Faculty Leader Development Workshop in Panama

Professional Development for Current and Aspiring International Education Faculty Leaders

January 3-7, 2027

Photos of Panama and from our inaugural Faculty Workshop in Costa Rica in January, 2026

Workshop Description

Whether you’ve never led a study abroad program or led more times than you can count, join us in Panama for the second iteration of our Faculty Leader Development Workshop! We will build a fun and thoughtful learning community, while immersing in Panamanian culture. This workshop will give participants confidence to plan and facilitate faculty-led programs anywhere in the world.

You’ll learn:

  • Handling common challenges, including group dynamics

  • Supporting student learning through hands-on experiences

  • Engaging with local partners in a meaningful and equitable way

  • Intentional program design and selecting activities

  • Facilitating learning and leading reflection

  • Assessing and managing risk

Register

Tentative Itinerary

Day 1

  • Arrival to Tocumen International Airport (PTY) and transfer to Portobelo, a UNESCO designated hidden secret on the Caribbean coast.

  • Program orientation and interactive discussion risk management, physical and mental health, and other faculty leader responsibilities.

  • Welcome dinner with local seafood and coconut rice, a delicious Caribbean staple

Lodging Location: Portobelo
Included Meals: Dinner

Day 2

  • Historical tour of portobelo with stories and artifacts of pirates, gold, and Black Jesus, including visits to colonial forts and an important church

  • Group lunch at local cafe. Discussion on itinerary design and collaboration with third party providers.

  • Visit to a secluded beach

  • Group dinner with interactive workshop on Congo drumming and dance performance. Congo culture is UNESCO designated.

  • Discussion on selection and facilitation of hands-on and culturally-immersive learning experiences

Lodging Location: Portobelo
Included Meals: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 3

  • Visit an Emberá village in the Panama Canal watershed. Emberá are one of eight indigenous groups in Panama.

  • Interactive discussion on ethical local partner engagement

  • Transfer to Panama City. Interactive workshop on facilitating reflections on the way.

  • Independent dinner

    • Faculty will experience what it’s like for students to identify restaurants on their own, with suggestions from their Learn From Travel guide

Lodging Location: Panama City
Included Meals: Breakfast | Lunch

Day 4

  • Geisha coffee tasting, a unique varietal cultivated in Panama. One of the finest coffees in the world.

  • Visit the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal to see giant ships squeezing into the tightest of passages

  • Group lunch and discussion on group dynamics and common challenges during faculty-led programs

  • Tour Casco Viejo, Panama City’s colonial center, a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring 18th and 19th century architecture

  • Farewell dinner with sweeping views of the of the old city and the modern skyline

Lodging Location: Panama City
Included Meals: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 5

  • Departure from Tocumen International Airport (PTY); independent transfers from lodging to airport

Included Meals: Breakfast

Additional Details

Cost

Program fee TBD

Includes:

  • All ground transportation (excluding airport transfers)

  • All accommodation

  • Meals as listed in the itinerary including one non-alcoholic beverage per meal. 

  • Activities as described in the itinerary including entrance fees

  • Guide and coordinator with the group the entire program, and available 24 hours for emergencies

  • Carbon offset for air travel

Excludes: 

  • International airfare in and out of Tocumen International Airport

  • Taxi/rideshare/subway to and from airport to lodging in Panama City

  • Travel medical and evacuation insurance

  • Travel insurance with trip cancellation and interruption coverage

  • Activities and meals not described in itinerary

Lodging

Single occupancy. Mid-range hotels. (Photos forthcoming.)

Group Size:

10-15 faculty participants

Payment Process

After you register, we will invoice you:

$500 - non-refundable deposit to secure your spot (limited to 15 participants)

The balance amount will be due 60 days prior to departure

Cancellation Policy

  • 61-90 days prior to departure - 100% refund less nonrefundable deposit

  • 60-31 days prior to departure  - 50% refund

  • 30 of fewer days prior to departure - 0% refund

    We recommend all participants to purchase travel insurance with cancellation coverage.

Registration Form

Registration for January 2027 is now open!

Participant Testimonials

From January 2026 Workshop in Costa Rica

I loved the thoughtfulness and intentionality of the design, keeping faculty leaders in mind as they built the itinerary, was amazing.

The entire trip was excellent. I underestimated how impactful it would be to be a participant. Its been fun reflecting on the trip.

The discussions on why certain activities and places were chosen was very helpful in understanding the study abroad design process.

It was great to see the role the guides played. I haven't used a provider company before for study abroad so I was interested to see the value of them in the travel experience. I definitely see a benefit to working with LFT guides to help facilitate student programs. They are knowledgeable, friendly, helpful, and a great resource.

I’ve worked with a lot of different providers and this one was the best. Everything was thoughtfully planned, and there was never a point where I was frustrated with what we were doing.