University of Central Asia
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| University of Central Asia | |
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| Established: | 2000 |
| Type: | Private university |
| Chancellor: | His Highess the Aga Khan |
| Location: | Tekeli, Republic of Kazakhstan Naryn, Kyrgyz Republic Khorog, Republic of Tajikistan |
| Website: | www.ucentralasia.org |
The University of Central Asia (UCA) was founded in 2000 by the governments of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan, and 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, the Kyrgyz Republic 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 campuses of equal size and stature in each of the founding countries.
The mission of UCA is to promote the socio-economic development of Central Asia's mountain societies, while at the same time helping the diverse peoples of the region to preserve and draw upon their rich 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.
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[edit] Campuses
The University of Central Asia's three campuses are currently under construction in Tekeli, Kazakhstan; Naryn, the Kyrgyz Republic; and Khorog, Tajikistan. The three campuses, hosting academic, administrative, residential, library, cultural and athletic facilities, will accommodate a residential population of almost 4000 students, faculty and staff. Parklands will surround each UCA campus, preserving the natural environment of the region, and will be open to the general public.
The campuses are being planned by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki. Site designs for the campuses and university parks are being developed by Sasaki Associates of Watertown, USA.
[edit] Tekeli, Kazakhstan
Tekeli is located only 35 minutes 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.
[edit] Naryn, Kyrgyzstan
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 kilometres downstream from the city.
[edit] Khorog, Tajikistan
Khorog is the capital of the 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 People’s Republic of China. The campus site, known locally as Dasht, is a prominently elevated triangular terrace just northwest of the town centre. Future expansion will occur in Porshnev village, 16 kilometres down the Panj River from Khorog.
[edit] Organization and Academic Programmes
[edit] School of Professional and Continuing Education
The School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPCE) offers 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 does this by responding to trends and needs in the local economies of the communities in which it operates, and offers courses that improve employment and income generating opportunities, as well as professional development opportunities for mid-career professionals. By building vocational skills and professional competencies, SPCE seeks to encourage entrepreneurship and stimulate economic development in the region.
[edit] Graduate School of Development
The mission of the Graduate School of Development is to foster stimulating and innovative inquiry into development issues facing Central Asia, particularly its mountain regions. The UCA Graduate School will consist of six Institutes addressing the unique resources and needs of the region while creating a pool of highly 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, 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.
[edit] 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 sciences, the social sciences, and management; and research requirements.
[edit] 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 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 the latest information technologies and distance education teaching and learning methodologies.
- Humanities Programme
UCA will integrate the humanities and the study of the rich and diverse cultures 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 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.
[edit] Research
The UCA Research Programme will focusing on addressing issues of socio-economic development and cultural preservation in Central Asia, with particular emphasis on mountain regions. Original, relevant and action-oriented research will be required of faculty and students. UCA principles for research include: adhering to global standards; prioritizing policy-oriented and community-based research that fosters social, economic and cultural development in the region; and creating strong institutional partnerships to advance research methodologies and the dissemination of findings.
[edit] Sources
- Article: University of Central Asia Founded by Aga Khan Foundation - Central Asia Caucasus Institute, November 8, 2000. Retrieved on 2006-12-05.
- New University of Central Asia. Retrieved on 2006-12-05.
