Students from 1890s Universities Visit CATIE
Written by Karla Slalzar Leiva
Students visiting CATIE from 1890s Universities pose next to the Turrialba sign in the center of the city (photo credit: CATIE communications department)
In a joint effort to promote academic exchange and foster international experimental learning and collaboration, CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) and the 1890 Universities Foundation continue to benefit from their partnership which was originally established in 2019. The MOU brings dozens of US University students to the CATIE campus for a two week exchange program focused on sustainable agriculture.
As part of this collaboration, during the month of July, CATIE welcomed students from the University of Maryland Eastern Shores, Tuskegee University (Alabama) y Delaware State University, all of whom are members of the 1890 Universities consortium. In previous years visits were made by professors from Delaware State University, Tuskegee University and Alabama A&M University.
For a duration of two weeks this July, visiting students immersed themselves in life at CATIE and the surrounding community. Highlights of the visit included hands-on experience in CATIE’s cacao and coffee collections including learning about germplasm management and genetic improvement, agroforestry programs, and production practices. This exchange not only enriched their scientific knowledge of tropical agriculture, but also reinforced essential skills and abilities for their future careers, such as adaptability, anxiety management, effective communication, and conflict resolution.
"This exchange program not only benefits the students but also fosters lasting connections between visiting professors from universities and researchers from CATIE, opening new opportunities for joint research, collaborative projects, and the exchange of ideas," stated Eliécer Vargas, coordinator of the exchange program at CATIE.
The cooperative agreement between CATIE and the 1890s Foundation recognizes the importance of mutual collaboration in the area of agriculture and related fields, and the valuable contributions made by higher education institutions to society. In addition to facilitating the exchange between professors and students from the foundation and its member universities, this agreement promotes the transfer of academic and research knowledge between US Universities and CATIE.
"These academic exchange initiatives are crucial for the development of better-prepared professionals who are aware of the challenges of the global reality. Through the collaboration between CATIE and the 1890 Universities Foundation, bonds between different cultures are strengthened, and the exchange of ideas and experiences is fostered, generating a positive impact in the educational and professional fields," concluded Vargas.
