Course Program

Universidad Latinoamericana
de Ciencia y Tecnología

The INEX Summer University Costa Rica covers two courses, project work as well as an intensive language program and culture related sessions. There are no Spanish language skills required for ISU Costa Rica programs. Apart from the language classes, all courses are taught in English.

Academic Courses

The INEX Summer University 07.2009 will feature two business courses on the topic of Sustainable Development. One course will introduce students to important concepts and strategies on a theoretical level. The second course will focus on companys' implementation strategies.

Introduction to Sustainable Development
Course Description: The basic purpose of this course is to explore the building blocks of sustainability with the idea of providing an analytical framework within which to look for possible policy options that human kind can use in order to look at possible “routes” for achieving the badly needed sustainable practices in order to assure the future generations a “healthy planet” to live in.

Humanity is facing today the challenge of climate change, and we are, as part of the human race, individually starting to feel the impact of our own inability to control our consumption patterns. Humankind is without question facing its own “greed” and our unsustainable behavior and the culture of waste is already expressing itself. The big 5 crisis of the 21st century and beyond: urbanization (pollution), drinkable water, energy, food and climate change are without question the product of our own unsustainable use, consumption and management of our natural resources base.
One comment that is warranted at this time is that the idea of sustainability is almost a century old, and was first put forward by Professor Sir John R Hicks, the British economist who at the beginning of the 20st century in his book Value and Capital, defined his idea of sustainable income. Prof Hicks, the third Nobel Economic Prize, said clearly: The least one can do is, once a given resource is used for the production of economic income in a given productive activity and once the activity is finished, leave the resource used in the same condition it was provided if not better, so that future users can use the resources in the same way and with the same efficiency that the initial user did.
Perhaps, the problem with the Hicksian idea, was that it was expressed in an era, when humankind thought that it would always have, a “world” of plenty, not knowing or imagining that the main problem 75 years later was going to be that many resources perceived 75 years ago as plentiful were no longer going to be so, due to our unsustainable consumption and production practices.
The adoption of sustainable behavior practices is without question today not only a need but a must. The evidence that has been collected over the past 25 years clearly indicates that we are closer than ever to the point of no return.

Professor: Milton Clarke, Ph D (Kansas University).
B.Sc. in Economics, Wilmington College (Ohio, USA). 1962.
M.A. in Political Science, Kansas University, (USA), 1971.
PhD in Management Sciences, Kansas University. Areas of specialization: Public and business sector management, Political economy of development, International Relations and trade. Kansas University (USA), 1973.
Post-doctoral course in common market economics, University of Rome (Italy). 1976.
Professor of Management, Universidad Latina de Costa Rica. Lecturer in MBA program. Courses taught: Strategic Management, Development of Human Resources, Organizational Change, International Marketing. 1986-2004.
Professor of Business Administration, University of Costa Rica. Courses taught: Organizational Change, Organization Theory, Strategic Management. 1986-2004.
Guest lecturer at University of Western Ontario, Canada; Birmingham University, UK; Orebro University, Sweden; Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey, México among others.
He joined the ULACIT-ACE Program faculty in 2006.
Presently works as a consultant to business, specifically in the areas of management, organizational behavior and international trade. Prof. Clarke now combines his consultancy work with teaching in the ACE Program at ULACIT.

Credit: Transcript issued by ULACIT.
Range: First Module; Monday through Thursday, four contact hours per day during 6,5 days, 1-5pm; 30 contact hours total plus additional workload and field trip.

Corporate Social Resposibility
Course Description: CSR is a management philosophy that integrates economic, environmental and social criteria with a strong focus on long-term shareholder value. Responsible behavior is not something new in business life. Although the rationale for the very existence of business at law and in other respects is to generate acceptable returns for its shareholders and investors, business and business leaders have, over the centuries, made significant contributions to the societies of which they form part. But the subject has recently gained a new topicality and the objective of this course is to understand CSR issues in a new context. There are no easy answers to the increasing calls for business to assume wider responsibilities in the social and environmental arena.

Professor: Sara Cordero
She is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In 1992, she obtained a Master´s degree in Business Administration at Harvard University (USA). She also has a graduate degree in Energy and Environment from MIT (USA) and another in Marketing from Harvard University (USA). She is a Licentiate in Business Administration from the University of Costa Rica with specialties in Marketing and Finance.
Prof. Cordero has taught in the following fields: Project Evaluation, Evaluation and Assessment of Environmental Impacts, Sustainable Development and Ecoefficiency. She was Academic Director of the International Program of Integral Evaluation of Projects, offered between INCAE and Harvard University for four years; Academic Director of the International Program of Evaluation of Investments and Environmental Impact and Academic Director of the Sustainable Development Program offered jointly between INCAE and the Carlson School of Management for 7 consecutive years.
She has been a visiting professor at: Stanford University: “Economic Tools for Conservation” Program; at Harvard Institute for International Development: “Workshop on Environmental Economics and Policy Analysis”; the Government School John F. Kennedy of Harvard University and the Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica. She has worked in various countries and dictated numerous conferences internationally on projects and environmental themes.
She has been a consultant for Conservation Strategy Fund, The Nature Conservancy, The World Resources Institute, The World Conservation Union (IUCN), The International Institute for Advanced Studies, el Global Water Partnership, the Central American Bank of Economic Integration, the United Nations Program for Development (UNPD) and numerous private business groups.
She has published numerous articles and case studies as well as being the co-author of three books: Climate Change and Development Case Book. (2003), Evaluation of Environmental Impact and Development Sustainability (1998), and Evaluation of Projects and Environmental Impact (1995).

Credit: Transcript issued by ULACIT.
Range: Second Module; Monday through Thursday, four contact hours per day during 6,5 days, 1-5pm; 30 contact hours total plus additional workload and field trip.

Intense Spanish Language Program

A widespread language training in small groups (average 4-6 students per group) will insure a considerable improvement for all levels within a short period of time. Apart from stressing the acquisition of new vocabulary and grammar skills, the course also features a business Spanish section for more advanced students.
Credit: Transcript issued by ULACIT.
Range: Monday through Thursday, 9-11am, two contact hours per day; 30 contact hours total.

Intercultural Training

Held as a workshop and coordinated by an insider and professional in this field, students receive an insight into the usances of this economic area. Core elements of this session are the explanation and understanding of cultural differences and regional distinctions. After attending this class, the students will be well-informed of how to better deal with Spanish speaking or Latin-American business contacts and will have an extended insight into this topic.
Range: Introductory Session; 2 hours total.

Course Material

to access course material, further readings please access our resources section.

Status: 14 September 2008, Subject to change withought prior notice.