Faculty and Staff Development Workshop in Panama

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Learn From Travel is excited to launch its second annual Faculty Development Workshop, January 3rd to 7th, 2027 in Panama! You can register for January 2027 here.

Whether you’ve never led a study abroad program or led more times than you can count, you’re welcome to join us. We will build a fun and thoughtful learning community while immersing in Panamanian culture.

Bird Watching Faculty Development Workshop

spotting a sloth in the canopy, La Mariola

Itinerary Highlights

Our itinerary includes:

  • an interactive discussions on risk management, physical and mental health, and other faculty leader responsibilities.

  • exploration of difficult topics such as slavery and colonialism during a historical tour of the UNESCO-designated town of Portobelo, a place of resistance and maronage, complete with with stories and artifacts of pirates, gold, and the famed Black Jesus.

  • visit to a secluded beach where we will engage in a hands on exercise on risk management

  • tour of the UNESCO-designated colonial Panama City center with discussion on engaging itinerary development

  • visit to the Panama Canal for observation of massive ship passages from up close

  • welcome and farewell dinners

Community-based highlights include:

  • a dance performance and question and answer session with local Congo drummers

  • an immersive visit to an indigenous Emberá village.

Recycling Faculty Development Workshop

learning about the recycling project at Adifort, La Fortuna

Recap of Previous Faculty Development Workshop

This Panama tour follows our inaugural Faculty Development Workshop from in January 2026 in Costa Rica, which hosted fourteen faculty and staff members from six different institutions.

We began our journey with a welcome dinner and enthusiastic discussion in the city of Liberia, Costa Rica. The next day we boarded a private bus to La Fortuna. Along the way, we stopped at the stunning Café Macadamia, setting the tone for a week that balanced reflection, community engagement, and experiential learning.

In La Fortuna, we visited Adifort, a local nonprofit dedicated to supporting youth and seniors through education, wellness initiatives, and community programming. Participants learned how Adifort operates a modern swimming pool for seniors, hosts private events to generate income, runs a large recycling operation, and funds its work through the privately-owned La Fortuna Waterfall preserve. This visit sparked rich discussion around community-based organizations and how they often step in where government services are unable to help. According to one participant, “The discussions on why certain activities and places were chosen was very helpful in understanding the study abroad design process.”

Chocolate Tasting Faculty Development Workshop

Enjoying a chocolate tasting at North Fields, La Fortuna

Our final full day returned us to Liberia for a guided visit to the National University of Liberia, led by a local biology instructor. Highlights included research on stingless bees, a community playground, and even a hiking trail featuring edible termites, before concluding with a warm farewell meal at a local restaurant.

Overall, participants described the workshop as intentionally designed, informative and fun. We’re excited to see how this experience inspires the development of impactful future study abroad programs at their home institutions. One faculty member concluded, “The entire trip was excellent. I underestimated how impactful it would be to be a participant. It’s been fun reflecting on the trip.”

Register today for your spot on our next program in Panama!