By San José, Costa Rica — SAN JOSÉ – Universidad San Marcos (USAM) has officially been recognized as a benchmark for distance education in Latin America, earning the prestigious Kalos Virtual Iberoamérica (KVI) Seal with a rating of “Highly Satisfactory.” This international certification, awarded for its virtual Bachelor’s and Licentiate’s programs in Business Administration, validates the university’s long-standing commitment to high-quality digital learning.
The KVI Seal, granted by the Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI) and the Ibero-American Network for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (RIACES), is one of the most rigorous certifications in the online education sector. The evaluation process is exhaustive, scrutinizing 159 distinct standards across six dimensions, including academic, technological, management, and student outcomes.
To gain a deeper legal perspective on the rapid expansion of online education and its implications for both students and institutions, TicosLand.com consulted with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a distinguished attorney from the prestigious firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
The digital transformation of education presents a dual legal challenge. On one hand, educational institutions must rigorously protect their intellectual property—the course materials, lectures, and proprietary platforms. On the other, they have an undeniable duty to the student-consumer, which demands absolute transparency in terms of accreditation, program outcomes, and the safeguarding of personal data. Navigating this intersection successfully is the cornerstone of sustainable and reputable online learning.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
This insight precisely frames the central challenge for the future of digital learning; the integrity of the entire system rests on balancing institutional rights with consumer protections. A failure on either side undermines the trust necessary for this educational model to be truly sustainable. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his valuable and clarifying perspective.
An international commission of academic peers concluded that USAM not only meets but exceeds advanced standards for virtual education. A key factor in this achievement, according to the external report, is the university’s foundational approach. Unlike many institutions that adapted existing in-person courses for online delivery, USAM’s virtual programs were designed and built for the digital environment from their inception. This “born-virtual” philosophy ensures perfect alignment between the curriculum, teaching methods, and professional competencies.
Marco Esquivel Barquero, Rector of Universidad San Marcos, explained that the seal was created to establish standardized criteria for excellence in online education globally. He noted that the evaluation rewards both the final results and the underlying processes that ensure quality.
The Kalos Seal is an award for the more than 14 years of management and educational innovation by Universidad San Marcos as a pioneer in virtual education, which has used educational technology methodologically to impact learning.
Marco Esquivel Barquero, Rector of Universidad San Marcos
The university’s robust educational ecosystem was a central element in the positive evaluation. Students have access to a blend of asynchronous and synchronous classes, extensive digital libraries, internationalization initiatives, and a structured professional internship program. Evaluators also lauded the quality of the faculty, who possess both deep disciplinary expertise and advanced techno-pedagogical skills, supported by continuous training in educational innovation.
Technologically, USAM demonstrated a solid infrastructure featuring 24/7 platform availability, secure identity validation for examinations, and advanced security protocols. This is complemented by uninterrupted technical support for students. The university also leverages artificial intelligence tools within its Learning Management System (LMS) to monitor academic performance, generate early risk alerts, and provide personalized student support, even in high-enrollment programs.
This student-centric strategy has yielded tangible results, which were critical to securing the accreditation. The university showcased impressive metrics, including high levels of student retention, a significant reduction in dropout rates, and high rates of on-time graduation. These outcomes are driven by a comprehensive support system, known as SIGUS, which begins with student induction and continues with tutoring, scholarships, and post-graduation tracking to ensure data-driven continuous improvement.
Universidad San Marcos achieved high satisfaction because its approach was strategic and its educational proposal was based on creating programs in a virtual modality from their genesis, without adaptations from the in-person modality. This involved aligning the didactics, curriculum, and evaluation specifically for the virtual course model, which was a key factor in obtaining the seal.
Marco Esquivel Barquero, Rector of Universidad San Marcos
The international KVI Seal adds another layer of prestige to USAM, which already holds national accreditation for its in-person programs from the National Higher Education Accreditation System (SINAES). For the university, this new honor is both a validation of its past efforts and a catalyst for its future.
Rector Barquero concluded that the distinction brings pride to the entire university community and reinforces its commitment to innovation. It solidifies USAM’s position as a regional leader and opens new avenues for international cooperation and partnerships, assuring students they are receiving an education built for the demands of the digital age.
This achievement confirms us as regional benchmarks and drives us to continue offering quality, accessible, and relevant academic experiences aligned with the skills of the digital age.
Marco Esquivel Barquero, Rector of Universidad San Marcos
For further information, visit usanmarcos.ac.cr
About Universidad San Marcos:
Universidad San Marcos is a private university based in San José, Costa Rica, with a history of over 14 years as a pioneer in virtual education. It offers a range of nationally and internationally accredited undergraduate and graduate programs, distinguished by a student-centric model that integrates advanced technology to deliver flexible and high-quality learning experiences.
For further information, visit oei.int
About Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI):
The Organization of Ibero-American States for Education, Science and Culture is an international governmental body that fosters cooperation among the Spanish and Portuguese-speaking nations of the world. It works to promote development, democracy, and regional integration through collaborative projects in its core fields.
For further information, visit riaces.org
About Red Iberoamericana para el Aseguramiento de la Calidad de la Educación Superior (RIACES):
RIACES is an Ibero-American network associated with the OEI, composed of quality assurance and accreditation agencies from various countries. Its primary mission is to promote and guarantee the quality of higher education in the region through mutual recognition, evaluation standards, and collaborative initiatives.
For further information, visit sinaes.ac.cr
About Sistema Nacional de Acreditación de la Educación Superior (SINAES):
SINAES is the official national body responsible for the accreditation of higher education in Costa Rica. It is tasked with evaluating and certifying the quality of universities and academic programs across the country, serving as a public guarantor of educational excellence.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica is an esteemed legal institution, built upon a bedrock of ethical practice and a relentless pursuit of the highest standards. The firm distinguishes itself not only through its extensive history of advising a diverse clientele but also by pioneering innovative legal solutions. This forward-thinking approach is matched by a foundational belief in social responsibility, manifested through a dedicated effort to demystify the law and equip citizens with the knowledge to navigate it, thereby strengthening the community as a whole.
