Sustainability at UWC Costa Rica
Learning from a Culture of Sustainability
Costa Rica is one of the world’s leading countries in sustainability—home to 6% of global biodiversity, with a National Decarbonization Plan and a strong commitment to environmental protection and sustainable development. At UWC Costa Rica, sustainability is at the core of the educational experience. Students learn from nature, exploring ecosystems and engaging with the country’s extraordinary natural environment and its commitment to a better, more sustainable future.
This commitment takes the form of the Sustainability Framework at UWC Costa Rica. The learning curriculum, IB Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) experiences, cafeteria, and even the development of learning spaces in the new campus. Every action is guided by sustainable practices and treated as an opportunity for learning.
UWC Costa Rica is the perfect place for any student interested not only in studying abroad in an international environment surrounded by nature, but also in sustainable practices, regenerative solutions, learning from natural processes, and putting ideas into action for the community.
Learning from and living with nature
Ever thought about how a single purchase in the supermarket can impact a whole ecosystem? What happens during the composting process of a banana peel? What is the carbon footprint of every email sent for the last year?
These questions are asked daily in classrooms, during lunch conversations, and on field trips across the country. Applying those concepts to the academic curriculum enables creativity and action, with institutional and student-led projects driving a shift toward defining what a culture of sustainability means at UWC Costa Rica.
Sustainability-focused experiences
Sustainable practices take a leading role in all activities across the two-year experience at UWC Costa Rica. Grants are awarded for student projects during the Agents of Change Camp, sustainability tournaments are held across all residences on campus to measure the impact on the community, and a long list of Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) experiences are designed with sustainability in mind, like the Compost Champions CAS and the Greenhouse CAS, to name a few.
A blueprint for sustainable development
UWC Costa Rica’s new campus is a historic achievement in sustainable development for Costa Rica and the world, as the first building project to achieve dual sustainability certification while prioritizing nature and the surrounding community. The new site, set to launch in August 2027, will create a new wave of opportunities for students to be completely embedded in nature.
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Blog: Sustainability Corner
