UCA Q-News #1 - Aga Khan Development Network

Q NewsVOL.1 No.1January - March 2013

2ContentsThe First Word.........................................................................................................................3NEWSCelebrating the 10th Anniversary of International Year of Mountains......................................4National Round Table on ‘Local Self-Government in Kyrgyzstan’ with Kyrgyz Government...5Journalist and Media Training Project at World Bank Workshop.............................................6Civil Service Training for Ministry of Economy and Ministry of Finance..................................7SPCE, Khorog Holds Spring Graduation Ceremony, Graduates 35 Afghan Learners............8Research and LearningUCA Builds GIS Capacity in Central Asia................................................................................9Afghan Students Pursue Advanced English and IT Training at UCA, Khorog.........................9PEOPLESenior Research Fellow Appointed Foreign Member of Tajik Academy of Sciences............10English Instructor Wins Dissertation Prize at University of Birmingham............................... 11Investing in Young Professionals as Future Leaders in Development..................................12Promoting Stability and Economic Opportunity in Kyrgyzstan..............................................15CONSTRUCTIONUCA Participated in Public Meeting with Naryn Community.................................................13PUBLIC LECTURE SERIESUCA Public Lecture Series, January-March 2013.................................................................14Cover photo: A novel aspect of UCA’s collaboration with the Kyrgyz government to organise a round-table with local selfgovernmentwas the Bear Pit discussion at the Kyrgyz National Television and Radio Broadcasting Corporation studios,which was re-broadcast twice to national audiences.UCA Q-NEWS | VOL.1 No.1 | JAN-MAR 2013

3The First WordWelcome to the inaugural issue of UCA Q-News, the University of Central Asia’s (UCA) quarterlymagazine. Q-News presents its readership with Quick Quarterly Quotes and news bites from the University.Providing an overview of UCA’s recent activities and achievements, the magazine brings youhighlights from UCA’s key news channels; including the UCA Newsletter, event announcements, pressnews and photo galleries. These resources are also available online at:http://www.ucentralasia.org/news.asp.UCA Q-News is categorised into the following sections, and stories are presented chronologically:• News: provides updates of current events, new partnerships and recent achievements;• Research and Learning: highlights academic and scholarly activities at UCA;• People: showcases UCA-affiliated individuals; and• Construction: includes updates on the progress of UCA campuses and facilities.UCA Q-News is UCA’s latest initiative aimed at strengthening communication between the Universityand our diverse partners and stakeholders in Central Asia and beyond.We hope readers enjoy this publication, and welcome your suggestions and feedback!Nisar KeshvaniHead of Communicationsnisar.keshvani@ucentralasia.orgThe University of Central Asia (UCA) was founded in 2000. The Presidents of Tajikistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, andKazakhstan, and His Highness the Aga Khan signed the International Treaty and Charter establishing this secularand private University; ratified by the respective parliaments, and registered with the United Nations. The Presidentsare the Patrons of UCA and His Highness is the Chancellor. UCA’s mission is to promote the social and economicdevelopment of Central Asia, particularly its mountain societies, while at the same time helping the differentpeoples of the region to preserve and draw upon their rich cultural traditions and heritages as assets for the future.The UCA Communications Unit was created in 2011 to:• Ensure the University’s core messages are conveyed in alignment with its mission and vision;• Build a coherent and strong UCA identity worldwide;• Ensure consistent branding of UCA communication products; and• Provide strategic communications expertise for stakeholder engagement.Editorial Team:Managing Editor: Nisar KeshvaniContributing Editor: Sia NowrojeeWriter: Emily HarrisonDesign and Photography: Mikhail RomanyukThe stories featured in this publication are copyrighted to the University of Central Asia.For permission to re-publish UCA Q-News stories or request high resolution images,please contact: Nisar Keshvani, Head of Communications: communications@ucentralasia.orgUCA Q-NEWS | VOL.1 No.1 | JAN-MAR 2013

4NewsCelebrating the 10th Anniversary ofInternational Year of MountainsNews‘Market place’ visitors learn more about innovative mountain projects.The University of Central Asia (UCA) supportedthe ‘market place for sustainable mountain developmentgood practices,’ organised by the MountainPartnership Secretariat (MPS) Central AsiaHub, in celebration of International MountainDay 2012, which also marked the 10th anniversaryof the International Year of Mountains.Mountain Partnership members from Central Asia,Altai and Dagestan participated in the Bishkekevent on 11 December 2012, with support from theMPS Central Asia Hub, which is hosted at UCA’sMountain Societies Research Centre, in partnershipwith the United Nations Food and AgricultureOrganisation Country Office, the Aga Khan Foundation(AKF) and the Aga Khan DevelopmentNetwork in the Kyrgyz Republic.The event demonstrated the increasing and effectiverole of civil society in addressing the challengesfacing mountain communities in CentralAsia. Various booths highlighted the diverse andinnovative work and products of MP membersand AKDN. AKF’s innovative kindergartens thatoperate in yurts during the annual migration byherders to high altitude summer pastures or jail-oos were showcased in a mini yurt at the event.“The Mountain Societies Research Centre (MSRC)is pleased to be a part of this event, which highlightsbest practices in sustainable mountaindevelopment in a dynamic and interactive ‘marketplace’ setting. MSRC is committed to informingthe policy and practice of sustainable mountaindevelopment through evidence-based research.Our partnership with Mountain Partnership demonstratesthe unique synergy between academic researchand the practical application of sustainablepractices in mountain communities” said MSRCDirector, Dr Horst Weyerhaeuser.Joint initiatives by the MPS and MSRC in 2012were highlighted. New publications in both Russianand English were available, including thespecial issue of the journal Mountain Research andDevelopment on Central Asian Mountain Societiesin Transition, guest-edited by MSRC researchers,and the report on Sustainable Mountain Developmentin Central Asia: From Rio 1992 to Rio 2012and Beyond report, developed by MPS, MSRCand the Zoi Network with support from the SwissAgency for Development and Cooperation.“Our partnership with Mountain Partnership demonstrates the uniquesynergy between academic research and the practical application ofsustainable practices in mountain communities.”UCA Q-NEWS | VOL.1 No.1 | JAN-MAR 2013

6Newswhich, in turn, depends on the professionalismand integrity of local officials.”He went on to say that, despite budgetary constraints,the Government hopes to increase salariesof local officials, and “will support constructivelocal initiatives that increase the efficiencyand effectiveness of local self-government.”These sentiments were echoed by local governmentrepresentatives;“We have to improve theprofessional level of officers in local administrations,and we have to increase their pay to retainthem,” said O. Tamayev, Head of the KaraJal Village Council, in Ak Suu Raion, Issyk-KulOblast.Mrs U. Narysbayeva, Advisor to the Director ofthe State Agency for Construction and RegionalDevelopment, introduced the draft 2012-2017Medium-Term Development Strategy for LocalSelf-Government. Mr J. Bakirov, Head of the Departmentfor Regional Monitoring and Development,noted that the Strategy would define furtherdevelopment of local self-government and createan enabling environment for citizen participationin local government.A novel aspect of the event was the Bear Pitdiscussion organised at the studios of the KyrgyzNational Television and Radio BroadcastingCorporation, and rebroadcast twice to nationalaudiences.Emily HarrisonJournalist and Media Training Projectat World Bank WorkshopThe University of Central Asia (UCA) presentedthe outcomes of its Budget Reportingfor Journalists and Media Training project atthe World Bank-hosted Information Matters –Transparency and Accountability in the KyrgyzRepublic (IMTAK) Project completion workshopon 19 February 2013 in Bishkek.Administered by the World Bank and financedby the Global Partnership Facility, IMTAK aimsto build the capacity of media to ensure transparencyand heighten awareness of budget processes.The workshop was attended by IMTAKparticipants as well as dignitaries, includingMember of Parliament, Kurmanbek Dyikanbaev.UCA’s School of Professional and ContinuingEducation (SPCE) implemented the18-monthJournalists and Media Training project underIMTAK to improve journalists’ ability to analyse,present and disseminate accurate fiscal andbudgetary information in the Kyrgyz Republic.A key finding of the project, which engaged 210journalists, was that journalists tend to coverthe topics they are most knowledgeable about,revealed SPCE UCA Director, Gulnara Dzhunushalieva.“...to help participants build acore set of skills and a comfortlevel with the subject matter.”“Economic journalism is still a fairly new conceptin Kyrgyzstan and many journalists areunfamiliar with budget terminology and topics.This project was designed to help participantsbuild a core set of skills and a comfort levelwith the subject matter. Over the long term, weexpect to see an increase in the number of articlescovering important budget-related issues,”she said.To further support the engagement of journalistsand promote consistency and high qualityreporting on public finance, UCA published theRussian-Kyrgyz-English Glossary of Terms andConcepts in Public Finance and Budget Processin April 2012. With definitions of over 500terms and concepts, the glossary meets a criticalneed for Kyrgyz journalists to access standardizedpublic finance and budgeting terminologyfor media use.Katarina CzarniakUCA Q-NEWS | VOL.1 No.1 | JAN-MAR 2013

News7Civil Service Training for Ministry ofEconomy and Ministry of FinanceMs. Ayday Kurmanova, State Secretary, Kyrgyz Ministry of Economy and Dr Bohdan Krawchenko,Director General of UCA at the signing ceremony.The University of Central Asia signed Memorandaof Understanding (MOU) with the Ministryof Economy and the Ministry of Finance ofthe Kyrgyz Republic on 19 and 25 March 2013respectively, to promote cooperation and capacitybuilding for civil servants. Under the MOUframework, UCA’s School of Professional andContinuing Education (SPCE) will deliver itsLocal Economic and Community Development(LECD) certificate programme to Ministry staff.First developed in 2011, the LECD programmecovers four fields of knowledge: local economicdevelopment and finance, community development,and English and Kyrgyz for civil servants.SPCE adapted its original LECD curriculum tomeet each Ministry’s specific training needs.The revised curricula were jointly approved forthe Ministry of Economy by Ms Ayday Kurmanova,State Secretary of the Ministry of Economyand Dr Bohdan Krawchenko, Director Generalof UCA, and for the Ministry of Finance by MrAlmaz Baketaev, State Secretary of the Ministryof Finance and Dr Krawchenko.The programme will be supported by the PromotingStability and Economic Opportunity inKyrgyzstan project, a two-year initiative to developthe capacity of local government officials,funded by the Norwegian Ministry of ForeignAffairs and administered by UCA and the AgaKhan Foundation, Kyrgyz Republic. The projecthas also supported regional and national roundtableson local self-governance.UCA Q-NEWS | VOL.1 No.1 | JAN-MAR 2013

8NewsSPCE, Khorog Holds Spring GraduationCeremony, Graduates 35 Afghan LearnersThe UCA SPCE graduating class of Spring 2013.The University of Central Asia’s School of Professionaland Continuing Education (UCA-SPCE)held its eighth graduation ceremony on 26 March2013 at the Khorog Theatre, Tajikistan. Attendedby provincial and national government officials,ambassadors of the United States, Germany,United Kingdom and Turkey, and representativesof UCA and the Aga Khan Development Network,the ceremony celebrated the accomplishments of200 SPCE graduates. The event also commemoratedthe holiday of Navruz, a festival with Persiancultural roots marking the arrival of spring, and includeda cultural performance by the students fromQurbonsho Noyobshev Music School, Khorog.“Just as we welcome new beginnings duringNavruz, we are proud of our graduating students,and wish them success as they use their newlygained knowledge in their future work,” saidRobert Wheeler, UCA Chief Operating Officer.Students received certificates recognising theirsuccessful completion of courses includingAccounting Technology, English for AcademicPurposes, Bookkeeping/Cashier, ConversationalRussian, Conversational German and French,English for Business, Conversational English andTraining of Guides. Students who had successfullytaken London Chamber of Commerce andIndustry (LCCI) exams received LCCI Certificates,and records of professional developmentwere presented to Information Technology (IT)and English teachers from SPCE’s outreach programmes.Vocational certificates were awardedto a newly trained group of plumbers, as well asto 24 village mason-masters who attended SPCEcourses with support from the European CommissionDirectorate-General Humanitarian Aidand Civil Protection –ECHO (DIPECHO).The ceremony also recognised SPCE’s thirdgraduating class of Afghan students who successfullycompleted advanced level courses under theCross Border Vocational Education in Badakhshan(CVEB) programme, a joint initiative ofUCA, Aga Khan Foundation USA and the UnitedStates Agency for International Development.Her Excellency Susan Elliot, Ambassador of theUnited States to Tajikistan, congratulated the 35Afghan and 22 Tajik CVEB graduates, and said,“The CVEB initiative, now concluding its secondphase, embodies the core tenants of the New SilkRoad Initiative, encouraging cross-border cooperationand development.”These sentiments were echoed by Isror Isrorov,Deputy Governor of Gorno-Badakhstan AutomousObast, “The 35 graduates from the IslamicRepublic of Afghanistan are receiving qualificationsthat will enable them to improve theirlives and contribute to their country’s prosperity.We see this opportunity as a way to strengthenfriendship and brotherhood between Tajikistanand Afghanistan.”UCA Q-NEWS | VOL.1 No.1 | JAN-MAR 2013

RESEARCH and Learning9UCA Builds GIS Capacity in Central AsiaRESEARCH and LearningThe University of Central Asia (UCA) is workingto strengthen the capacity and use of Geo-Information Systems (GIS) in Central Asia. UCASenior Research Fellow Dr Bettina Wolfgramm, aSenior Researcher at the Centre for Developmentand Environment (CDE), University of Bern,served as project coordinator of a 2010-12 partnershipbetween UCA, the Kyrgyz Slavic RussianUniversity, the Tajik Agrarian University andCDE. The partnership was designed to strengthencapacity in geo-processing for natural resourcemonitoring in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.Through the partnership, which was funded bythe Scientific Cooperation between Eastern Europeand Switzerland (SCOPES), UCA developedtechnical and training resources and supportedthe participation of Central Asian scholars in conferencesand advance degree programmes.Workshops on GIS education, training and research,and GeoData management were held, andmodules of a CDE training manual were translatedinto Russian.UCA also participates in the Trans-EuropeanMobility Programme for University Studies -GIS training workshop participants utilisinggeodetical equipment.Geoinformatics: Managing Energy, Resources,Environment (Tempus-GEM) to develop andimplement an international, interdisciplinarypostgraduate curriculum in Geoinformatics, witha focus on Central Asia. The project is coordinatedby the Centre for Geoinformatics, Universityof Salzburg and the Austria-Central AsiaCentre for Geoinformatics.Afghan Students Pursue Advanced Englishand IT Training at UCA, KhorogTwelve young learners from the rural areas ofAfghan Badakhshan and Gorno-BadakhshanAutonomous Oblast (GBAO), Tajikistan arrivedat the University of Central Asia’s (UCA), Schoolof Professional and Continuing Education (SPCE)in Khorog, Tajikistan to pursue advanced coursesin English and Information Technology (IT) inOctober 2012.The advanced learners were part of a corps of 84scholarship recipients of SPCE’s Cross-Border VocationalEducation in Badakhshan Phase II (CVEBII) project, implemented by UCA and funded bythe United States Agency for International Developmentand the Aga Khan Foundation USA.CVEB II aims to foster cross-border co-operationand job creation through training according to currentlabour market needs.CVEB enrolls Afghan and Tajik students in Englishclasses to encourage cross-cultural learning.In CVEB II, students are undergoing SPCE’s newEnglish for Academic Purposes course, a comprehensiveand intensive programme that preparesstudents for admission to university and to teachEnglish, incorporating the latest teaching methodologies.The advanced level learners will alsodevelop advanced knowledge and critical thinkingskills, while engaging in discussion clubswith their Afghan and Tajik peers.Farid SafarmamadUCA Q-NEWS | VOL.1 No.1 | JAN-MAR 2013

10PEOPLEPEOPLESenior Research Fellow appointed ForeignMember of Tajik Academy of SciencesDr. Ilolov, President of theAcademy of Sciences ofthe Republic of Tajikistan(right), presents ProfessorKassam with the Certificate ofMembership (Academician) tothe Academy of Sciences.University of Central Asia’s (UCA) SeniorResearch Fellow and Cornell University ProfessorKarim-Aly Kassam is no stranger to CentralAsia and its academic institutions. Dr Kassamhas spent the last seven years researching thePamir Mountains of Afghanistan and Tajikistan,working closely with UCA and the Academy ofSciences, Republic of Tajikistan.It is no surprise he was elected Foreign Member(Academician) of the Academy of Sciences, Republicof Tajikistan. Dr Kassam was also appointedEnglish Language Editor of the Academy’s Journalof the Biological and Medical Sciences. The ceremonytook place during the annual meeting of theAcademy in Dushanbe on 12 December 2012.The election was followed by a presentationby Dr Kassam to the Academy, entitledKnowledge as Hope for the Challenges of the21st Century, based on research with indigenouscommunities at high latitudes and highaltitudes, including the Pamir Mountains ofAfghanistan and Tajikistan.Dr Kassam presented findings demonstrating neglectedconnections between climate change andfood security; medicinal plants and conservationof plant biodiversity and health; sacred sites andecological sustainability; and indigenous knowledgeand science.“I am extremely honoured to have been electedto the Academy of Sciences,” said Dr Kassam,“It is an important milestone, not only for meas a scholar and friend of Tajikistan, but alsofor the young Central Asian scholars and theUniversity of Central Asia, with whom I work.I look forward to continuing and expanding myfruitful partnership with the Academy, contributingto rigorous and ecologically soundaction-oriented research that can be applied toaddressing the quality of life of mountain communitiesin the region.”Sia Nowrojee“It is an important milestone, not only for me as a scholar and friendof Tajikistan, but also for the young Central Asian scholars and theUniversity of Central Asia.”UCA Q-NEWS | VOL.1 No.1 | JAN-MAR 2013

PEOPLE11English Instructor Wins DissertationPrize at University of BirminghamUCA Senior EnglishInstructor TojinisoOlimnazarova teachingAfghan and Tajiklearners.With over 13 years teaching experience, UCASenior English Instructor Tojiniso Olimnazarova,recently completed her Masters in Education atthe University of Birmingham, with a dissertationentitled Using Multiple Languages in English asa Foreign Language in Classrooms in Tajikistan.She was awarded the Best Teaching English as aForeign Language Dissertation Prize for dissertationswhich demonstrate significance, originalityand methodological rigour. Tojiniso wasalso nominated by the University for the BritishCouncil’s English Language Teaching MastersDissertation Award, recognising work with thebest potential for impact.Tojiniso’s research focused on using students’full linguistic abilities to teach English. “There iswidespread belief in current discourse that whenteaching English, only English should be used.I agree that teachers should try their best to doso, but when students are challenged, there areother ways to help them understand and graspconcepts,” she said.Observing English classes at UCA’s School ofProfessional and Continuing Education (SPCE)in Tajikistan, Tojiniso confirmed that using“Her work, rooted in a solid understandingof theory has greatpractical significance. It is anexample of the kind of scholarshipwe wish to promote.”other languages helped her students understandEnglish. “All our teachers are local. We sharecommon languages with our students. Formany of us, English is our fourth language.Our native language can also be a resourcefor teaching, especially at the lower levels,”Tojiniso asserted.“We are very proud of Ms Olimnazarova andher accomplishments. UCA is only as strongas its staff. Birmingham professors noted thatTojiniso wrote an exceptional piece of researchthat showed the pedagogic possibilities of flexiblebilingualism, as teachers and students useTajik, Russian, and a local language Shughni,to learn English. Her work, rooted in a solidunderstanding of theory has great practical significance.It is an example of the kind of scholarshipwe wish to promote.” said Dr BohdanKrawchenko, UCA Director General.Emily HarrisonUCA Q-NEWS | VOL.1 No.1 | JAN-MAR 2013

12PEOPLEInvesting in Young Professionals asFuture Leaders in DevelopmentAKFC Fellow Emily Harrison with the Naryn Mayor’s Office football team, during the inaugurationof UCA’s Naryn sports facilities in August 2012.The competitive International Fellowship Programmeof the Aga Khan Foundation Canada(AKFC) selects candidates from diverse academicbackgrounds and matches them with developmentorganisations around the world to expose them tothe field and contribute to the mission of the hostorganisation. Cross-cultural learning and expertiseexchange are inherent to the placement. “These extraordinaryyoung Canadians bring skills, dedicationand enthusiasm to their host organisations,”says Khalil Z. Shariff, the CEO of AKFC. “Butthey receive as much as they give. The experiencethey gain during the programme is an importantstepping stone in fostering global citizenship intheir personal and professional lives.”Two AKFC Fellows are currently hosted at UCAand another at the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF),Kyrgyz Republic.Drawing on his experience as a student and instructorin diverse academic settings, AKFC FellowKhalid Kurji contributed his ideas and learntnew skills as he participated in various aspectsof UCA’s planning and development, includingacademic and strategic planning. UCA colleagueand AKFC Fellow Emily Harrison broughta background in development and Canadianrefugee policy from Tanzania to the UCA CommunicationsDepartment, where she worked as ananalyst. “Being able to work with all Universityprogrammes has given me a better understandingof UCA’s scope. I am thrilled to be able tocontribute to building communications capacitywithin UCA, and also highlight the considerableaccomplishments of staff and researchers acrossthe three countries.”AKFC Fellow Tamana Zamir is hosted by UCA’ssister agency in Bishkek, AKF, Kyrgyz Republic.With AKF, she supported grassroots communityinitiatives, ranging from greenhouse establishmentto ‘travelling Jailoo kindergartens’ forKyrgyz herder families. “I was made to feel partof the team from day one. I have had the opportunityto work directly with communities; engagein and help lead trainings; and carry out datacollection and assessments. The skills and knowledgeI have gained in monitoring and evaluationare significant,” she said.AKFC Fellow Khalid Khurji discussing baselineeducational assessment with UCA colleagues.UCA Q-NEWS | VOL.1 No.1 | JAN-MAR 2013

PEOPLE13Promoting Stability and EconomicOpportunity in Kyrgyzstan“I enrolled in the programme to learn skills thatwould help me expand my bakery business.The programme was an eye-opener for me tounderstand the basics of business planningand to build additional skills in marketing andaccounting.”- Gulmira ToktosunovaA native of Naryn city in the Kyrgyz Republic, GulmiraToktosunova worked as a teacher for most ofher adult life. After retiring from teaching five yearsago, Gulmira, 45, decided to set up a bakery as analternative means to support her family. “I have fivechildren. I knew I needed to continue to supportmyself and my family,” said Gulmira.Gulminra’s bakery is located in the heart of Naryncity. She and her staff of eight produce severaldifferent varieties of bread, such as the traditionalKyrgyz bread lepyoshka, for Naryn town citizens.In the fall of 2011, Gulmira enrolled in the Entrepreneurshipprogramme offered by the Universityof Central Asia’s (UCA) School of Professionaland Continuing Education. The Entrepreneurshipprogramme, delivered with support from the AgaKhan Foundation (AKF) Kyrgyz Republic andthe Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, helpsNaryn-based entrepreneurs develop skills in marketing,business communication, and businessplan development. “I enrolled in the programmeto learn skills that would help expand my bakerybusiness,” said Gulmira. “The programme was aneye-opener to understand the basics of businessplanning and to build additional skills in marketingand accounting.”In the Kyrgyz Republic, many start-up entrepreneurshave difficulty accessing microcredit dueto the specific conditions and high interest rates(regional average of 23%) set by microfinanceinstitutions in the region. In May 2011, UCAand Kyrgyz Investment and Credit Bank (KICB)signed a Memorandum of Understanding tosupport entrepreneurs in Naryn with low interestloans. Through this MoU, Norwegian fundsprovided the $25,000 collateral for the establishmentof a revolving loan fund of $25,000. KICBprovided an additional $25,000 of collateral, raisingthe total amount of the revolving loan fund to$50,000. These small loans are designated to supportthe top business plans of Entrepreneurshipprogramme graduates, providing these graduateswith access to capital from KICB to realize theirbusiness proposals.For Gulmira, the small loan programme gaveher the opportunity to raise the standards of herproduct and, in turn, improve her output. Today,Gulmira produces nearly 1,000 loaves of breadper day, “My goal is to produce high-qualityproducts for the people in Naryn town,” saysGulmira. “When I took a KICB loan, I was ableto grow my bakery business. Today, my productsare successfully supplied to a local school, kindergartenand hospital.”The project Promoting Stability and EconomicOpportunity in Kyrgyzstan is being implementedby the Aga Khan Foundation, KyrgyzRepublic and the University of Central Asia.The project falls into two categories: Professionaland Vocational Training and RuralInfrastructure.Overall, the project contributes to promoting stabilityand social harmony through improvementof livelihoods in the country.UCA Q-NEWS | VOL.1 No.1 | JAN-MAR 2013

14CONSTRUCTIONUCA Participated in Public Meetingwith Naryn CommunityCONSTRUCTIONUCA Director General Dr Bohdan Krawchenko addresses the Naryn community, with ZalkarKamalov, Deputy Director SPCE, and Kanatbek Muratbekov, Authorised Naryn Representativeof the Government.“We want to keep the communityapprised of its progress asUCA moves into its next phaseof campus development.”The University of Central Asia participated in apublic meeting organised by the Naryn OblastAdministration for the Naryn community on 6March 2013. UCA Director General Dr BohdanKrawchenko, supported by Grant Robertson,Director of Construction, presented its campusdevelopment plans, to the Naryn community.“Since its inception, UCA has worked very closelywith the Naryn community. We have communitymembers who have been trained by our Schoolof Professional and Continuing Education, andcommunity members who worked in construction.At this juncture, we wanted to keep the communityapprised of its progress as UCA moves intoits next phase of campus development,” said DrKrawchenko.During the public presentation, Dr Krawchenkointroduced the University’s academic programmes,and highlighted its various constructiondevelopments since 2006. Key milestones includ-ing the completion and handover of the NarynState Road to the Kyrgyz Government in 2010;the official opening of the School of Professionaland Continuing Education (SPCE) town campusin 2011; and the inauguration of the footballand tennis community facilities in 2012. From2006, UCA has also planted 60,000 trees, plantsand shrubs, installed lighting on the State Road,stabilised the riverbank, and provided water andelectricity to the Tosh Bulak village.As it completes its final campus master plan,UCA will begin site works, including buildingdrainage, extending its equipment storagefacilities, and building a workforce facility ofinternational standards for its future constructionstaff, explained Dr Krawchenko. Thesepreparatory works will be completed in thecoming months.“Given the harsh building environment, UCA isalso investing in heavy duty building machinerysuch as tractors, tipper trucks, mobile cranes,and a batching plant,” said Mr Robertson.The University shared with the Naryn communityits overall master plans with 3-dimensional imagesof its start-up phase academic and dormitorybuildings to help them visualize how their hometownwill be transformed in a few years’ time.Nisar KeshvaniUCA Q-NEWS | VOL.1 No.1 | JAN-MAR 2013

PUBLIC LECTURE SERIES15UCA Public Lecture SeriesPUBLIC LECTURE SERIESJanuary-March 2013The UCA Public Lecture Series highlights emerging research in and about Central Asia and supportsUCA’s scholarly and academic programmes. http://www.ucentralasia.org/public_lectures.asp• Agricultural Productivity, Poverty and Export Potential in Talas Oblast of Kyrgyzstan, Kanat Tilekeyev,Research Fellow of the UCA Institute of Public Policy and Administration and GraduateFellow with the UCA Central Asian Faculty Development Programme, 24 January 2013• Food Security and the Agricultural Cooperation Agenda in Central Asia with a Focus on Tajikistan,Shokhboz Asadov, Senior Researcher at the UCA Institute of Public Policy and Administration,31 January 2013• Financial Support Obligation in Kyrgyz Kinship Networks, Altyn Kapalova, Candidate of ScienceCandidate, Department of Ethnology, Kyrgyz National Academy of Science, 7 February 2013• Social Work Development: Fundamental Trends in Modern Kyrgyzstan, Dr Nurgul Musaeva,Head and Associate Professor, Social Work and Practical Psychology Department, Bishkek HumanitiesUniversity, 8 February 2013In our next issue, read about:Central Asia Musical Traditions Course Teachesand InspiresProf. Vasiliy Kisunko’s donates unique bookcollection to UCA LibraryInstitute of Public Policy and AdministrationLaunches Expanded Edition of English-RussianPublic & Economic Policy GlossaryYouth Implement Award-winning SocialEntrepreneurship Projectsand more...UCA Q-NEWS | VOL.1 No.1 | JAN-MAR 2013

University of Central AsiaAdministration Office138 Toktogul Street, Bishkek, 720001, Kyrgyz RepublicTel.: +996 (312) 910 822 Fax: +996 (312) 910 835info@ucentralasia.orgAga Khan Humanities Project, Dushanbe47A Druzhba Narodov Avenue, Dushanbe, 734013, Republic of TajikistanTel.: +992 (37) 221 26 82akhp.dushanbe@ucentralasisa.orgSchool of Professional and Continuing Education (SPCE)SPCE Khorog126 Lenin Street, Khorog, GBAO,736000, Republic of TajikistanTel.: +992 (3522) 22 277 Fax: +992 (3522) 22 778spce.khorog@ucentralasia.orgSPCE Naryn10 Seitaaly Jakypov Street, Naryn,722900, Kyrgyz RepublicTel.: +996 (3522) 51 204 Fax: +996 (3522) 51 228spce.naryn@ucentralasia.orgSPCE Tekeli13 Gagarin Street, Tekeli, 041700, Republic of KazakhstanTel.: +7 (72835) 44 177, 43 444 Fax: +7 (72835) 43 849spce.tekeli@ucentralasia.orgSPCE Learning Centre, Dushanbe47A Druzhba Narodov Avenue, Dushanbe,734013, Republic of TajikistanTel.: +992 (37) 224 5823spce.dushanbe@ucentralasia.orgSPCE Learning Centre, Bishkek138 Toktogul Street, Bishkek, 720001, Kyrgyz RepublicTel.: +996 (312) 910 822, Fax: +996 (312) 910 835spce.bishkek@ucentralasia.orgSPCE Learning Centre, Taldykorgan26, Kabanbai Batyr str., 2nd floor, building of KAZGORDesign Academy, Taldykorgan, 040000, Republic of KazakhstanTel. / Fax: +7 (7282) 270 282, 270 632spce.taldykorgan@ucentralasia.orgwww.ucentralasia.org