So far this year, interest in distance education services in Central American markets has clearly increased, with Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama and Honduras being the countries that have registered the greatest increases in interactions associated with the topic.
Through a system monitoring changes in consumer interests and preferences in Central American countries in real time, developed by the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData, it is possible to project short and long term demand trends for the different products, sectors and markets operating in the region.
Shorter university degrees that focus on technical areas and the new requirements of the productive sector are some of the changes that will be part of the new reality of the education business.
In this context of radical changes caused by the covid-19 crisis, new labor trends will require the development of competencies, such as entrepreneurship, agility, adaptability and service mentality, digital skills, food, telecommuting and home-based businesses, health and hygiene, e-commerce, new distribution and logistics models, information technology and robotics.
In Central America, more than 8 million people are looking to purchase a training service online, and 5% of these consumers explore options to subscribe to cosmetology courses.
The interactive information system, developed by CentralAmericaData, monitors in real time the changes in consumer habits in all markets of the region, with fundamental information to understand the new commercial environment that has emerged in an accelerated manner.
The Secretariat of Security of Honduras is tendering the construction of the National Police Academy Campus, which will be located in the department of La Paz.
Honduras Government Purchase PCCMB-31-LPI-O-04-2020:
"The National Police Academy construction project involves new buildings on an already developed site that will consist of an extension of the existing service networks at the ITP, which would generate extensions to the water and sewage networks, power lines, excavations and landscape alterations. Specifically, the following works are planned:
The company Elev8 invested $4.5 million in opening a training center for human talent, which is in Escazú Village and has an area of 1,000 square meters.
Company executives informed that the training center will be focused on serving executives and IT professionals, who may opt for technical certifications.
María Balbas, global director of Elev8, explained to Elfinancierocr.com that "...
For the business sector, the approval in the second debate of the draft law on dual technical education and training will make it possible to combat the worrying rise in unemployment and ensure the training of a greater number of technicians in strategic areas.
The Legislative Assembly reported on the afternoon of August 12 that with the affirmative vote of 49 deputies, the second debate was given to file N°20.786, Law of dual technical education and training, thus opening the possibility for students to perform work experience in companies and continue their studies in technical training centers.
In Costa Rica, the Legislative Assembly approved in the first debate the education project that seeks to regulate vocational technical education and training in the dual modality.
The law establishes, among other things, that the minimum conditions required in the curriculum applied by companies must be in accordance with the standard of qualification and material resources necessary to provide dual education, informed the Legislative Assembly.
The difficulties in identifying staff training needs and the lack of a clear relationship between new employee skills and incentives diminishes the possibility of achieving company goals.
According to the Deloitte 2019 Global Study of Human Capital Trends, in which more than 9,400 business leaders from around the world participated, including 261 from Costa Rica, the learning of business staff is the most relevant trend.
Informality, access to social services and lifelong learning are some of the aspects on which the region's economies must focus in order to improve labor market conditions.
Representatives of the International Labor Organization (ILO) presented in San José, Costa Rica, the report "Working for a brighter future", prepared by the World Commission on the Future of Work, which describes the factors that affect work in the countries of the region.
In Costa Rica, businessmen and authorities signed a protocol defining concrete actions to implement and promote dual education in the country.
The protocol enables concrete actions to be formalized for the implementation and promotion of Presential-Dual Training among companies associated with the Chamber of Industries of Costa Rica (CICR) and other organizations, as well as to increase training opportunities and job opportunities for social mobility, informed the industrial sector guild.
In Panama, IDAAN's personnel training services in the handling and application of biodegradable products for wastewater treatment are being tendered.
Panama Government Purchase 2019-2-66-0-99-LP-014741:
"Once the order to proceed is issued, the contractor shall deliver to the IDAAN, on a date not to exceed thirty (30) calendar days, a training plan, which shall be directed to all IDAAN personnel in charge of the operation and maintenance of the wastewater treatment systems.
In the Central American region, the average unemployment rate for those aged between 15 and 24 is estimated to be around 11%, with lack of work experience being the main barrier to accessing the first job.
According to figures from the Central American Observatory of Social Development, Costa Rica and Panama are the countries in the region with the highest rates of youth unemployment, with 27% and 15%, respectively.
In Costa Rica, the business sector is optimistic about the positive opinion given about the dual education law initiative by the Congress commission in charge of the issue.
On November 15th, the Commission of Science, Technology and Education in the Congress approved the Dual Education Law, which has as one of its main objectives to incorporate students into the labor market.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Panama is putting out to tender initial and recurrent training for pilots, mechanics and cabin crew, assigned to State aircraft.
Panama Government Purchase 2018-1-38-0-08-LP-00939:
"Initial and recurrent training for pilots, mechanics and cabin crew, assigned to aircraft belonging to the State Air Transport Department for fiscal year 2018 and 2019.
In Guatemala, a workshop to train professionals from the Central American region on the use of the Regional Integration System for Health Registries is being organized for June 18.
From a statement issued by the Sieca:
The Center for Studies for Economic Integration (CEIE) at the Central American Economic Integration Secretariat (SIECA) is organizing a workshop to train professionals from the Central American region on the use of the Regional Integration System for Health Registries (SIRRS).The objective is to promote the use of the IT platform and train personnel in the private sector in its use and exploitation.