Presentation by Dr. Daniel Sherrard EARTH University Provost at the RUFORUM Biennial Conference, 2012

1. Sharing Experiences in Agricultural higher Education at EARTH
University, Costa Rica
Dr. Daniel Sherrard
EARTH University Provost

2. What is EARTH University?
An international, non-profit university in Costa Rica with an
innovative four-year undergraduate program in
agricultural sciences and natural resource management.

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

4. Where is EARTH?
EARTH-La Flor EARTH University
Liberia, Guanacaste Guácimo, Limón
4

5. Our admissions process
Highly-personalized admission process:
• Visits to remote, rural communities
• All pre-selected candidates interviewed
• Commitment to providing opportunities to young
people who otherwise may never have been able to
go to college

6. A global student body
405 from 29 countries
38% female
Highly-subsidized
76% from rural areas
model with 60% on
full scholarship

7. Our educational model
10:1 student/faculty ratio (40
faculty from 19 countries)
Faculty as facilitators
Integrated and multi-
disciplinary
Student-centered learning
Experiential and participatory
4 formative areas:
– Technical & scientific
knowledge
– Social and environmental
awareness and commitment
– Values and ethics
– Entrepreneurship

8. Technical & scientific knowledge
Intensive, experiential academic program leading to a
licenciatura degree (between a bachelor’s and a master’s
degree) in the Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resource
Management in just four years.

9. Social and environmental awareness
Social commitment: Environmental commitment:
• Community development • Sustainable agricultural systems
program • Organic farming
• Experience at EARTH-La Flor • Carbon neutrality
• Community development • Waste management
requirement during internship • Alternative energy

10. Values and ethics
• Freedom with responsibility
• Professors/staff teach by example
• Ethical behavior graded in Entrepreneurial Projects Program
• Actively promote cultural understanding, conflict resolution and dialog

11. Entrepreneurship
• 3-year Entrepreneurial Projects Program
• Groups of 4-6 students from different countries
• Defend business plan, receive loan, carry out business
• Incentives for innovation & positive environmental impact

12. Commercial activities
Products:
1. Whole Foods Market
partnership:
bananas, pineapple, flower
s, frozen fruits and coffee
2. Bananas for local market
3. Dairy products
4. Agricultural inputs and bio-
stimulants
5. Natural cleaners
Benefits:
• Generates economic
resources
• Enriches academic
program
• Influences the private
sector

13. Alumni impact
1654 alumni from 28 countries
86% work in their country of origin 75% social impact
23% run their own or family business 62% environmental impact

14. Yesenia Castillo (´98, Panama)
• Started own business in 2005 providing consulting and educational
services in agricultural best practices.
• Has trained hundreds of farmers from marginalized, rural communities
in sustainable agricultural techniques.
• Owns and operates a 300 hectare cattle farm and provides services
in cattle management, reproduction and trade, employing 16 farm
workers, the majority from indigenous communities.
• Active volunteer: created a model farm in remote indigenous region
to showcase sustainable cattle management practices that preserve
forests and responsibly manage resources.

15. Hortensia Solis (‘06 Costa Rica)
• Led Sustainability Department
at the Coopedota coffee
growers’ cooperative for 5
years.
• Successfully implemented a
variety of waste
management and
social/environmental projects
including achieving the first
carbon neutral certification
for coffee in the world.
• Currently completing a
research fellowship awarded
by the Alexander von
Humboldt Foundation in
Germany to develop a
measurement, reporting and
verification system for coffee
producers in Costa Rica.

16. EARTH in Africa
• Sustainability, Education and the
Management of Change in the
Tropics (SEMCIT) international
seminars (1999-2003)
• 34 students; 19 alumni
• Faculty and student exchange
• Alumni working in Africa
• Gates Foundation/RUFORUM
collaboration to strengthen
capacity in experiential based
education and community
engagement.
Sharon Againe (‘09, Uganda)

17. Educating today the leaders of tomorrow
Thank you. Questions?
www.earth.ac.cr EARTHUniversity