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University of British Columbia and University of Central Asia Collaborate on Earth and Environmental Sciences
The University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada, and the University of Central Asia (UCA), whose central administrative office is located in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, signed an agreement to enable UBC to design curriculum for 22 courses that will be used by UCA faculty members to teach the Earth and Environmental Sciences Programme to UCA students.
President Santa J. Ono of UBC, and Dr Shamsh Kassim-Lakha, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of UCA, at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding in Vancouver, Canada.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by the President of UBC, Professor Santa J. Ono, and Dr Shamsh Kassim-Lakha, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of UCA, in Vancouver last week. “I am excited by this initiative and the chance to partner with a new university in an often underserved part of the world,” said UBC President Santa Ono.
“This partnership will not only allow UBC to have critical input into the development of new academic programmes half a world away, but will also provide UBC instructors with the chance to reflect on their own courses and how they might be improved and adapted to different learning environments. I look forward to seeing how the relationship evolves going forward. I wish UCA success, as it seeks to serve the region’s mountain societies.”
“We are delighted at this partnership”, said Dr Kassim-Lakha. “It is my hope that in time the MOU we signed will enable our two institutions to also collaborate in other academic fields, conduct joint research projects, facilitate training of UCA post graduate fellows, and encourage faculty and student exchanges.”
Dr Diana Pauna, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at UCA, said she was pleased with this important collaboration as it would strengthen the academic programmes of UCA. “The enthusiasm of UBC’s faculty in helping with this endeavour is very reassuring, and we look forward to launching this programme as soon as possible.”
About the Partners
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the 40 best universities in the world. Since 1915, UBC’s West Coast spirit has embraced innovation and challenged the status quo. Its entrepreneurial perspective encourages students, staff and faculty to challenge convention, lead discovery and explore new ways of learning. At UBC, bold thinking is given a place to develop into ideas that can change the world.
University of Central Asia
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 and private University, which was ratified by the respective parliaments and registered with the United Nations. The Presidents are the Patrons of UCA and His Highness is the Chancellor.
UCA’s mission is to promote the social and economic development of Central Asia, particularly its mountain societies, by offering an internationally recognised standard of higher education and helping the different peoples of the region to preserve and draw upon their rich cultural traditions and heritages as assets for the future. UCA brings with it the commitment and partnership of the Aga Khan Development Network. For more information: www.ucentralasia.org.