Universidad de Costa Rica's International Program in Korean and East Asian Studies

The Latin (and Hispanic) Americanist Academic Network on Sinological Studies is a growing initiative from the University of Costa Rica (UCR) that brings a Latin American voice to the global conversation on Chinese history, culture, and diaspora.

It builds on the legacy of Hilda Chen Apuy Espinoza, a beloved professor, historian, and cultural bridge-builder whose Chinese roots and academic work helped lay the foundation for Asian studies at UCR.

Today, that legacy continues through a network of scholars, institutions, and cultural organizations working together across continents. Led by UCR’s Pacific Campus and the School of Modern Languages, and supported by the Confucius Institute of Costa Rica (ICUCR), the project creates space for meaningful research, exchange, and reflection—all in Spanish.

The network is connected to ongoing efforts like the Chinese Migration Memory Project (PREMECHI) and the Global Chee Kung Tong Network, and it aims to make Sinological studies more accessible in Latin America.

This initiative also recognizes the growing importance of global academic cooperation, where dialogue and shared understanding are more essential than ever.

More on this initiative and its roots at UCR: Programa Internacional de Estudios de Corea y el Este Asiático Principal