ABSTRACT
EARTH University was established in Costa Rica in 1986 at the same time as the civil wars in the region were coming to a close with the signing of the Central American Peace Accord. As many of the most challenging issues of sustainability involve the entire planet, EARTH’s commitment to internationalisation is an essential element of its mission. An important lesson learned in this context, is that an effective way to promote intercultural learning among students is by having a diverse faculty. A concerted effort has been made in the curriculum design to always place theory within the multidisciplinary context of agricultural production and sustainable development. EARTH’s mission establishes that the graduates will direct their efforts toward the sustainable development of their countries of origin. Student-centred learning requires that students, both individually and in groups, explore problems and become active participants in knowledge generation rather than passive receptors of knowledge.
