Costa Rica has been neglecting training in STEM ( science, technology, engineering and mathematics) areas. Non-health related STEM educational opportunities represent only 16% of the offers from universities. Traditional careers are favored because they are cheaper.
Looking toward the future, the areas that we will need more professionals in include big data, electrical engineering, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, electromedicine, digital animation, and biomechanics. Costa Rica’s companies already urgently need professionals in these areas.
Of the 64 universities in the country, the Technological Institute of Costa Rica and the University of Costa Rica are the ones that have the highest STEM academic offer. Still, many more students opt to study education, social sciences, and administration.
The National Education Loan Commission stopped financing oversaturated careers because of high levels of unemployment. The National Council of Private University Higher Education approved a methodology for universities to recover STEM related investments. The World Bank also offers loans to increase the institutional capacities for high quality STEM careers in public universities.
