Schulich Students Travel to Costa Rica to Support Entrepreneurs
The newly launched Innovating for Sustainable Impact (SUST 6151) course provided MBA, Master of Management (MMGT) and Master of Environmental Studies (MES) students the opportunity to travel and learn in an immersive international environment. The primarily project-based course is taught by Professor and RBC Chair in Social Innovation and Impact Geoffrey Kistruck.
“This newly designed course provides students with an opportunity to experience first-hand the complexities associated with designing new business models in contexts with significant social and environmental challenges,” said Kistruck. “Furthermore, it allows our students to collaborate with disadvantaged individuals to help generate innovative ideas that can have a direct and sustainable impact on the communities in which they live.”
At the end of April, a group of 19 graduate students travelled to Costa Rica to collectively identify business models capable of providing meaningful work for youth entrepreneurs. Costa Rica was chosen to engage with the York University Las Nubes Project.
“From a young age, I’ve been passionate about social enterprises and grassroots projects focused on sustainability. I took this course to close out my time at Schulich in a meaningful way outside of the classroom, hoping to make a tangible impact in an international community alongside students from different programs,” said Lauren Viray, MBA/JD Candidate ‘24. “I was amazed by the warmth and openness with which we were welcomed into homes and workplaces. My experience there taught me that communities exist where social innovation and sustainability are integral and embedded into the concept of a successful business. The achievements of one local youth entrepreneur can elevate the entire community’s standard of living.”
SUST 6151 is one of several courses introduced this year as part of the revamped Sustainability specialization, designed to offer an experiential and global learning experience.
“This course is a perfect amalgamation of learning and real-world application,” said Raphael Okenyi, MBA Candidate ‘24. “You’re not only given a chance to develop your business acumen but also to see how these skills can have a direct positive impact on communities. The hands-on experience, cultural immersion, and the opportunity to work across diverse teams is incredibly enriching.”