Keyano’s Business Program Students Visit Costa Rica

If they had to pick just a few words to describe the experience, “trip of a lifetime” was the unanimous response by Keyano’s Business students who recently visited Costa Rica. The eight-day trip began on March 20, 2023, and saw 13 students from three classes visit the Central American nation.

Students, accompanied by Keyano Business instructor, Gregory Krabes, visited various tourism industry spots such as urban and rural hotels, and a coffee farm to learn the impact of COVID on the organizations, and how they managed the needed change as they pivoted. The trip was part of the Outbound Mobility Project, which has an “aim to increase the participation of underrepresented students in international learning opportunities, diversify the destination countries students choose to visit, and test innovative approaches to reduce barriers to study/work abroad.” (Government of Canada, 2019).

Tiffany Walters, a first-year Business Administration – Accounting student shares:

“Going to Costa Rica was a privilege I’m grateful for. The trip allowed me to better understand intercultural communication on an international level, international networking, and change management due to the Covid-19 pandemic in a tourism-reliant country. We toured many hotels and were able to see the different impacts on these areas and the continuing dynamics of each. We were able to enjoy some leisure activities on the trip, including a cooking class at a prominent culinary school in San Jose and a walking tour of Manuel Antonio National Park. This trip enabled me to make lifelong friends and connections. It was a truly memorable experience and something I believe all business students need to experience. The organizing team in Costa Rica was fantastic and certainly made the trip memorable.”

Connor Czibere, who just completed his first year in Business Administration – Management notes:

“The trip to Costa Rica was the best one of my life! I had no idea how beautiful and interesting the country was. We visited hotels and talked to the executives to learn how they run their daily operations as well as how they were able to keep their businesses running during the pandemic. We went to a coffee farm that taught us so much about what goes into making coffee from a seed to the cup, which only contains 0.01% of the actual coffee plant.”

“I also learned that 99% of Costa Rica’s electricity comes from renewable energy and by 2050 Costa Rica hopes to become completely carbon neutral. I also learned that a city there named Nicoya is one of the five blue zones in the world, meaning their life expectancy is over 100 years old,” adds Connor.

Anderson King, a third-year Business Administration - Management student thanked his instructor Gregory Krabes for the trip.

“He was extremely patient and integral to the success of this trip. My experience was amazing, the country is a paradise because of its natural beauty and diverse wildlife. Costa Rica has stunning beaches, rainforests, and national parks with impressive upkeep. Those who are interested in eco-tourism will be guaranteed satisfaction in Costa Rica, with sustainable accommodations and ecological tours available. We toured San Jose that has a rich culture and history with pre-Colombian art and architecture on display. One of the greatest benefits/appeals was how friendly and welcoming everyone was towards tourists. I could go on all day, but in the end, I believe if any student could go abroad and learn I would highly recommend it.”

Speaking of Krabes, he joined Keyano in 2017; and teaches in the Faculty of Business. He explains more on the trip.

“During the two years we were operating under pandemic restrictions, I designed Virtual Mobility activities that I integrated into all my HyFlex classes (which allow learners to choose at any given time throughout the course to attend in person or virtually). This program is part of the Government of Canada’s ‘Global Skill Opportunity’ initiative. After the lockdown we were able to secure funds and travel to Costa Rica, plus conduct research into Management Change necessitated by recent Covid situation and normal business cycles.”

Avril Titus, Keyano’s Manager, International Education & Student Life has been with the College for almost two years. She highlighted the trip’s background.

“In 2019 the College’s Committee on International Education and Global Citizenship identified five pillars as part of Keyano’s International Education & Global Citizenship Strategy. These pillars aim to increase the number of multicultural celebrations and educational opportunities, which promote diversity, cultural awareness, and inclusion. One such educational opportunity would be the recent Costa Rica trip. This was sponsored through grant funding received from Colleges and Institutes Canada (CiCan) through the GSO (Global Skills Opportunity) Program.”

“This experience was an extension of the virtual exchange which these students had originally participated in. The overall goal was to contribute to the academic or work-integrated learning components of the students’ program of study. Additionally, there was focus on improved skills, intercultural competencies and professional networking skills. This can by extension lead to expanded international employment networks of participants. Ultimately, the program seeks to encourage innovative approaches and to reduce barriers to mobility and increase the number of Canadians participating in outbound mobility experiences. We were very excited for our very first outbound mobility experience! It is our intention to continue with these and similar initiatives to ensure students who grace the walls of this College leave here with a holistic educational experience. The exposure to be gained through participating in such experiences is life-changing.”

We agree.

For more information about our programs, view our A-Z Programs page.