Files
Abstract
A three-year study abroad training program with experiential learning opportunities was provided to students to better understand the processes that shape the global agricultural and environmental systems. Thirty-six students from Tuskegee University, Alabama, Delaware State University, Delaware, and Alabama A&M University, Alabama, were provided an opportunity to visit EARTH University and the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center in Costa Rica; two well-known institutions for their hands-on training in sustainable agricultural and environmental systems. The students were involved in classroom discussions, case studies, and field activities under the supervision of specialists in solving real life problems. These exercises were in several areas of agriculture, environmental sustainability, and community engagement. Students were surveyed after the three-week program for each of three years, 2016-2018. In general, the students reported that they were positively impacted through their experiences, especially the multidimensional perspectives of problem solving, hands-on learning, global awareness, and community engagement.