University of Central Asia

{{About|the university in Khorog, Naryn, and Tekeli|the American university in Bishkek|American University of Central Asia}} The '''University of Central Asia''' [http://www.ucentralasia.org/ (UCA)] was founded in [[2000]] by the governments of [[Kazakhstan]], [[Kyrgyzstan]] and [[Tajikistan]], and [[Aga Khan IV|His Highness the Aga Khan]]. It is the world's first internationally chartered institution of higher education; the International Treaty and Charter establishing this secular and private [[University]] was signed by the Aga Khan and the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, ratified by the respective parliaments and registered with the [[United Nations]]. UCA is a private, independent, self-governing institution. It will have three [[campus]]es of equal size and stature in each of the founding countries. The mission of UCA is to promote the [[Socioeconomics|socio-economic]] development of [[Central Asia]]'s [[mountain]] societies, while at the same time helping the peoples of the region to preserve and draw upon their cultural traditions and heritages as assets for the future. Admission to the UCA is based on merit, as determined by objective standards. An applicant's financial resources does not play a role in decisions on admission and the university states that no qualified student will be denied the opportunity to study at the university for financial reasons. 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 constructing three campuses in Tekeli, Kazakhstan; Naryn, the Kyrgyz Republic; and Khorog, Tajikistan; creating one of Central Asia’s largest and most ambitious construction projects with the expertise of internationally renowned architects and designers. [[File:University of Central Asia Bishkek office.jpg|thumb|University of Central Asia's temporary offices in Bishkek]] The University of Central Asia's three [[campus]]es are under construction in [[Tekeli]], [[Kazakhstan]]; [[Naryn]], [[Kyrgyzstan]]; and [[Khorog]], [[Tajikistan]]. The three campuses, hosting academic, administrative, residential, library, cultural and athletic facilities, will occupy between 280,000 - 300,000 square meters divided equally across the three campuses, and will accommodate a residential population of almost 4000 students, faculty and staff. [[Park]]lands will surround each UCA campus, and will be open to the general public. The campuses are being planned by [[Japan]]ese [[architect]] [[Arata Isozaki]]. Site designs for the campuses and university parks are being developed by [[Sasaki Associates]] of [[Watertown, Massachusetts|Watertown]], [[USA]]. Until the campuses are built, research and other preparations are being carried out in offices in larger cities. For example, the Kyrgyzstan office is currently located in [[Bishkek]]. ===Tekeli, Kazakhstan=== [[Tekeli]] is located 35 minutes 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. ===Naryn, Kyrgyzstan=== [[Naryn Province|Naryn]] [[oblast]] is at the geographical heart of the [[Tian Shan|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 [[China|People's Republic of China]]. [[Ak-Kya]], the UCA campus site is along a bend of the [[Naryn River]], 12 kilometres downstream from the city. ===Khorog, Tajikistan=== [[Khorog]] is the capital of the [[Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province|Badakhshan Autonomous Region]] of [[Tajikistan]]. It is situated at an altitude of 2100 metres in the heart of the [[Pamir Mountains]], near [[Afghanistan]], northern [[Pakistan]], and southwest [[Xinjiang]] in the [[China|People’s Republic of China]]. The campus site, known locally as [[Dasht, Tajikistan]], is an elevated triangular terrace just northwest of the town centre. Future expansion will occur in [[Porshnev]] village, 16 kilometres down the [[Panj River]] from Khorog. ===School of Professional and Continuing Education=== The '''School of Professional and Continuing Education [http://www.ucentralasia.org/spce.htm (SPCE)]''' offers formal, university-based, non-degree educational programmes, including [[Vocational education|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 Media For 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 specific 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 to acquire 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 ===Graduate School of Development=== The mission of the '''Graduate School of Development''' is to foster inquiry into development issues facing [[Central Asia]], particularly its mountain regions. The UCA Graduate School will consist of six Institutes addressing the resources and needs of the region while creating skilled professionals and decision-makers: *Business and Economic Development *Public Administration *Rural Development *Tourism and Leisure *Education Policy *Environment and Natural Resource Management The first degree offered will be a Master’s of Science in Economic Development that will focus on [[economics]], [[Development studies|development]], [[finance]] and inter-disciplinary studies with a strong emphasis on [[ethics]], together with concentrations in one of the following Institutes of graduate study: Business and Economic Development, Public Administration, and Rural Development. The remaining three Institutes: Tourism and Leisure, Education Policy, and Environment and Natural Resource Management will initially focus on [[research]], but ultimately will offer specialized degrees. ===School of Undergraduate Studies=== The '''School of Undergraduate Studies''' will offer a four-year degree to instill graduates with global knowledge, leadership skills, and initiative. The course will include required foundational courses emphasizing [[critical thinking]] and interdisciplinary approaches; concentrations in the [[humanities]], [[natural science]]s, the [[social science]]s, and [[management]]; and research requirements. ===Other Programmes=== English Preparatory Support At UCA, [[English language|English]] will be the language of instruction for all degree courses. Most incoming students will need some preparation in both 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 even more isolated areas of the region, UCA is establishing a [[distance education]] programme that will use information technologies and distance education teaching and learning. Humanities Programme UCA will integrate the [[humanities]] and the study of the [[culture]]s of [[Central Asia]] into academic and other programmes and build on the work of the [[Aga Khan Humanities Programme]]. Music Programme UCA is developing a music programme that will provide instruction, research and performance opportunities in the [[Music of Central Asia|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 focusing on addressing issues of [[Socioeconomics|socio-economic]] development and [[culture|cultural]] preservation in [[Central Asia]], with particular emphasis on [[mountain]] regions. ==External links== *[http://www.ucentralasia.org Official website] *[http://www.akdn.org/uca/uca.htm University of Central Asia (AKDN website)] *[http://www.akdn.org/news/mountain.html Aga Khan Development Network in Mountain Areas] {{coord missing|Kazakhstan}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Central Asia, University of}}