During the week of 21-25 February 2022, a workshop was held by the Project for the strengthening of programs and courses developed by STOREM. The event was held across multiple venues in Costa Rica, including the campus of the University for International Cooperation (UCI) along with field trips to Monteverde and Sarapiquí. The event was hosted by the two project partners based in Costa Rica: UCI and the National University (UNA).
Since February 21, part of the partners of the STOREM project have been in Costa Rica on a mission to exchange experiences, validate new academic programs and learn about topics of interest that specialists from the country have been sharing with the group.
The event addressed three objectives. The first objective focused on the validation of the courses and programs developed as part of STOREM. Project partners analyzed and provided feedback on the materials developed for the courses of the different partners of the STOREM Project, the technological environment and their learning aspects. The second meeting objective was to facilitate and exchange of experiences and knowledge with professionals and public authorities working on the subjects of tourism and environmental management. The third objective of the meeting was to link research with new courses and programs developed through STOREM. This objective seeks to strengthen the capacities of Latin American and Caribbean project partners in areas of interest according to the new programs and courses.
The activities during these days have taken place in San José, Monteverde and Sarapiquí, where ecotourism, destination planning, research, ecological connectivity and regenerative development have been some of the main topics of the capacity building exercises.
Partners from the University of Cagliari, EAFIT University, University of Magdalena and the Planning and Development Unit participate in this meeting organized by the University for International Cooperation with the support of the National University Campus Chorotega. Virtually, the University of the West Indies of Barbados and the Paul Valerie University of France also participate.
Meeting participants included academic professors and researchers from the Higher Education Institutes participating in the project as well as local experts. Stakeholders of the private and public sectors in Costa Rica working with tourism and environmental management also participated with presentations from professionals working in local protected areas, the cloud forest biological preserve, and San Juan la Selva Biological Corridor.
