EARTH UNIVERSITY

1. EARTH UNIVERSITY José Zaglul June 5, 2007 Association for International Agriculture and Rural Development (AIARD) Annual Meeting

6. MISSION VISION Our actions are directed towards building a future in which the humid tropics and its communities achieve social, economic and environmental well being Prepare leaders with ethical values to contribute to the sustainable development of the humid tropics and to construct a prosperous and just society

7. Latin America Today • Inequity • 39.8% poverty (ECLAC, 2006) • Declining educational quality • Disparities between rural and urban areas • High unemployment among poor & youth

8. Social and environmental responsibility Technical and scientific knowledge Pillars of EARTH’s Educational Model Holistic educational model Ethics and positive values Entrepreneurial mentality

9. Our Priority Low income youth from rural areas • Personalized recruiting process • 1200 applications per year • 100 admitted/year • Academic Preparation Program

10. Financial Aid Program Full tuition 20% Full scholarship 50% Partial scholarship 30%

11. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Sustainable management of natural resources Sustainable Production Entrepreneurial mentality and skills HOLISTIC EDUCATION Reason, analyze and synthesize Present alternative solutions and improvements Creative and critical thinking Generalist SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Sensitivity and commitment to community Communication skills Social consciousness PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT Positive values and ethics Teamwork Tolerance Positive personal behavior leadership Life-long learning Oral and verbal communication Holistic Education

12. Year 2 STRENGTHENING KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS Sustainable production management • YEAR 3 • INTERACTION WITH THE COMMUNITY • Social consciousness • Apply and share knowledge with the community • Integrate and apply basic knowledge • Year 1 • KNOWLEDGE AND BASIC SKILLS • Agriculture and natural resources • Complementary sciences • Holistic vision • Entrepreneurship • Communication Internship • Year 4 • DEMOSTRATION OF INTELLECTUAL AND PROFESSIONAL CAPACITY • Analysis and synthesis • Professionalism • Responsibility and independence AGENTS OF CHANGE

13. EARTH Learning System • HOLISTIC LEARNING • FOCUS ON LEARNING • HIGHER LEVELS OF LEARNING • Creativity and Innovation • Search for answers and solutions • Critical thinking • Independent and responsible • PROCESS • Continual and progressive • Continuous monitoring and evaluation • Creation of opportunities for experimentation and innovation

14. The EARTH learning system RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STUDENTS AND PROFESSORS INTERACTIVE MUTUAL RESPECT STUDENT Active Participant PROFESSOR Facilitator of Learning Establish behavioral objectives Plan activities Motivate learning Evaluate level of learning Seek improvements in the quality of the learning process Focus on the process Teamwork Initiative and creativity Responsibility Identify and recognize weaknesses and strengths Seek to improve learning Take advantage of opportunity

15. Experiential learning opportunities Planning skills Decision making Analysis and synthesis Leadership skills Responsibility Critical and creative thinking Development and application of knowledge, skills and attitudes Evaluation of results • Work experience • Field/farm work • Community development • Professional experience • Entrepreneurial project • Internship • Graduation project

16. Work Experience

17. Community Development

18. Entrepreneurial Projects Program Chocolate-Covered Bananas Cassava chips Water Buffalo Domestication

19. Internship

20. Graduation Project

21. Graduates • 45% working in the private sector • 16% run own or family business • 81% working in agriculture, nature resources or community development • 87% working in country of origin • 94% working in Latin America OUTCOMES

22. Gaudencio Rodríguez, Class of 1999

23. EARTH UNIVERSITY José Zaglul June 5, 2007 Association for International Agriculture and Rural Development (AIARD) Annual Meeting