University collaboration and individual factors of the professor: the case of public universities in Costa Rica

The objective of this paper is to understand how factors of individual nature can influence a Costa Rican public university teacher to participate in collaboration activities related to non-academic organizations. The research has a qualitative approach, in-depth interviews were applied to teachers, directors of university collaboration, Government and private sector representatives. It was found that the main determinant to perform collaboration activities is the achievement, understood as the satisfaction of contributing with non-academic organizations and society; being recognized by the society and the scientific community is the next determinant, as well as the experience of working with external organizations, prior to assuming the role of university professor. The lack of academic load and time to carry out bonding activities and seeing it as barrier, occupied the fourth place; while the generation of personal income was the least mentioned, in a fifth position. To identify these factors can serve as a basis for the universities and other interested agents to propose mechanisms and strategies to encourage greater participation of teachers in linkage activities with non-academic organizations.