Carleton University and the University of Central Asia (UCA) have established a partnership to pursue academic development and research, a move that will help public management training and socio-economic development in the mountainous societies of the former Soviet Union.
Aga Khan Foundation Canada, which supports sustainable improvement in the quality of life of marginalized communities in Asia and Africa, hosted the signing ceremony with Carleton President Roseann O’Reilly Runte and Dr. Bohdan Krawchenko, Director General of the University of Central Asia.
Earlier this year, Carleton approved funding for two doctoral students to study towards a PhD at the university’s School of Public Policy and Administration over a period of four years. Upon graduation, the students will be offered teaching positions at the University of Central Asia, contributing to capacity-building in the area and a long-term relationship between the two universities.
“This collaboration draws on Carleton’s strengths in development and our expertise in training service professionals from developing countries in the areas of project management and evaluation,” says Dr. Runte.
“Our School of Public Policy and Administration has been very active in helping to build these kind of capacities around the world.”
“UCA will link one of the world’s most isolated areas with the global intellectual community to provide student-centered, innovative teaching and learning methods, and encourage critical thinking and leadership in its graduates,” says Dr. Krawchenko.
“Today, UCA is delighted to align with Carleton University as we endeavour to provide unprecedented opportunities for research, dialogue and inquiry on the economic and social development of Central Asia.”
Dr. Runte says Carleton is looking forward to training future faculty members of the University of Central Asia and extending collaboration to other areas, such as local economic development.
“We are indebted to the Aga Khan Development Network for its support and we hope this is the start of a long, fruitful relationship.”
About Carleton University:
Located in the nation’s capital, Carleton University is a dynamic research and teaching institution with a tradition of leading change. Its internationally recognized faculty, staff and researchers provide more than 24,000 full- and part-time students from every province and more than 100 countries around the world with academic opportunities in more than 65 programs of study, including public affairs, journalism, film studies, engineering, high technology, and international studies. Carleton’s creative, interdisciplinary and international approach to research has led to many significant discoveries and creative works in science and technology, business, governance, public policy and the arts. As an innovative institution Carleton is uniquely committed to developing solutions to real-world problems by pushing the boundaries of knowledge and understanding daily.
About University of Central Asia:
An agency of the Aga Khan Development Network, 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. It will have three campuses of equal size and stature in each of the founding countries. UCA was created to offer an internationally recognized standard of higher education in Central Asia and create knowledgeable, skilled and creative graduates who will contribute leadership, ideas and innovations to the transitioning economies and communities of the region. 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.
About Aga Khan Foundation Canada:
For more than 25 years, Aga Khan Foundation Canada has worked with Canada and Canadians to support sustainable improvements in the quality of life of poor, marginalized communities in Asia and Africa, as well as foster dialogue on critical global issues to enhance Canada’s unique leadership in world affairs.
AKFC is an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a family of private, non-denominational development agencies with mandates ranging from health and education to architecture, culture, microfinance, disaster reduction, rural development, the promotion of private-sector enterprise and the revitalization of historic cities. The Network is dedicated to improving living conditions and opportunities for the poor, without regard to their faith, origin or gender.
via Carleton
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