Only 25% of graduates from Costa Rica 's National Institute of Learning managed to obtain a job in the specialty in which they supposedly were trained.
Two articles in Nacion.com warn of the very serious situation that is affecting not only young people who are wasting their time studying what will not help them get a job, but also that demand from companies for trained personnel is not being satisfied either, diminishing the competitiveness of the Costa Rican economy, and bringing down the aforementioned superiority of the country's human capital over the rest of the region.
Behind a veneer of luxury websites of supposed online universities, lucrative networks sell certifications that contain endorsements from even the US State Department.
An article published by The New York Times reports on investigations carried out on the subject, apparently leading to a Pakistan-based organization which is dedicated to running a multi-million dollar business offering tailor made university diplomas, as well as renewal of knowledge and experience - real or not, by enrolling its customers in fictitious courses.
Starting April chambers of commerce in the region will be providing free training on phytosanitary controls, management at border posts and customs procedures for exporting firms.
From a statement issued by the Chamber of Commerce of Costa Rica:
As of April, the Chamber of Commerce of Costa Rica will be running a training program on trade facilitation for the public and private sector, within the framework of a cooperation agreement signed between the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Central America (FECAMCO) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to implement the USAID Regional Project on Trade and Market Partnerships.
The education of children and young people must be the appropriate in order to fit into a labor market that gets more competitive dayby day or to start their own businesses.
From a statement by the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama (CCIAP):
CONTINUING MODERNIZATION OF EDUCATION IS TASK FOR EVERYONE
In a few days thousands of children and young people will enter classrooms to prepare to be the future of our country.
PISA tests show that the wealthiest students in Costa Rica know less math than the poorer students from various countries.
EDITORIAL
Globalization advances inexorably and the Foreign Trade Agreements signed between nations are strengthening its effects. In this environment, the amount of competitiveness that economies manage to achieve is key to determining who will be more or less poor, or more or less rich.
More jobs and less poverty is the refrain of Central American politicians, while they say little or nothing about education, without which there are no jobs nor wealth generation.
EDITORIAL
Even in Costa Rica, where its educational system during the past century allowed the country to reach higher development levels than its neighbors, education is not a priority issue in the election campaign which is in full swing, despite the fact that the Costa Rican public education system is visibly losing more and more students as parents are increasingly opting for private schools and colleges in order to try to secure a decent future for their children.
The U.S. Embassy in El Salvador and Guatemala will select 28 SMEs to participate in an exchange with U.S. companies.
From a statement by Bpeace.org:
"Considering that the creation of jobs by Salvadoran and Guatemala companies and growing businesses is one of the best ways to help El Salvador and Guatemala thrive, the U.S. Embassy in San Salvador and Guatemala City, the Office of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the United States Department of State (ECA) in Washington, DC, and Bpeace (Business Council for Peace), a non-profit organization based in the United States, are pleased to announce an open competition.
On December 4th Fitch Ratings will hold a conference entitled 'Challenges and Opportunities for Structured Finance and Infrastructure in Central America and the Caribbean.'
Securitization of Assets, an Option for Capital Markets in the Region, is one of the subjects to be discussed in the event's agenda. Participants will include Marielena Garcia, SVP of Investment Banking at MMG Bank Corp, Alberto Gutierrez, president of Titularizadora Colombiana, John Rauschkolb, General Manager La Hipotecaria and Diego Torres, vice general manager of BHD Valores Puesto de Bolsa.
Over the next few years, Central America must direct significant flows of investment towards modernizing its economic and social infrastructure.
In this process, it will be extremely important that there is active participation of professionals from various disciplines in planning, designing and implementing innovative management and financing models which encourage the development of industry and which channel of public and private capital into projects for power generation, roads, railways, ports, airports, water systems, hospital infrastructure and education, among other things.
The training will support producers of food and beverages so that they can comply with the Food and Drug Administration's Modernization Act for Food Safety.
From a press release by the Ministry of Economy of El Salvador:
The National Quality Council, through the Salvadoran Agency for Standardization (OSN), the Agency for Promotion of Exports and Investments of El Salvador (PROESA) and the Corporation of Exporters of El Salvador (COEXPORT) are promoting the program "EXPORT QUALITY" inaugurated by the President of the National Quality Council and Minister of Economy, Armando Flores, on July 24, 2013. This program aims to strengthen companies who produce food and drink so that they are able to comply with the Modernization Act for Safety Food, of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry in El Salvador has pointed out the need to adapt training courses to the needs of the business sector.
According a report entitled "Second Diagnosis University-Business Links" carried out by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in El Salvador (CCIES by its initials in Spanish) "universities can collaborate with companies by conducting practical research, internships, work experience and student social services, while enterprises can contribute to improve the supply of university by getting involved in the creation and updating of curricula", reported Elsalvador.com.
While in the rest of the world the standard is close connections between the private sector and academia, the region is still holding on to old ideological myths, which negatively affect development.
On inaugurating in El Salvador the II National Congress of Higher Education entitled "Linking Higher Education to the Workplace", the Minister of Education, Franzi Hato Hasbun, noted the need to "carry out a process of connection between company and university , encouraging three fundamental aspects: research, innovation and overcoming social projections. "
An intensive course is being offered in the Netherlands on new technologies and innovation in the horticulture industry worldwide.
From information published by NethWork:
Participants will learn about new technologies, innovation, collaboration as well as acquiring practical experience in the most innovative horticulture industry in the world in this three-week intensive course offered by NethWork and the HAS University of Applied Sciences.