About us

Our Institute

The Confucius Institute of the University of Costa Rica (IC-UCR) was born thanks to an agreement between our institution and the China Foundation for International Education (formerly the Confucius Institutes Headquarters). Thus, on November 20, 2008, representatives of both parties signed the agreement, being at that time the Rector of the institution, Yamileth Gonzalez. After a period of remodeling of the former School of Nursing, the current facilities of the IC-UCR, it finally became operational in August 2009, but it was not until March 2010 that it began to offer Chinese courses and a year later it included Chinese culture courses.

Since its inception, the Confucius Institute has been attached to the Rector's Office, but at present its activities are linked to the School of Modern Languages through the social action project called the Program for the Diffusion of Chinese Culture.  Therefore, the institute differs from other language institutes in that its work is framed by the mission of the University of Costa Rica to promote the necessary transformations for the benefit of society. In this sense, the Confucius Institute is not a for-profit organization.

In addition to offering courses in Chinese language and culture, the Institute offers lectures on Chinese society and culture, current issues in contemporary China, relations between China and today's world and Chinese migration to Costa Rica, among other topics, and has participated in cultural fairs in schools, colleges and universities. It also organizes the symposium on China studies.

In these 13 years, ICUCR has promoted Chinese language and culture through various activities with the support of a variety of educational institutions such as Renmin University of China, Sun Yat Sen University, the State Distance University, Université de Bordeaux, the Methodist College, Tree of Life International School, Sistema Educativo Virgen del Pilar, Instituto Educativo Moderno Bilingüe, among others.

We have also worked in conjunction with cultural disseminators such as the National Library, the National Archive, the Municipal Museum of Cartago, the Costa Rican Film Center, TEDx Pura Vida, Chinese Associations of Costa Rica and the Shaolin Temple of Costa Rica, or governmental entities or public institutions such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Trade, the Municipality of San José, the Embassy of the People's Republic of China, the Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language of the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China and the National Children's Hospital.

The work of the UCR Confucius Institute was recognized with the award for excellence "Confucius Institute of the Year 2018", the award recognizes the commitment of the Confucius Institute in Costa Rica to continue teaching Chinese language and culture in primary schools, high schools and the University of Costa Rica competing against more than 548 Confucius Institutes and 1,193 Confucius Classrooms in 154 countries and regions in the world.

From left to right: Directors of the Confucius Institute, Mrs. Mayra Achío Tacsan,

Mr. Jimmy Chao Chao, Mrs. Lai Sai Acon Chan.

Mission

We are an institute that promotes the dissemination of Chinese language and culture, through the strategic planning of language and culture courses, academic and cultural exchanges, research and social outreach projects that benefit, through excellent user service, both the various communities of overseas Chinese and the Costa Rican society.

Vision

To be a multicultural institute of national reference in the teaching of Chinese language and the dissemination of Chinese culture through teaching, research and social action through the management of a committed administrative and teaching staff, with professional and innovative ethics aimed at achieving international quality standards.

Values

Excellence, customer service, commitment, professional ethics, strategic planning, multiculturalism and innovation.

General Objective

Promote the teaching of Chinese language and the dissemination of Chinese culture through courses, conferences and cultural activities at university and national level, with a view to strengthening bilateral ties between Costa Rica and China in the short, medium and long term.