Geographic information systems for strategic management in public universities: Evidence from Costa Rica

Abstract

This study analyzes the adoption of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in five Costa Rican public universities -UCR, TEC, UNA, UTN and UNED- examining institutional integration, barriers and opportunities to improve the governance of all geospatial data. Drawing on successful international experiences (Australia, North Carolina, California, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain), it uses a mixed-methods approach combining interviews with ViceRectory officials and data analysis of software acquisitions from the SICOP platform. The results reveal significant disparities: only UCR and TEC have achieved high levels of GIS integration, while others show limited or almost no adoption. The main obstacles encountered are the lack of clear institutional policies, fragmented data infrastructure and gaps in professional training. Although the average investment in GIS licenses reached USD $18,892 per institution (2021–2023), the use is still concentrated in academic programs without using them in strategic management and planning. Adoption varies from open source tools to licensed platforms, affecting operational efficiency and decision making. This research highlights the need to align GIS with university planning and provides a replicable framework for digital transformation in higher education.