Costa Rica: an overview

Prof. Ana SittenfeldOffice of International Affairs and External Cooperation

Universidad de Costa Rica

Costa Rica

-Political system: Democracy-No Army -Population : 4.5 million

-GDP (Per capita): US$ ~7.000

-Life expectancy : 79,11 years -Education: 6% GDP

-Literacy rate: 96%

-Social Security 6% of GDP, 87.5% coverage

VALUES : DEMOCRACY

PEACE

HUMAN RIGHTS

EDUCATION

NATURE CONSERVATION

INDICATOR 1940 1980 2000 2006

Human development

Index

ND 0.75 0.71 0.83

Population 656 2.276 3.943 4.401

Poverty ND 19 21 21

Life expectancy 46.9 72.6 77.4 79

Infant mortality 123 19 10.2 9.70

Literacy 73 90 95 95.8

GNP per capita US $ 702 2.022 4.028 5.031

Long term growth

Year Total Male Female

1940 47 46 481950 58 56 591990 77 75 792000 78 75 802009 79 77 82

Change (years) 32 31 34Change (%) 69% 67% 71%

CR: Life expectancy at birth

Long term growth

Four phases, four models

• 1850-1960: Development based on few agricultural products (Agroexport model)

• 1960-1980: Import substitution model• 1980-1990: Export promotion model• 1990- on: Full insertion in international

economy

Long term structural change

GDP Employment GDP Employment GDP Employment

Primary sector 26% 49% 11% 20% 7% 12%

Secondary sector 14% 17% 24% 23% 27% 20%

Tertiary sector 60% 33% 65% 57% 66% 68%

Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%

1963 2000 2009CR: sectoral participation in GDP and employment

Production: export diversification(Millions of US$)

Production: Diversification of Manufacturing Exports

(Factor use , in % of total)

Production: DFI in technologically advanced enterprises

Production: Services

• Tourism• Call centers• Software• Medical Services

Costa Rica: a special place for biodiversity

51,100 km² of continental surface and 589,000 km² of territorial water

Holds 4% of the world’s biodiversity

Density-wise, one of the most diverse countries in the planet

Average EPI score for income peer group (5th decile): 65.7Average EPI score for Americas: 64.0 GDP per capita: $9,636Population: 4,462,190

EPI SCORES 100–85 1 Iceland 93.5 2 Switzerland 89.1 3 Costa Rica 86.4 4 Sweden 86.0

Costa Rica: Environmental Performance Index

http//epi.yale.edu/Countries/CostaRica

Legal and policy framework: the case of Costa Rica

Forestry Law 1969

National Parks Law1977

Wildlife Law1992

Convention on Biological Diversity1992

Biodiversity Law

General Environment Law1995

1998

Access Guidelines published Dec. 2003

LAWS

Universidad de Costa Rica

History

First Higher Education Institution

UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMÁS 1843

Main Campus

Western Regional Campus

Pacific Regional Campus

Guanacaste Regional Campus

Atlantic Regional Campus

Limón Regional Campus

Santa Cruz Branch

Tacares (Grecia) Branch

Paraíso Branch

Golfo Dulce Branch

Alajuela Interunivesity Branch

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2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

UNIVERSITY OF COSTA RICA

10

11

Location of Academic Campuses

ORGANIZATION

UCR in Mesoamerica and Latin America

UNAM (Mexico) 1 2Tecnológico de Monterrey 2 5Universidad de Guadalajara 3 12Universidad de Puerto Rico 4 15Universidad de Costa Rica 5 19

http://www.webometrics.info/top200_latinamerica.asp.htm

LAMesoamerica

UCR in CONTEXT

• 45.000 STUDENTS• 4.500 FACULTY• Costa Rica: 4.5 million inhabitants

Study Programmes Offered by the University of Costa Rica, by Areas 2007

EDUCATION

Areas Teaching

Diplomas

Bachelor License Special

ities

Academic

Masters

Professional

Masters

Doctorate

Arts and Letters 26 20 Basic Sciences 9 7 Social Sciences 9 2 32 23 Agricultural Sciences 3 4 Engineering 5 Health 5 8 Regional Branches 3 1 53 20 Totals 12 3 133 82 69 73 97 7

EDUCATION

2000 2007

5 000

10 000

15 000

20 000

25 000

30 000

35 000

40 000

Enrollment: Public Higher Education Institutions 2000 and 2007

UCRITCRUNAUNED

RESEARCH

Research Projects Executed by Public Universities, by Area 2005

Number of ProjectsArea UCR ITCR UNA UNED TOTAL

Basic Sciences 195 30 50 3 278Health and Social Servicies 141 3 144

Social Sciences Information, Administration and Law 101 5 39 1 146Agriculture and Branches 122 23 54 199Ingineering, Industry y Construction 48 19 2 69Humanities y Arts 73 30 1 104Regional Branches 44 22 3 1 70Education 33 16 34 83Services 10 4 14Administrative Unit 2 2 4 8TOTAL 769 103 199 44 1.115 PORCENTAGE 69% 9% 18% 4% 100%

RESEARCH

65%

21%

11%

3%

Distribution of Researchers in Public Universities, 2005.

UCR

UNA

ITCR

UNED

Source: Own elaboration with CONARE data, 2007.

•UCR, a great national and international recognition

•UCR produces 70% of the national research

•55% of all publications in the Science Citation Index from the country

•50% of Central America Research

UCR 56%

Others 13%

CCSS 10%

UNA 10%

Min, ICE 3%

CATIE 7%ITCR 1%

Institutional Publications Percentage(Science Citation Index, during 1980 -1998)

RESEARCH SUPPORT

Cultural Extension

Social Extension

Faculty Extension

Service Programs

Channel 15

Radio UCR Radio U

University Journal (Weekly)

SOCIAL EXTENSION

Office of International Affairs and External Cooperation

Reports to the Rectory Represents UCR in the international context

Main programs: Academic Mobility

Scholars studying abroad (doctorate, postdoctorate and short term stays)

Visiting professors and scholars from abroad Student Exchange

Incoming and outgoing students International Cooperation and Fundraising

Agreements, cooperation agencies

32

(118) 40%

(72) 24%

(79) 27%

(26) 9%

Agreements with partner universities. Sep-tember 2010

Europa Estados Unidos y Canadá América Latina y Caribe Asia

33

40

26

Agreements between UCR and Universities in the United States

Total: 66 agreements and 33 institutions

CONVENIOS GENERALES CONVENIOS ESPECIFICOS

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STUDY ABROAD AT UCR

• EXCHANGE STUDENTS ATTENDING REGULAR COURSES IN SPANISH (tuition expenses waived).

• EXCHANGE STUDENTS IN SPECIAL PROGRAMMES:– Academic program for international students– Tailor made courses, programmes and study

tours.

ACADEMIC PROGRAM FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

  

The Academic Program for International Students at the University of Costa Rica (UCR) offers international students the possibility to improve their Spanish language skills while attending specific English-taught courses in a wide variety of academic areas, such as:

Biology, Economics, Business, Humanities, Arts, Philology, Music and others. The courses are taught by qualified UCR professors in each field of study.

 

The Core Course, Spanish for International Students, is offered in the mornings. Courses taught in English are delivered in the afternoons and mornings that do not conflict with the Spanish classes. Field trips will take place on Fridays and/or during weekends.

Academic Programme for International Students

Credits Earned and transfered per semester: 

Spanish (6 credits) + 2 English courses (3 credits each) =

12 credits

Spanish (6 credits) + 3 English courses (3 credits each) =

15 credits

 I: March-July

II: August-early December

III: Short term: 7- 8 weeks (January-February; June-July-August)

Thanks

University of Costa Rica