Estudiantes De Universidad De Minnesota Visitan Ageco Para Brindar Propuestas De Mejora
In this video, the English title of which is "University of Minnesota Students Visit Ageco to Offer Improvement Proposals," Fabián Trejos, the General Manager of AGECO — Asociación Gerontológica de Costa Rica (Costa Rican Gerontological Association), speaks about the experience of working with students in the University of Minnesota (UMN) Pura Vida Learning Abroad program.
The interdisciplinary group of students included majors in construction management, healthcare management, multidisciplinary studies, kinesiology, and the Carlson School of Management. Their task: to address identified problem areas to assure continued service delivery as well as propose innovative ideas for new offerings and revenue generation as AGECO looks to the future.
The board and management of AGECO were very pleased with the presentation and expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the faculty and team for the opportunity to receive such a detailed, innovative, mission centered, and professional consult.
The group was mentored by UMN instructors Peter Hilger, faculty director of the Construction Management program, and Frances Fernández, faculty director of the Healthcare Management program, who couldn’t be prouder of the caliber of work, passion, and professionalism presented by the students in just a short two weeks!
English-Translation Transcript
Fabián Trejos: At AGECO we really feel very satisfied with the work carried out by this team of (students) professionals from the University of Minnesota, who have made a very valuable contribution to our organization. They managed to address many issues in a very short time and with very detailed and appropriate proposals to the issues that we are facing. These will be very useful to improve the performance of the organization and ensure that AGECO can provide a better service to the adult and aging populations of Costa Rica. They were able to address issues with our infrastructure, physical therapy business venture, marketing recommendations, web and social media accessibility for our clients, among others. Their proposals were very detailed including costs and we're very pleased."
Peter Hilger: I am so proud of them, for them to accomplish as much as they did in two weeks is absolutely incredible. This was a particularly cohesive team and they were able to work very closely together to accomplish the goals. And maybe we bring another team again next year, who knows? We've got other problems we can solve.
Frances Fernández : I feel very fortunate and proud to have had the opportunity to be here as an instructor, to be with the students and the beautiful people of AGECO and the Ticos (the Costa Rican people) who are so friendly, with so much human warmth. I am with Pura Vida! (the simple/pure life), which is much more than just a saying in Costa Rica, it is a way of enjoying living—more importantly, it is their way of life)
AGECO added the following message:
On behalf of the Costa Rican Gerontological Association (AGECO), its board of directors and populations served, we thank each student once again for the work carried out during these two weeks, as the determination and dedication with which they addressed each topic has been evident. Based on the proposals made, AGECO will continue working for dignified and active aging for the country's older adults.
AGECO is a non profit organization focused on providing social services for adults 45+ as well as specialty services for 65+. AGECO 's mission centers on sensitivity and dignity on aging to promote an active, productive and quality filled aging experience as well as defend the human rights of the elderly population. Founded in 1980 and providing (mostly free) in person as well as online services for their aging clients, AGECO has locations in Liberia, Alajuela and main offices located in San José.
