Costa Rica's Universidad Estatal a Distancia: A Case Study. DERG Papers, Number 4.

Costa Rica's Universidad Estatal a Distancia (UNED), the education system in the country, and information on Costa Rica are considered. UNED is helping to equalize geographical inequalities of access to higher education. Overall, UNED's academic programs have been aimed at those who want to obtain professional qualifications. In the first semester 1979, 75.4 percent of UNED's employed students came from the professional, administrative, and managerial classes. Data suggest that UNED is not providing increased educational opportunities for the economically deprived. Although the direct cost of studying at UNED is less than that of the other universities, the lack of grants available to UNED students effectively bars the poorer members of society from pursuing a degree course with the university. The university initially concentrated on the development of a series of professionally oriented degree and diploma programs and also developed extension studies programs and a free studies program. More recently, UNED has begun to develop a secondary school (bachillerato) program that will entail distance education. Information is also provided on: the course structure, media and methods, course design, student support services, student evaluation, quality of teaching materials, student attrition, UNED's organizational and governance structure, costs, and school and higher education systems in Costa Rica. The country's physical setting, population and economy, communications, and people are described. (SW)