1. Costa Rica: an overview Prof. Ana Sittenfeld Office of International Affairs and External Cooperation Universidad de Costa Rica

2. 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

3. VALUES : DEMOCRACY PEACE HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION NATURE CONSERVATION

5. INDICATOR194019802000 2006 Human development Index ND0.750.710.83 Population 6562.2763.943 4.401 Poverty ND1921 Life expectancy 46.9 72.677.4 79 Infant mortality 123 1910.2 9.70 Literacy 73 9095 95.8 GNP per capita US $ 7022.0224.028 5.031

6. Long term growth

9. 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

10. Long term structural change

11. Production: export diversification (Millions of US$)

12. Production: Diversification of Manufacturing Exports (Factor use, in % of total)

13. Production: DFI in technologically advanced enterprises

14. Production: Services Tourism Call centers Software Medical Services

15. 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

16. Average EPI score for income peer group (5th decile): 65.7 Average EPI score for Americas: 64.0 GDP per capita: $9,636 Population: 4,462,190 EPI SCORES 100–85 1 Iceland 93.5Iceland 2 Switzerland 89.1Switzerland 3 Costa Rica 86.4Costa Rica 4 Sweden 86.0Sweden Costa Rica: Environmental Performance Index http//epi.yale.edu/Countries/CostaRica

17. Legal and policy framework: the case of Costa Rica Forestry Law 1969 1969 National Parks Law 1977 Wildlife Law 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity 1992 Biodiversity Law General Environment Law 1995 1998 Access Guidelines published Dec. 2003 LAWS

19. Universidad de Costa Rica

20. History First Higher Education Institution UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMÁS 1843

21. 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 UNIVERSITY OF COSTA RICA 10 11 Location of Academic Campuses

22. ORGANIZATION

23. UCR in Mesoamerica and Latin America UNAM (Mexico) 1 2 Tecnológico de Monterrey 2 5 Universidad de Guadalajara 3 12 Universidad de Puerto Rico 4 15 Universidad de Costa Rica 5 19  http://www.webometrics.info/top200_latinam erica.asp.htm LA Mesoamerica

24. UCR in CONTEXT 45.000 STUDENTS45.000 STUDENTS 4.500 FACULTY4.500 FACULTY Costa Rica: 4.5 million inhabitantsCosta Rica: 4.5 million inhabitants

25. Study Programmes Offered by the University of Costa Rica, by Areas 2007 EDUCATION Areas Teaching Diplomas Bachelor License Specialities Academic Masters Professional Masters Doctorate Arts and Letters 2620 Basic Sciences 97 Social Sciences 923223 Agricultural Sciences 34 Engineering 5 Health 58 Regional Branches 315320 Totals 123133826973977

26. EDUCATION

27. RESEARCH Research Projects Executed by Public Universities, by Area 2005 Number of Projects AreaUCRITCRUNAUNEDTOTAL Basic Sciences19530503278 Health and Social Servicies141 3 144 Social Sciences Information, Administration and Law1015391146 Agriculture and Branches1222354 199 Ingineering, Industry y Construction48192 69 Humanities y Arts73 301104 Regional Branches44223170 Education33 163483 Services104 14 Administrative Unit2 248 TOTAL76910319944 1.115 PORCENTAGE69%9%18%4%100%

28. RESEARCH Source: Own elaboration with CONARE data, 2007.

29. RESEARCH SUPPORT

30. SOCIAL EXTENSION

31. 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

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36. 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.

37. 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.

38. 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)

39. Thanks University of Costa Rica