Costa Rica J-Term: Global Business, Culture, and Experiential Learning in Action

From January 2-11, Loyola students traveled to Costa Rica as part of the Costa Rica J-Term Study Abroad Program, an immersive experience that combined academic coursework with hands-on learning, cultural exploration, and direct engagement with global business leaders. Led by faculty from the College of Business, the program offered students a multifaceted look at international business in practice.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

The program began with students diving into Costa Rica’s natural and cultural landscape. Early highlights included a visit to the Irazú Volcano, where students explored the main crater, followed by a traditional lunch featuring comida andina. The group later traveled to Puntarenas, where students hiked through streams and waterfalls, visited a cocoa farm, and spent time along the Pacific coast—experiences that emphasized Costa Rica’s environmental richness alongside its economic context.

In San José, students engaged with the country’s policy and economic environment through a visit to Academia de Centroamérica, a leading non-partisan think tank. The visit sparked conversations around Costa Rica’s economic priorities, development strategies, and regional role. Students also explored the city center, visiting museums such as the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum and experiencing local neighborhoods and cuisine.

Inside Global Companies and Industries

The second half of the program shifted more directly into global business and industry engagement. Students visited Lutron and Coloplast, two multinational leaders in smart lighting solutions and medical devices. At Lutron, students participated in a panel discussion with three senior managers, exploring opportunities and challenges within the high-tech market and gaining insight into leadership decision-making in a competitive global industry.

Midweek, the group traveled to one of the few Starbucks-owned coffee farms in the world. Students learned about the full coffee production process—from harvesting to roasting and tasting—and even tried their hand at coffee cherry picking, gaining firsthand appreciation for agricultural labor and supply chain complexity.

Additional company visits included Samtec, a leader in the semiconductor and connector industry, and Boston Scientific, one of the world’s top medical device companies. At both sites, students toured production facilities, observed manufacturing processes, and discussed topics ranging from strategic positioning and innovation to sustainability and global operations with company managers.

The final day of company visits began at La Lima Business Park, where students learned how business parks are managed and how Costa Rica attracts foreign multinational investment. The group then visited the historic city center of Cartago, including the Basilica of the Virgen de los Ángeles, before concluding the academic portion of the program at Fortech, a sustainability-focused company that recycles lithium batteries and electronic boards to recover critical minerals and support circular business practices.

Closing the Experience

The program concluded with a gala dinner overlooking the San José metropolitan area, giving students and faculty a chance to reflect on the experiences, conversations, and learning that shaped the two-week journey.

Through a balance of academic rigor, cultural immersion, and real-world business engagement, the Costa Rica J-Term exemplified experiential learning at Loyola—challenging students to think globally, engage critically, and learn beyond traditional classroom walls.