Asia: Japan, Philippines, Lebanon, Syria• Africa: Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda• United States• Australia, New Zealand

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YWork Experience

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YWork Experience

- Two half days a week, 11 hours of practical activities

- Working under supervision of faculty and seniors

- Topics (seven week rotations)

YEAR 1

Crop Management

Forest Management

Animal Husbandry

Sustainabily and Agriculture

YEAR 2

Pest Management & Pesticides

Animal husbandry

Service learning

Agricultural engineering

Natural resource management

Topography

YEAR 3

La Flor Experience:

Community Engagement

Entrepreneurial Consultants

Internships:

15 Week Practical Experience

Volunteering

YEAR 4

Personnel Management

Professional Experience

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YProfessional Experience

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YGraduation Project: Objectives Demonstrate analytical

skills in the planning and development of a study within the framework of EARTH’s Research Program

Demonstrate communication skills in the preparation of a final report

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YACADEMIC PROGRAM

Profile of our graduate◦ Ethically minded ◦ Socially and environmentally engaged ◦ Entrepreneurially minded◦ Capable of working in teams◦ Leader◦ Effective communicator◦ Capable of assessing, analyzing and proposing

solutions◦ Solid technical knowledge and willing of addressing

sustainability concerns