This article scrutinizes the crucial role of emotional intelligence (EI) in the academic journey of international students. It explores the different aspects that the students must go through when they make these decisions such as adaptability, interpersonal relationships, and their way to get to know the new educational and cultural environment.

Costa Rica's higher education institutions' internationalization process has always been a model of different practices and approaches from public and private universities. However, during the recent pandemic, both types of higher education systems again adopted other academic and international partnership continuity methods.