Ninoska Montufar, On-Site Program Coordinator
Ninoska is a graduate of San Antonio Abad National University of Cusco with a Bachelor degree in Accounting and worked as a Client Service Manager, providing help in everything. She traveled to Holland, Belgium, and Paris, also she is an active member of Couchsurfing and hosted a lot of people in her house. Ninoska was born in Sicuani which is a small city 3 hours south of Cusco, after high school she went to Cusco to continue her studies and has been living almost 10 years in Cusco! She loves to meet people and go outside of the city. Ninoska is working in this group to make your experience unforgettable and she will be there with you in every way possible, to ensure you program aboard is a safe, meaningful and positive one. She looks forward to meeting and getting to know you soon.
Cristian Lopez, CISabroad Site Director in Cusco
Originally from Peru, Cristian studies Tourism in his native Cusco, where students undertake in-depth studies of Peru’s archaeology, flora, fauna and history. Cristian will soon complete his Master’s degree in administration with mention in tourism management, and he is also currently a teacher in the Private University of Cusco (Universidad Andina). In addition, Cristian has been guiding visitors for 11 years. He has three children: two daughters and one boy.
What’s an OPC? As part of your customized faculty-led program abroad, you will be led and supported by a CISabroad On-Site Program Coordinator (OPC). OPCs are experienced and well trained staff members, there to ensure the schedule goes according to plan. Each OPC attends an extensive training program that involves a range of modules – risk management, emergency response, safety, logistics’, cultural awareness, communication, culture shock, budgeting, social media, La Vida Local and customer service.
The primary role of the OPC is to facilitate the in-country implementation of the assigned customized program, by providing safety / emergency response and logistical support. During the program, the OPC is responsible for managing the day-to-day logistics of the assigned customized program and providing in-country support to both the faculty and students. Using personal travel experience, professional work experience (and where possible language knowledge), the OPC will help create a program environment that is safe and culturally engaging. The CISabroad OPC may or may not be an in country local. The majority of CISabroad OPCs are expats from the US, who have travelled, lived, volunteered, or worked abroad in the program destination.
The OPC is not a registered tour guide nor expected to provide tours of sites visited during the program. If the program is one that requires specific guided tours of various sites, these will be provided separately. The OPC provides a general neighborhood walking tour to help the group identify the nearest bank/ATM, pharmacy, laundry-mat, grocery store and other similar conveniences.
The OPC’s role allows Faculty to focus on the academic objectives and the students to make the most of their time overseas!