The news story you are looking for has expired. A more recent related article is displayed below.

Ads by Google

In Helping Students, Intel Is Good Neighbor in Costa Rica

Washington -- Intel Corporation, with headquarters in California, has a large presence in Costa Rica, where it strives to prepare local students for the high-tech job market.

The company, which makes integrated circuits for computing and communications industries worldwide, is the largest company in Costa Rica. It thus has a stake in seeing the country's students educated to take leadership roles in the computer field. Through its support of an after-school computer club program, Intel helps youth in underserved areas access technology and become confident, motivated learners.

To help students with an aptitude for science and technology, Intel has worked with the ministries of education and science and the University of Costa Rica to create a national program of science fairs for elementary and secondary students. About 60 percent of the student population now participates in such fairs. Winners of the country's national science fair can receive company support to go on to Intel's International Science and Engineering Fair, the world's largest pre-college science competition, to share ideas and compete for scholarships.

Intel trains teachers to integrate technology into their daily lessons. And an Intel higher education program is bringing technology expertise to universities and encouraging students to pursue technical degrees.

Intel's work to help students is one of the reasons it has earned a place among finalists for the U.S. secretary of state's Award for Corporate Excellence. The company also has been lauded by the State Department for its encouragement of volunteer service by employees and for its environmental stewardship.

About 75 percent of Intel's approximately 3,000 employees in Costa Rica volunteer. In 2008, they contributed 32,000 volunteer hours to their communities. For every hour an Intel employee volunteers to help an organization, the company donates $4 to that organization.

Intel Costa Rica implements an international environmental management standard and has been recognized locally for its health, safety and environmental practices, such as cleaning its waste water. The company also works with Costa Rica's National University to analyze the groundwater around its facilities to ensure that it is not contaminating the area. Intel recycles organic waste from its cafeterias, donating it to the Central American Institute for Livestock for fertilizer production.

Intel's success in Costa Rica and its good relations with local communities have made it a magnet in attracting other large companies, helping the Costa Rican economy by employing Costa Ricans and by purchasing as many inputs as possible from local suppliers. In 2008, Intel bought products from 300 local vendors. The company also works with suppliers to help them understand the expectations of a global company in doing business.

For more information about Intel Costa Rica, see the Intel Web site.

Copyright (C) 2009 FIND Government Press Releases. All rights reserved

News Provided by COMTEX


Related terms: business, california, college, communications, computer, corporate, costa rica, economy, education, engineering, fertilizer, health, livestock, local, market, population, products, science, teachers, technology, washington, web

Related Articles

Costa Rica Carbon Neutral | Residential Solar Power
Nov 17, 2009
...Access Solar Blogs PV Tech Daily News Sun Volt Solar Sungevity Costa Rica Pledges Carbon Neutrality by 2021 costa rica green energy Costa Rica is already a green national leader, but now they’re looking to become the...

AMD drops case against Intel for $1.25bn
Nov 12, 2009
AMD drops case against Intel for $1.25bn by David Manners Thursday 12 November 2009 03:29 Intel and AMD today issued the same statement...The joint statement reads: 'Intel Corporation and Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE...

Costa Rica coffee growers eye China free trade deal (at Reuters)
Nov 12, 2009
...Products About Thomson Reuters Costa Rica coffee growers eye China free trade deal...Free trade deal would open China to Costa Rica coffee * Coffee drinking growing...protected By Leslie Josephs SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, Nov 12 (Reuters) - A planned trade...

Costa Rica Highway Work is Changing the Country's Reputation of Having Bad Roads
Nov 14, 2009
...Subscribe to this News Feed Costa Rica Highway Work is Changing the Country...Reputation of Having Bad Roads Costa Rica has never been known as having...numbers of new travelers to southern Costa Rica and increasing real estate demand...