University of Central Asia

From Kazakhstan Encyclopedia

Template:About

Template:Refimprove Template:Infobox university The University of Central Asia (UCA) was founded in 2000. The presidents of Tajikistan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Kazakhstan and His Highness the Aga Khan signed the International Treaty and Charter establishing this secular, not-for-profit, private university that was ratified by the respective parliaments and registered with the United Nations. The Presidents are Patrons of UCA and His Highness the Aga Khan is the Chancellor.[1]

UCA was established to offer an internationally recognised standard of higher education in Central Asia and prepare graduates to contribute leadership, ideas and innovation to the economies and communities of the region. UCA’s mission is to foster the socio-economic development of Central Asia, particularly its mountain societies, while helping the peoples of the region preserve and draw upon their rich cultural heritages as assets for the future. The university is advancing construction of three campuses in Khorog, Tajikistan; Naryn, Kyrgyz Republic; and Tekeli, Kazakhstan.[2]

In the meantime, several UCA initiatives offer professional training and research opportunities and resources. These include the School of Professional and Continuing Education, the Institute of Public Policy and Administration, the Mountain Societies Research Institute, the Cultural Heritage and Humanities Unit, the Central Asian Faculty Development Programme and the Aga Khan Humanities Project. The University brings with it the commitment and partnership of the Aga Khan Development Network. For more information on UCA, please visit www.ucentralasia.org.

Currently, the Director General of UCA is in charge of operations and planning at the Central Administration office in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic.

Campuses and Facilities

UCA is building three residential campuses in Khorog, Tajikistan; Naryn, the Kyrgyz Republic; and Tekeli, Kazakhstan;[3] — creating one of Central Asia’s largest and most ambitious construction projects with the expertise of internationally renowned architects and designers.

File:UCA SPCE Khorog.jpg
UCA SPCE Khorog
File:UCA SPCE Naryn.jpg
UCA SPCE Naryn
The three campuses, hosting academic, administrative, residential, library, cultural and athletic facilities, will occupy between 280,000 and 300,000 square meters divided equally across the campuses and will accommodate a residential population of almost 4000 students, faculty and staff. Parklands will surround each UCA campus and will be open to the general public.

The campuses are being planned by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki. Site designs and University parks are being developed by Sasaki Associates of Watertown, Massachusetts, United States.

File:UCA SPCE Tekeli.jpg
UCA SPCE Tekeli

Until all the campuses are built, research and other preparations are being carried out in offices in larger cities. For example, the Kyrgyzstan office is in Bishkek.

Khorog, Tajikistan

Khorog is the capital of the Badakhshan Autonomous Region of Tajikistan. It is at an altitude of 2100 metres in the heart of the Pamir Mountains, near Afghanistan, northern Pakistan, and southwest Xinjiang in the People’s Republic of China.[4] The campus site, known locally as Dasht, Tajikistan, is an elevated triangular terrace northwest of the town centre. Future expansion will occur in Porshnev village, 16 km down the Panj River from Khorog.

Naryn, Kyrgyz Republic

Naryn oblast is at the geographical heart of the Tien-Shan mountain range and of Kyrgyzstan, sharing borders with four of the nation’s six other provinces. Its capital, Naryn, is four hours by car from the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek and an equal distance from Kashgar in the People's Republic of China. Ak-Kya, the UCA campus site, is along a bend of the Naryn River, 12 km downstream from the city.

Tekeli, Kazakhstan

Tekeli is a 35-minute drive east of the regional capital, Taldy-Korgan, and is three hours by car from Kazakhstan’s largest city, Almaty. The town sits at the mouth of the narrow valley along the Kazak steppe in the historic Jetisuw (or "Seven Rivers") region. It borders the Alatau and Dzungaria mountain ranges, with the Altai Mountains further north.

Organisation and Academic Programmes

Undergraduate School of Arts and Sciences

The School of Arts and Sciences offers a five-year degree[5] to instill graduates with global knowledge, leadership skills, and initiative. The course will include required foundation courses emphasizing critical thinking and interdisciplinary approaches; concentrations in the humanities, natural sciences, the social sciences, and management; and research requirements.

Undergraduate classes at the University of Central Asia’s (UCA) Naryn, Kyrgyz Republic campus commenced on 5 September 2016.[6] The 71 students admitted through a competitive, transparent and merit-based admissions process come from Tajikistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan,Afghanistan and Pakistan.[7]

Graduate School of Development

The is organised to address the unique resources and needs of the region by generating a pool of highly skilled professionals and decision-makers, and fostering policy-oriented research in the fields of:

  • Business and Economic Development;
  • Education Policy;
  • Natural Resource Management and Environment;
  • Public Administration and Public Policy;
  • Rural and Regional Development;
  • Tourism and Leisure Studies.[8]

When the first undergraduate class matriculates in 2021, UCA will launch the Graduate School's first interdisciplinary masters programme.

School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPCE)

The School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPCE) will offer formal, university-based, non-degree educational programmes, including vocational, professional development and personal improvement opportunities for youth and adults. Established in 2006, SPCE is UCA's first operational academic programme and aims to foster economic development. It offers courses that improve employment and income generating opportunities, as well as professional development opportunities for mid-career professionals.

SPCE has programmes in:

  • Enterprise Development and Management for entrepreneurs to start and improve small enterprises or for professionals in finance and management who need to upgrade their qualifications.
  • Information Technology and New Mediaf or current and prospective IT professionals as well as business management and administration staff seeking to upgrade their skills.
  • Applied Languages for entrepreneurs, students and professionals seeking higher competencies in English, Russian, and Chinese for purposes such as business or education.
  • Public and Social Sector Management for policy administrators, public officials and managers in education, government and public health.
  • Vocational Education and Training for those seeking skills and experienced skilled workers looking to upgrade skills and qualifications. Vocational courses that are or will be offered include carpentry, construction, painting and plastering.
  • Post-Graduate Preparatory Programmes for undergraduate and graduate students seeking to enhance their analytical and critical thinking skills for future study.
  • Professional Development for mid-career public servants and other professionals seeking knowledge or skills in a format less demanding and more flexible than full-time study. Professional development courses that are or will be offered include accounting, language for specific purposes, computers and information technology, small business management, and tourism planning and development.
  • Personal Development and Improvement for those interested in short-term courses teaching best practices in leadership, critical thinking, problem solving, decision-making and other skills to address the social and economic needs of their communities

Aga Khan Humanities Project (AKHP)

Established in 1997 by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, AKHP was inherited by UCA in 2007 and has become an important node for the University, developing and delivering resources, training and courses through its innovative curriculum, faculty development and Humanities in English programmes. AKHP is also contributing to the University School of Arts and Sciences' undergraduate core curriculum.

Through a growing network of partner universities in the region, AKHP is transforming the study of the humanities in Central Asia. This regional Project is located at UCA Dushanbe, Tajikistan, and has partnerships and programmes in all three of UCA's Founding States.[9]

Other programmes

English Preparatory Support

At UCA, English will be the language of instruction for all degree courses. Most incoming students will need some preparation in English and computing. Therefore, UCA is establishing a one-year preparatory programme for undergraduates and a three-month programme for graduate students.

Distance Education

To make the University accessible to populations living in more isolated areas, UCA is establishing a distance education programme that will use information technologies and distance education teaching and learning.

Music Programme

UCA is developing a music programme that will provide instruction, research and performance opportunities in the musical traditions of Central Asia. The programme will support UCA’s academic programmes, enrich the cultural life of the three campuses and complement the work of the Aga Khan Music Initiative in Central Asia.

Research

The UCA Research Programme will focus on addressing issues of socio-economic development and cultural preservation in Central Asia, with particular emphasis on mountain regions. UCA has three research institutes including the Mountain Societies Research Institute (MSRI), the Institute of Public Policy and Administration (IPPA) and the Cultural Heritage and Humanities Unit (CHHU).

Mountain Societies Research Institute (MSRI)

MSRI is an interdisciplinary research institute established in 2011, dedicated to addressing the challenges and opportunities within Central Asian mountain communities and environments.[10]

Institute of Public Policy and Administration (IPPA)

IPPA was established in 2011 to strengthen public policy in Central Asia. It provides in-depth analysis on current and emerging policy issues facing the region, and improves the analytical capacity of governments and civil society to use evidence in decision-making processes through professional development.[11]

Cultural Heritage and Humanities Unit (CHHU)

Launched in 2013, CHHU is advancing the University’s mission by preserving and promoting the unique and diverse cultural heritages of the region through research, documentation, archiving and support of regional scholars.[12]

The Central Asian Faculty Development Programme (CAFDP)

CAFDP offers support for Central Asian scholars to pursue doctoral studies on the understanding that upon graduation they agree to serve as UCA faculty for a minimum of five years.[13]

Sources

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See also

External links

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