CATIE launches its online master’s programs with students from 13 countries

• The Graduate School welcomes 57 professionals who are beginning their studies in coffee growing, agribusiness, and watershed management.

On September 7, the Graduate School of CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) began classes for its 2026 online master’s programs with a new cohort of 57 professionals from 13 countries, who will strengthen their knowledge and capacities in strategic areas for sustainable development in Latin America and other regions.

The new cohort comprises 25 students enrolled in the Master’s Program in Agribusiness Management and Sustainable Markets, 21 in the Master’s Program in Integrated Watershed Management, and 11 in the Master’s Program in Sustainable and Regenerative Coffee Growing.

Geographic diversity is one of the defining characteristics of this cohort. The enrolled students come from Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia, Panama, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, El Salvador, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and East Africa. The cohort includes 22 women and 35 men, reflecting the international reach and gender diversity of CATIE’s online academic programs.

“We are delighted to welcome this new generation of students who have placed their trust in CATIE to continue their professional development. Each of these 57 individuals brings different experiences, knowledge, and realities, and this diversity will greatly enrich the learning process. On behalf of the Graduate School, we welcome them and congratulate them for taking on the challenge of continuing their education so they can contribute, from their countries and territories, to developing solutions to the challenges of sustainable development,” said Dr. Olman Quirós, Dean of the CATIE Graduate School.

CATIE’s online master’s programs enable professionals to continue their education from their home countries, combining academic guidance with tools and methodologies designed to address specific challenges in their territories. Through these programs, CATIE seeks to expand access to specialized graduate education and strengthen professional capacities in areas related to the sustainable management of natural resources and agrifood systems.

About the students

“I am beginning CATIE’s Master’s Program in Integrated Watershed Management. I chose this program because of the institution’s extensive track record in developing human capital in the region and also because I want to bring the knowledge I acquire back to my community,” said Katherine Fuentes.

“I am grateful for the support I have received throughout the admissions process. I am truly very pleased with the experience and very motivated to continue learning about the processes that will help us lead in the territories where we live,” said Bryan Rodríguez, an agricultural engineer and extension officer with the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia, and a new student in the Master’s Program in Agribusiness Management and Sustainable Markets.

A regional legacy in graduate education

The CATIE Graduate School has a long-standing track record in educating professionals from Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as other regions of the world. Throughout its history, its academic programs have contributed to the development of specialists and leaders who now work in public institutions, international organizations, universities, research centers, businesses, civil society organizations, and communities, contributing knowledge and solutions toward more sustainable and inclusive development.

With the start of this new cohort, CATIE reaffirms its commitment to relevant, international graduate education that is closely connected to the major challenges facing territories today.

Those interested in continuing their education at CATIE can receive personalized assistance via WhatsApp at https://wa.me/50625582115