Is the Costa Rican educational system ready to respond to technological evolution, automation, artificial intelligence and other disruptive megatrends that are changing the world and the jobs of the future? More than 250 representatives of the Costa Rican government authorities, academy, private sector, chambers, pro-development organizations, education experts, presidential candidates and other representatives of political parties analyzed the issue and proposed actions in the forum: “Education – in the middle of the perfect storm, opportunities to transform Costa Rica “organized by the Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency (CINDE).

Five international speakers presented topics about: Education for the works of the future, the evolution of technology and artificial intelligence, the new panorama of learning, passing from institutions to learning processes; and success stories of countries that adapted their education systems to face the new world panorama.

According to Jorge Sequeira, Managing Director of CINDE, the event sought to generate an open and productive dialogue about the role of education to strengthen the capabilities of the country’s human talent and face global changes.

“The fourth industrial revolution in which we are immersed has led us to a reality of artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, big data, materials science, quantum computing, synthetic biology and many other emerging technologies that are changing the way we live and work. This demands great challenges for all countries. The automation of jobs is for example part it. In Costa Rica, it will not be the exception. There will be an impact and therefore, as a country we have to define a clear path that allows us to prepare our human talent with that vision of the future and technological change, so that, we can take advantage of the new context and not be affected by it”, explained Sequeira.

Based on data from the National Council of Rectors (CONARE), CINDE found that of the 51.000 university graduates in 2016 only 16% graduated from careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). These are the most demanded in the global market. A very small portion of it was women.