Us 2025 - International Center for Development Studies

Experiential learning that shapes global citizens

We are ICDS

International Center for Development Studies

Empowering global citizens through experiential learning and cultural immersion by bringing together students, communities, and educators, we build knowledge, share perspectives, and create meaningful solutions for a better future. We believe true learning happens when the heart meets the world—when curiosity turns into connection and knowledge into action.

For over two decades, we have designed educational experiences that go far beyond the classroom. We invite students to step into authentic communities, engage with real-world challenges, and immerse themselves in the beauty of Costa Rica but also in the complex realities of Latin America and the Caribbean. This immersive approach nurtures empathy, critical thinking, and a deep understanding of development issues in the region.

As facilitators and bridge-builders, we partner closely with local organizations and stand as allies to the people and places that welcome our students. In addition, trusted external partners—both regional and international—complement local efforts with global expertise and resources. These relationships are built on mutual trust and a shared commitment to impact towards the common good. Above all, we are dedicated to building a more just, inclusive, and sustainable world.

Our Values

Click on each to know more

ICDS empowers global citizens

By encouraging our students, families, partners and collaborators, to develop the necessary skills and tools to commit to global change.

Our programs aim to create a learning atmosphere that allows people to gain awareness of equity, inclusion, and belonging. We promote active listening and respect for each person, groups, backgrounds and perspectives.

ICDS empowers global citizens

By encouraging our students, families, partners and collaborators, to develop the necessary skills and tools to commit to global change.

Learn by Doing.

Grow by Serving.

Experiential learning at ICDS

Studying abroad means more than just sitting in a classroom—it means experiential learning . Our approach blends academic coursework with hands-on experiences, connecting students with local communities and global challenges in meaningful ways.

What is Experiential Learning at ICDS?

Experiential learning is about learning through action. At ICDS, students are invited to step out of traditional learning spaces and into the real world—where academic concepts meet social realities. Through community service, field work, and immersive activities, they don’t just study university topics—they live them.

Students are placed with local organizations and projects focused on supporting children, senior adults, vulnerable populations, and grassroots development efforts. These placements empower students to:

+ Complement classroom learning with relevant experiences

– Co-create knowledge with communities

– Reflect, adapt, and act as compassionate global citizens

– Spark long-term impact as ambassadors for ongoing partnerships

Community Engagement: Transforming Lives

Our Community Engagement Guide is a creative resource for students, offering activity ideas to support local NGOs across Costa Rica. These activities are grounded in dignity, empathy, and mutual respect—encouraging students to participate as partners from a place of solidarity and shared purpose.

Whether playing with children, planting in a community garden, or sharing stories with senior adults, your actions will foster connection, build resilience, and expand your worldview.

From the Inside Out: IDGs Meet SDGs

The ICDS learning model is built on two powerful frameworks:

The Inner Development Goals (IDGs)

The IDGs remind us that sustainable change starts within. They focus on developing the personal and interpersonal skills needed to drive real progress on the world’s biggest challenges.

At ICDS, we help students cultivate five key dimensions of inner growth:

+ Being: Act with purpose through self-awareness and mindfulness

+ Thinking: Understand complexity through critical and creative thinking

+ Relating: Build bridges through empathy and inclusive communication

+ Collaborating: Co-create solutions through trust and shared responsibility

+ Acting: Lead with courage, creativity, and integrity

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Aligned with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda, our programs immerse students in real-world action to advance the SDGs—from reducing inequality and promoting health, to ensuring quality education and fostering local partnerships.

In a rapidly changing world, academic knowledge alone is not enough. Our aim is to ignite a lifelong learning journey—one that empowers students to become conscious leaders, thoughtful changemakers, and active contributors to a better world. With more than 20 years of experience in international education, ICDS provides students with:

+ Cross-cultural communication skills
+ Global awareness and civic responsibility
+ Spanish language and cultural immersion
+ Critical insight into sustainable development issues

Cultural Inmersion

ICDS programs are designed to fully immerse students in the heart of Costa Rican life. Every aspect—academic, social, and recreational—is intentionally crafted to create a vibrant, hands-on experience that goes far beyond the classroom. Through homestays, cultural activities, and field trips, students engage daily with people,traditions and cultural heritage.

Homestays play a central role in this process. With years of experience, host families provide a welcoming and supportive environment where students can experience authentic Costa Rican life—sharing meals, participating in family traditions, and practicing Spanish in meaningful, real-world situations.

Beyond the home, students also participate in community work and shadowing opportunities, collaborating with local organizations and contributing to real projects. These immersive experiences not only strengthen cultural understanding but also foster essential personal and professional skills, aligned with the Inner Development Goals (IDGs)—preparing students to grow, adapt, and thrive as empowered global citizens.

At ICDS, students don’t just study abroad—they transform, gaining experiences, skills, and connections that last a lifetime.

Cultural Inmersion

At ICDS, students don’t just study abroad—they transform, gaining experiences, skills, and connections that last a lifetime.

Host families' experience

“

Our experience as a family has been very satisfying. Each student is a fabulous book for us from which we learn new stories and gain knowledge. At the same time, we offer our children (students) a home where they can build many new enriching experiences for their lives; one that will allow them to grow integrally. For our family, ICDS has not only been an organization that provides opportunities for students and the host families, but also a team of people with charisma, human values, and highly qualified to do their job.

”

Ana Lorena Vives - ICDS host mother

“

This experience has been truly magical and life-changing. What begins as hosting a stranger quickly becomes welcoming a new family member. The bonds created go beyond cultural exchange and last well beyond goodbye. IDCS fills your heart, your home, and your life with joy, love, and unforgettable connections.

”

Priscilla Jiménez - ICDS host mother

Staff

Dr. Jorge Nowalski

President & Academic Director

Rebeca Li

Administrative & Finance Manager

Jenny Aguilar

General Accountant

Mónica Wittmann

Program Advisor & Student Experience Facilitator

Ivannia Morales

Institutional Relations & International Liaison

Camila Carmona

Community Engagement Coordinator

Bernarda Guzmán Rojas

Homestay Coordinator

Manuel Herrera

Administrative Assistant

Faculty

Andrea Álvarez

Andrea graduated from Yale School of Public Health in 2014 and from Harvard Kennedy School in 2021. At Yale, her thesis was nominated for the Dean’s Outstanding Thesis Award. She also holds a Bachelor’s in History from the University ofCosta Rica. She has taught health-related courses such as Introduction to Epidemiology and Health and Vulnerable Populations in Latin America.
In 2015, she traveled to Japan to the International Development Youth Forum. In 2017, she traveled to London as a member of the UK International Leaders Programme, and delivered a talk to university students regarding the challenges of developing health-related legislation. Andrea’s greatest cause is mental health. She started working in suicide prevention and has been a volunteer in the Costa Rican Saving Lives Foundation. Recently she chaired the VIII Latin American and Caribbean Conference on Suicide Prevention. She currently serves as a Costa Rican Congresswoman where she has spearheaded legislation on public health and human rights issues.

María Alejandra González

Maria Alejandra is an experienced facilitator of leadership development for sustainability. With a master’s degree in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden. She specializes in community engagement, trust building and collective capacity. She has led transformative participatory processes with multiple sustainability NGO’s, local communities and educational programs for youth. She is a dancer and an artist at heart.

Marianela Castro Nieto

Marianela holds a Masters in Human Development from FLACSO, Argentina and a History Degree from Universidad de Costa Rica. With over 15 years of experience as a professor and speaker, her research expertise covers topics related to gender, reproductive rights, social history, human development, and the preservation of intangible heritage, emphasizing in Latin America. She also advocates for the promotion of the history of diverse cultures around the globe in a wide spectrum of historical periods.

Rodrigo Corrales

Rodrigo Corrales-Mejías is an economist with expertise in economic policy and international economics. He holds a master’s degree in Economic Policy with a focus on International Economics. With a background in both academia and public service.
Rodrigo is currently working in the telecommunications sector. He has worked in various roles, including as a professor for 14 years. In addition to his teaching experience, he has served as a researcher and senior consultant on diverse projects. Rodrigo has specialized in utilizing his analytical skills and research acumen to influence decision-making processes in both governmental and business contexts.

Guillermo Fernández

Dr. Fernández is a staff member of Hospital Clínica Bíblica since 2013 and had served as Chief Physician of the Hospital Social Action Programs, devoted to the attention of vulnerable populations facilitating medical attention and educational programs with a human rights emphasis and a human development focus. Currently serves as chief of clinical services to Hospital Clinica Bíblica for the last 2 years.
Dr. Fernández obtained his medical degree from Universidad de Costa Rica and completed a masters in management of Public Policies and Social Programs from Instituto Centroamericano de Administración Pública (Central American Institute of Public Administration).

Olga Arguedas

Dr. Olga Arguedas completed her undergraduate and graduate studies at the School of Medicine of the University of Costa Rica, and received a Masters and a Doctorate degree in Sciences at the University of Gothemburg in Sweden. Dr. Arguedas also had post doctorate training at the Istituto Gaslini, in Genova, Italy. She also holds a Masters degree in Health Services Management from the UNED, in Costa Rica.
She is currently Professor of Pediatrics at the School of Medicine of the University of Costa Rica. Until August 2023 she was the General Director of the National Children’s Hospital in San José, Costa Rica. She has particular interest in pediatric rheumatology and immunology, bioethics, scientific biomedical research, stem cell transplantation, development and quality of health services, and medical teaching. She has authored numerous book chapters, articles, and conference’s on the above mentioned topics.

Daniela Jiménez Escudé

Holds a Master’s degree in Circular Economy and Sustainable Development and a background in Environmental Engineering. She has seven years of experience in environmental consulting and four years of practice in permaculture, grounding her work in both technical knowledge and an attentive observation of natural systems.

Helen Temple

Helen is a university course creator, instructor, and a Foresteer (forest guardian). She has been teaching in the university sector and simultaneously rewilding a patch of tropical rainforest in Costa Rica for over twenty years. Helen started with ICDS in 2013 and with Universidad LCI Veritas in 2005, where she teaches and guides students in the areas of social sustainability, environmental policy and ecotourism, gender, equity issues, human rights, and Afro-Caribbean studies. She focuses on the socio-political side of sustainability, and cares profoundly about social inclusion, biodiversity and human-diversity. In her free time (and during academic fieldtrips) she is passionate about walking in the forest, being among the trees and in the company of dogs. She encourages her students to become active global citizens seeking sustainability and regeneration opportunities, and to connect with the forests in a meaningful, deep and hopefully lasting manner. She loves having fun in the forest and invites you to do to the same.

Aitor Llodio

Aitor is the Executive Director of ALIARSE, an organization that promotes public private partnerships for development in Costa Rica. He is an advisor on research, development issues, capacity building initiatives, and the design and management of partnerships in a wide range of countries including Mexico, Colombia, Panama, Jamaica. Aitor received his Master’s at Oxford Brookes University in the United Kingdom and has been a consultant for organizations such as IADB, OECD, GIZ, and IUCN, as well as a senior associate for The Partnering Initiative. He is also the editor of the “Methodological Guide for the Design and Management of Public Private Partnerships for Development” and “The Legal Framework of Public Private Partnerships in Costa Rica”.

Gabriela Nowalski

Gabriela studied Economics at Emory University and received a Master’s degree in Development Management from The London School of Economics and Political Science. She has significant experience working as a consultant in sustainability and corporate social responsibility in Costa Rica and Atlanta, as well as the expansion of NGOs and public private partnerships in the developing nations of Kenya and Peru. Gabriela also manages her own microenterprise, incorporating sustainable, local development of Costa Rica as part of the company´s ethos.

Yanina Rovinski

Born in Costa Rica, Yanina studied Chemistry and then received a Master’s degree in journalism from the University of California at Berkeley. She was active in the regional environmental movement, as communications officer of the IUCN, World Conservation Union. She also worked at the Costa Rican Embassy in France and UNESCO, where she was instrumental for the inclusion of Cocos Island on the UNESCO World Heritage site list. She lives in Punta Leona, works as consultant and translator, and teaches sustainability and environmental issues at ICDS.

Danielle Jean-Pierre

Danielle is Research and Partnerships Director at Aliarse with over 15 years of experience in sustainable development, research coordination, and multi-stakeholder partnerships. She has worked with the United Nations, governments, businesses, NGOs, and communities across Latin America, Africa, and Asia, leading international projects, studies, and facilitation processes to advance the 2030 Agenda. With a background in Business Administration and Public Policy, she combines research, strategy, and collaboration to foster inclusive and sustainable change. Fluent in Spanish, English, and French, Danielle bridges policy and practice through facilitation, research, and collaboration. With Chilean and Haitian roots and raised in Costa Rica, she finds inspiration in nature, photography, family, and cooking, nurturing her passion for inclusive, sustainable change.

Jorge Nowalski

Jorge is the President and Academic Director of the International Center for Development Studies (ICDS) and chairs the Foundation for Sustainability and Equity (ALIARSE). He holds a Ph.D. from The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) as well as a Master’s degree in Social Planning in Developing Countries and a Master’s degree in Industrial Relations, both from LSE. Jorge has been a consultant for international organizations such as ILO, UNDP, OAS, Inter-American Development Bank, as well as author and coauthor of books and articles on topics such as trade and poverty, labor issues, social security, trade unions, and human development.

Rodolfo Garbanzo

Rodolfo oversees the two Health Care Areas administered by Hospital Clinica Bíblica in agreement with the Costa Rican Social Security (CCSS), giving Primary Health Care access to more than 90.000 inhabitants in San José.

Yazlin Alvarado

Dr. Alvarado is a physician with expertise in health management and advanced training in public health. She holds a Master’s degree in Health Management, completed graduate-level studies in Public Health at the University of Costa Rica, and earned a Diploma in Clinical Research from UNAM, Mexico. Currently, she is part of the CAHI Jeffe Fellowship 2025 program at INCAE.
Her clinical and academic trajectory bridges practice, teaching, and research, with experience as a primary care physician in vulnerable communities and more than a decade in academic leadership. As Manager of Teaching, Research, and Innovation at Clínica Bíblica, she leads multidisciplinary teams to strengthen academic excellence and drive innovation in healthcare and scientific research.

Ricardo Quesada

Quesada is a physician, certified clinical investigator, and health management professional at Clínica Bíblica. He has extensive experience in primary care, occupational medicine, emergency medicine, clinical research, and digital health. In 2023, he established Costa Rica’s first private Health Research Unit accredited by the Ministry of Health, alongside more than 20 scientific publications. He also serves on the LSCFI Project Validation Committee and the Crónicas Científicas Editorial Board. He completed specialized training in Health Informatics Project Management at Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires. Currently, he serves as the lead medical officer for the hospital’s most ambitious digital transformation: implementing the first world-class electronic health record in the region.

Milagro Camacho

Milagro has a master’s degree in teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language from the University of Costa Rica. She has dedicated herself to teaching Spanish as a second language (ELE), teaching grammar at all levels, intermediate and advanced conversation, oral expression techniques, advanced writing, translation, and interpretation. She has designed Spanish for Specific Purposes programs for healthcare and business professionals. She has published three Spanish books for healthcare professionals: “Basic Spanish for Healthcare Professions”, “Intermediate Spanish for Healthcare Professions”, and “Advanced Spanish for Healthcare Professions”. She is the co-author of the book "Cultural Encounters" for students with a broad level of Spanish (C2). She is an evaluator for the Instituto Cervantes for the DELE exam at all levels.

Rocío Vázquez

Rocío holds a Master’s degree in Spanish as a Second Language, Latin American Literature, and Spanish Philology from the University of Costa Rica. From 2004 to 2010, she worked as a Spanish as a Second Language instructor at the University of Costa Rica, and since 2010 she has been teaching at ICDS.
She has been responsible for the curricular design and structuring of various language courses, including Spanish for Health Sciences as well as Spanish as a Second Language courses at the Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced levels.

María Isabel Barboza

María holds a Masters in Latin American Literature from the University of Costa Rica and has taught at several public and private universities including Spanish grammar, writing, technical report writing, research work writing, oral expression, Latin American literature and culture, and L2 Spanish as a Second Language at all levels. She has worked as a professional editor for universities, academic organizations, the United States Embassy, and the Costa Rican Social Security Fund. María has also published specialty articles and her own poetry. She won the Roberto Brenes Mesén award in 1985 and authored a 2012 book of poetry, "Transited Absence".

Alexandra Monturiol

She studied at the University of Costa Rica, where she completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish Philology and a Master’s Degree in Latin American Literature, along with studies in Teacher Education. With over 30 years of experience in applied linguistics, she has worked in both public and private institutions, including the University of Costa Rica and Veritas University. She is the author of Spanish Pocket Book, Survival Spanish, and the beginner textbook Primer Contacto. In addition to her work teaching Spanish as a Second Language, she has also taught Latin American and Costa Rican literature to foreign-language students.

Yanina Rovinski

Jeff Davis

Jeff is a Professional Engineer (P.E.) and has been an Energy Engineer for the last 10 years with deep experience in the energy efficiency field. Jeff graduated from Oregon Institute of Technology with a bachelor’s degree in Renewable Energy Engineering with specialties in international engineering and energy efficient building design. Jeff Davis has dedicated the last 7 years of his life to sustainable living and permaculture farming in Costa Rica. Jeff started a sustainable farm called “Finca Sol y Valle” four years ago, regularly teaches sustainable living on the farm, including the course “Sustainability Practices and Food Security in Rural Costa Rica” with ICDS.

Camila Carmona

Camila is a Political scientist and emerging diplomat. She holds a Diploma in Governance and Innovation from FLACSO, funded by a scholarship from the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean. She has completed leadership training programs in the United States and Europe, and has been a fellow of the Spanish and German cooperation agencies. At ICDS, her role is Community Engagement, overseeing and guiding community works initiatives and connecting students with local grassroots projects. Recognized as an Ibero-American Young Leader (2022) and a Central American Emerging Leader (2024), she serves as a Young Strategic Partner of the EU in Costa Rica, senior panelist of the EU Empowerment Fund, and national delegate to the UN Youth Assembly. Passionate about empowering global citizens and promoting education, she also serves on the board of Green Wolf Costa Rica, advancing youth-driven, sustainable change.