Mondragon’s cooperative, dual and entrepreneurial model inspires educational transformation in Costa Rica

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Mondragon’s cooperative, dual and entrepreneurial model inspires educational transformation in Costa Rica

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Mondragon’s cooperative, dual and entrepreneurial model inspires educational transformation in Costa Rica

A high-level delegation from Costa Rica’s Ministry of Public Education (MEP) and leading academic representatives has completed a strategic study visit in Madrid and the Basque Country to gain first-hand insight into the education model and business connection promoted by the Faculty of Business at Mondragon Unibertsitatea

2026·03·03

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The objective of this immersion was clear: to identify real references that can contribute to the modernization of the national curriculum, teacher training, and the development of an education system more closely linked to employability, entrepreneurship and innovation.

A study visit built around three strategic priorities

Beyond an institutional visit, the agenda was designed as an applied experience so that Costa Rican representatives could return with concrete references adaptable to their own educational ecosystem.

The visit was structured around three main objectives:

1. Understanding the dual model and Basque VET

The delegation explored how the relationship between education providers and companies works in practice within the Mondragon environment:

  • Structural connection between training and the productive sector
  • High student employability
  • A strong culture of collaboration

This approach demonstrates how education can be designed from the reality of work rather than from a purely academic logic.

2. Exploring curricular innovation and entrepreneurial education

During their visit to the Faculty of Business at Mondragon Unibertsitatea —including a working session at Enpresagintza— participants explored:

  • Active learning methodologies promoted through Mondragon Team Academy
  • Models such as LEINN based on learning by doing
  • The development of real projects as part of the learning process
  • The integration of entrepreneurship as an educational competence

This approach shows how it is possible to move from traditional curricula towards models that foster autonomy, leadership and innovation capacity.

3. Learning about open innovation and incubation experiences

The agenda also included environments where education connects directly with the creation of new initiatives:

  • Innovation labs such as GOe (Gastronomy Open Ecosystem)
  • Venture building models
  • University-linked incubation environments
  • Companies actively collaborating in educational processes

This block highlighted how education systems can become drivers of economic and social development.

A journey through the learning and innovation ecosystem

The visit combined context, site visits and operational dialogue.

In Madrid, the delegation began at TeamLabs, a learning lab within the Mondragon Team Academy network, where they explored training models based on creating real companies.

Later, in the Basque Country, they deepened their understanding of the educational and business ecosystem:

  • Arrasate-Mondragón: institutional meeting to understand the foundations of the cooperative university model
  • Eibar: visit to TEKNIKER to analyze knowledge transfer between technology, business and education
  • Oñati: working session at the Faculty of Business of Mondragon Unibertsitatea
  • Donostia-San Sebastián: visit to Basque Culinary Center and GOe innovation lab
  • Bilbao: introduction to the entrepreneurial ecosystem at BAT (B Accelerator Tower)

A partnership focused on impact

For institutions such as IDP-MEP and CENECOOP, this experience provides a practical reference to advance in:

  • curriculum modernization
  • teacher development
  • integration of entrepreneurship into the education system
  • strengthening public-private collaboration models

The model promoted by the Faculty of Business at Mondragon Unibertsitatea has been identified as an inspiring reference for its ability to integrate education, business and social impact.

Delegation members

The mission included key leaders from Costa Rica’s educational and cooperative system:

  • Rodolfo Hernández – Consejo Superior de Educación
  • Gabriel Chaves – IDP-MEP
  • Pablo Masis Boniche – DETCE-MEP
  • Sergio Klotz – CENECOOP
  • Rodrigo Arias – UNED
  • Sergio Navas – FUNDEPOS
  • Gilberth Díaz and Yorgina Alvarado Díaz – SEC