Last 7th December 2007 was a day of joy and tears as students of EARTH University celebrated the end of their intensive four-year program. The ceremony was honored by Professor Muhammad Yunus, the founder of Grameen Banks, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006. The 90 graduates from 21 countries included one student from Uganda, Denis Odokonyero (Engineer), who spent all four years living far away from his family and friends in search of a better education.

E.A.R.T.H is a private, international, non-profit University located in the Province of Limon, Costa Rica in Central America. The main campus stretches to 3300ha and La Flor, another branch of EARTH located in Guanacaste is 1800ha. EARTH is dedicated to education in Agricultural sciences and natural resources in order to contribute to sustainable development in the humid tropics everywhere, including Uganda by seeking a balance between agricultural production and environmental protection. The University consists of 400 students majoring in the same program being guided by 42 full -time professors from different countries well acquitted with wide knowledge and experience in investigations and science. All the courses are being taught in Spanish however, Ugandan students like any other Africans or Asians students always have to learn the language on their arrival at the same time attending the regular classes.

In accordance with its philosophy, EARTH does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic origin, race, religion, gender or nationality in its educational or admissions policies. Its financial aid programs are designed to benefit young men and women of limited financial resources. The student population is composed of students from Africa (Uganda, Mozambique, Kenya and South Africa), Latin America, Asia, Europe and a few from North America.

Every year, EARTH works hand in hand with the Faculty of Agriculture of Makerere University to select students for admission to EARTH’s program. The admission process goes beyond academic requirements and traditional interviews; it includes the evaluation of applicants' human values, family background, social and environmental consciousness, entrepreneurial and leadership skills.                                                           
                                                                                                                                                                
Since its creation in 1990, EARTH has empowered its students with integrated skills based on four pillars: human values, social and environmental awareness, an entrepreneurial spirit and technical and scientific knowledge. The belief is that once the skills are acquired, these students will become agents of change in their countries of origin. There are now seven students from Uganda who have undergone this program and have caused lots of positive impacts in their places of work. One example is Engineer Francis Rwabuto, the manager of Kabanyole farm.

The students are trained using a curriculum that balances theory and practice, encouraging them to develop initiatives that integrate social, environmental and economic factors. During the course, students are given the opportunity to establish and run their own business projects as if it were a real-world business. This is part of the entrepreneurship course, and the project is evaluated by professors before the student leaves Costa Rica to complete an internship. The students also get a chance to work with the local community. Students are able to use this interaction as practical experience in solving farmers’ real world needs.  Additionally, third year students spend seven weeks in dry tropics of Guanaste in Northern Costa Rica where EARTH owns 1800ha of land. While there, students live with local farmers, work in companies located in that region and create a project depending on the needs of the community.
                                                                        
In the last trimester of third year, each student goes back to his or her country of origin in order to put into practice what has been learnt. They work with a business or organisation to set up a community project, reinforcing their studies in a field of interest and gaining employee’s experience. To conclude the program, each candidate is required to do a graduation project, such as a thesis, related to agriculture so that he or she earns the title of Engineer in Agronomy.

Today, more than 1000 graduates worldwide are committed to making EARTH’s mission a reality. Their work in production, business and political, academic and social sectors is tangible evidence that education can have an effect on national development. “A graduate from EARTH gives hope for peace.’’ stated bySeñor Oscar Arias, Costa Rican president during the graduation ceremony, 2007.
asharon@earth.ac.cr           www.earth.ac.cr