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About us

About us

What We Do

With over twenty years of experience in international education,  the International Center for Development Studies (ICDS), based in San José, Costa Rica, provides quality study abroad opportunities in the form of academic programs with a focus on sustainability, social justice, and health.  Participants in ICDS’ programs have the chance to experience a new culture, take classes on a variety of unique societal issues (in English), and acquire or hone their Spanish language skills inside and outside the classroom. 

Experiential learning through community service is a key element of ICDS’ programs. It supplements students’ classroom experience with context and tools for a better understanding of the Latin American way of life, as well as of the main challenges and opportunities Costa Rica faces to achieve sustainable development.  Every ICDS program is complemented by community service, field trips, cultural activities, and interaction with local families via our homestays to provide students with a high quality and well-rounded cultural immersion experience.

ICDS also provides universities and colleges abroad with the possibility of developing customized programs –at undergraduate and graduate levels– run jointly with ICDS. These may include faculty-led or short-term programs focusing on topics within ICDS’ areas of expertise. They are intended for participating students and faculty to learn about diverse aspects of the country’s development process and infrastructure in a way that specifically aligns with their college or field of study- all while experiencing Costa Rica’s language and culture.

Why We Do It

The programs and academic experiences at ICDS in Costa Rica go beyond the traditional study abroad coursework. Our aim is to ignite a spark and fan the flame of a lifelong learning process that empowers students as responsible, global citizens.  Participation in ICDS’ programs helps students broaden their horizons, develop cultural awareness and flex their capacity to learn from and adapt to new cultures. We value these skills by fostering an environment that will stretch students in their commitment to make themselves better professionals who, in turn, can make the world a better place.

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How We Do It

ICDS’ qualified, interdisciplinary faculty and a methodology of experiential learning are two main features of ICDS’ programs intended to enrich the students’ experience in Costa Rica. With the help of our community partnerships and service-learning courses, students both engage in community service and find reflection spaces that help them go beyond the face-value of understanding development problems to analyzing and using creative thinking to propose new solutions and positive changes. Several local and international field trips are essential components of ICDS’ programs that contribute to a larger understanding of sustainable development issues. Student lodging in homestays with local families provides further exposure to Costa Rican culture and an opportunity for program participants to improve their Spanish language skills in a safe and friendly environment.

Partners

Institutional Partners

International Universities