Costa Rica’s national vocational educational programs are administered by the National Training Institute, INA, which on May 21, 2012 celebrates its 47th anniversary. INA provides vocational training for nationalized Costa Rican’s over the age of 15, in all sectors of the economy, in order to create jobs, improve living conditions and stimulate economic and social development. 

INA maintains its own library, which was built in 1972, to provide specialized vocational and training research materials to support the education of the INA students. In the library, the students have access to computers, technical catalogs, bibliographic databases and indexes.

Additionally, INA maintains its own Children’s Center, CIINA that was opened in December of 1981. CIINA services are offered to all employees and students of INA and include classes in, dance, music, cooking, art and English.  Additionally, CIINA provides physical education, recycling workshops, cultural activities, civic education, early learning and infant massage to the children from age 3 months to 6 years. The Children’s Center allows INA employees and students to continue to advance their careers while having their children cared for in a safe and nurturing environment.

There are many INA educational programs and they are offered in the following areas of study:

Agricultural Training and Technological Services Sector – Agriculture & Horticulture Production, Livestock, Forestry and Environmental Management

Commercial Trades and Services Sector – Educational training in the fields of Business Management, Accounting, Human Resources, Sustainable Development, Health, Cosmetology, Languages, Merchandising

Food Industry Sector – Food Safety, Water Culture Management, Seafood Resources Processing and Conservation, Fruit and Vegetable Processing and Preservation, Meat Processing and Preservation, Dairy Resources and Preservation, Bakery Products Production, Animal and Vegetable Oils and Fats Processing, Sugar Production and Processing, Manufacturing of Beverages, Confections, Coffee, Animal Food Processing and Flour Products Processing and Production.

Graphic Communications Sector – Graphic & Web Page Design, Multimedia Creation, Printing; prepress, offset, screen and flexographic production

Textile Industry Sector – Manufacturing of Apparel & Clothing, Tailoring, Dressmaking, Mechanics & Machinery, Production Software Management.

Vehicle Mechanics and Maintenance – Mechanics of Light Vehicles, Heavy Equipment, Agricultural Equipment, Fuel Processing and Conservation.

Metal Mechanics Sector – Structural Steelwork, Precision Engineering, Molding and Casting of Alloy Steel, Plastic Mold Manufacturing.

Marine and Fisheries Sector – Navigation, Marine Resources and Processing, Fishing, Naval Mechanics, Shipbuilding, Sport Fishing & Diving, Marine Resources Conservation.

Arts and Crafts Production Sector – Pottery, Dress Making, Embroidering, Leather Crafts, Tailoring, Shoemaking, Woodworking, Glass Crafts, Metal Crafts, Painting, Drawing

Electrical Sector – Electronics, Telematics, Telecommunications, Refrigeration, Air Conditioning

Materials Technology Sector – Civil Construction, Furniture Manufacturing, Environmental Management, Wood, Plastic and Polymer Materials Research and Testing

Tourism Sector – Gastronomy, Restaurant, Bar and Hotel Management, Tourist Services Management

In celebration of its 47 year anniversary, INA sponsored a special event at its facility in La Marina, San Carlos, in the province of Alajuela. The CEO of INA, Olman Segura Bonilla, spoke at the event and said he was very pleased with all students who recently graduated.

“This motivates us to move forward, reaching out to all those people who want to excel and achieve all their goals,” said Segura.

During the ceremony, about 100 students graduated in nine different categories. 8 blind students graduated with degrees in; Computer Sciences. 14 students graduated with degrees in; Attention and Care of Older Adults. 15 students graduated with degrees in; Installation and Maintenance of Telecommunications Equipment.

The primary goal of INA is to help fill the demand for trained personnel in specialized fields and generate jobs for Costa Rican nationals.