Ricardo J Jaar
Ricardo Jorge Jaar Larach' (born in San Pedro Sula, Honduras) is a well known and recognized businessman and Academic personality.
Personal Data
His parents are Mr. Jorge Emilio Jaar Q.D.D.G., Founder of the first private university Universidad de San Pedro Sula and the first private industrial zone in Honduras, and Mrs. Elena J Larach de Jaar. He has two sisters and four brothers
Higher Education
On February 1991, Dr. Jaar received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Systems Analysis and Engineering from The George Washington University, Washington, DC, and on May 2003, he received a Master of Arts Degree in Applied Economics at The American University, Washington, DC
Academic Career
In 1994 after graduating from The American University, Washington DC., Ricardo J. Jaar returned to his home in San Pedro Sula, Honduras and became a professor at the local university, Universidad de San Pedro Sula in 1995. His teaching responsibilities included a wide range of subjects from economics to operations research. He became a member of the Board of Directors of this institution and today, eventually becoming the Director of that Board, Executive President of the University, and President of Campus Television; the newly launched Educational HDTV TV station, the first of its kind in Latin America.
The University of San Pedro Sula – USPS (www.usps.edu) was founded in 1977 and sanctioned by the Honduran government by executive order on August 21, 1978. The founders of this first initiative in private higher education in Honduras was a group of professionals including members of the private sector, cultural innovators and educators, all of whom were guided by Don Jorge Emilio Jaar, father of Dr. Ricardo Jorge Jaar. The mission adopted by these leaders was to make available new and alternative opportunities of higher education for the youth and other segments of the population who wanted to achieve both personal and professional goals in a challenging and limitless educational atmosphere.
Initially, USPS offered two majors: Business Administration and Law. In the following years new and exciting curriculums were introduced and adopted: Agriculture, Journalism, now called Communication and Science of Publicity, Banking Administration, Architecture, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science now called Information Administration, Marketing and Tourism. During the University's first year there were only a dozen professors responsible for all the educational disciplines being offered.
Additionally, USPS has forged alliances with other educational institutions, both in Honduras and abroad, making the educational experience at USPS one of the finest in the country.
Today, USPS has more than 300 academic professors with advanced degrees in their areas of expertise.
In 2004, Dr. Ricardo J. Jaar created Fundacion Educar, a non-profit organization that provides refurbished computers free of charge to public schools and to less fortunate communities in Honduras. This Organization is connected with the university’s technical school, which was recently developed in connection with the growing technical middle management demand in the country. The technical school continues to grow meeting the needs of the professional community.
In 2007 Universidad de San Pedro Sula together with Fundacion Educar, commenced the development of an educational media project to benefit the entire community as well as the television and broadcasting industry in Honduras and the region. Campus TV was inaugurated in November 2008.Both Campus TV and the University of San Pedro Sula are shinning symbols of what hard work and commitment can do
Dr. Ricardo J. Jaar and the USPS are well known for its commitment to provide sustainable and affordable education in Honduras. He has devoted his recent efforts to provide a high quality educational media model that can be utilized by other networks, both locally and regionally. He has set the bar high for all those who wish to follow in Honduras and Central America.
Awards - Honors
Dr. Ricardo J. Jaar has received numerous awards for his efforts in the education field, among them: Galardon La Concordia, given by The German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), and COHEP the Honduran National Business Council, for the Universities best practices in Social responsibility. Also the Consejo Iberoamericano en Honor a la Calidad Educativa (CIHCE), gave the USPS and Dr. Jaar the Iberoamerican Award for Educational Excellence and the TitleDoctor Honoris Causa of Iberoamerica in November 2008 in Mexico City.
In November 2008, The USPS also received from the Central American Association of private universities (AUPRICA), www.auprica.org, the Golden Medal " AUPRICA ORDER TO EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION”, consolidating the lead of the USPS among the Central American private universities. Dr. Ricardo J. Jaar received this Award on behalf of his late father, founder of the University.
Business
Other positions held by Dr. Jaar in the Honduran community are: Member of the board of directors of Villanueva Industrial Park (first private industrial park in Honduras employing over 10,000 individuals) and INTERLEASE S.A. de C.V. (vehicle leasing company).