- Deficiency of technicians and professionals in technology leaves expensive costs to Costa Rica
- Solution to the problem requires joint work between public and private academy, companies and government
September 4th, 2008
The Camera of Information and Communication Technologies (CAMTIC) is satisfied with the proposal to create a National Plan of Formation of Human Resource in IT, plan welcomed by the Government of the Republic of Costa Rica, as the President in Exercise, Laura Chinchilla, announced this Thursday during the forum "Digital Strategy of Costa Rica: Connected, Green and Intelligent", summoned by CAMTIC, ITS Infocomunicación and INCAE Business School.
"The commitment of the Presidency to create a high level commission that proposes this plan in three months, is a fundamental step not only to improve the competitiveness of the sector of Technologies of Information and Communication (IT), but of all the Costa Rican economy", showed Alexander Mora Delgado, President of CAMTIC.
"The technical and professional personnel in IT is not only the main resource for the companies of our sector. It also becomes more strategic and little in all the other productive sectors, the government and even in educational system", concluded Alexander Mora.
The deficiency of personnel specialized in technology caused that in 2007 this sector didn't received incomes near $173 million and according to the projections, that number could increase for the next years unless appropriate actions are taken.
CAMTIC obtained these findings by means of an investigation conducted by Program of Information and Knowledge Society of the University of Costa Rica (PROSIC) and the Masters in Technologies of Information of the National University (MATI), which were presented during today's forum.
The study considers and projects shortage of technical and professional personnel, but also identifies aspects that determine supply, demand and regulatory frame that affect this human resource shortage. CAMTIC investigation also proposes strategic steps to face the problem: in first place, fortify quantitatively and qualitatively IT educational programs in technical schools, Learning National Institute (INA) and other centers, as well as the university graduates, especially those from the new National Technical University (Universidad Técnica Nacional).
Second, is necessary to increase admission quote in IT graduate and postgraduate courses in public and private universities.
Costa Rica also needs to fortify the quality of university degrees and postgraduate courses by its accreditation, specialization by profiles and updating.
Technological infrastructure needs improvement and professors from public and private educational institutions need specialization. It is also necessary to give those students access to financing.