Central Asia University Partnerships (UniCEN)
196 subscribers
132 photos
3 videos
5 files
128 links
UniCEN builds capacity for substantive international engagement between higher education institutions in the United States and Central Asia: https://unicen.americancouncils.org/
Download Telegram
The U.S. Embassy solicits applications for summer 2022 Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) for Scholars.

The SUSI for Scholars is an intensive 6-weeks long exchange program providing university faculty and other scholars the opportunity to deepen their understanding of U.S. society, culture, values, and institutions.

To learn more about the program and application procedures, please follow this link: https://uz.usembassy.gov/education-culture/exchange-programs/study-u-s-institute-susi-scholars/

Application deadline: December 21, 2021
UniCEN Informational Webinar for Central Asian Universities

Funded by the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the Central Asia University Partnerships (UniCEN) 2021-2022 Central Asia University Partnerships Program builds capacity for substantive international engagement between higher education institutions (HEIs) in the United States and Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan).

Administered by American Councils for International Education (American Councils), UniCEN will select and award partnership grants to increase the quality and sustainability of university linkages between Central Asia and the United States to jointly address UN SDGs. The 5 priority SDGs for the UniCEN program are clean water and sanitation; affordable and clean energy; decent work and economic growth; responsible consumption and production; and climate action.
Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcsdeivpjwoGtThkWp2dSAjbWwrB7qCfoID
Attracting Ecotourists to Uzbekistan for Sustainable Growth
As Uzbekistan emerges as an unexplored tourism destination, sites must be protected for future generations. Through the Central Asia University Partnerships Program (UniCEN), administered by American Councils for International Education and funded by the U.S. State Department through the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent, Purdue University and Urgench State University developed a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), with the goal of spurring ecotourism in Uzbekistan.
In September 2020, a team from Purdue University and Urgench State University met weekly online to discuss their goals for the course and shared interests. This collaboration was done in conjunction with Purdue’s Sustainable Tourism and Travel Lab, which seeks to make international tourism more environmentally friendly. Researchers determined which modules would be included in the MOOC and discussed how ecotourism could best be implemented in Uzbekistan. Purdue University faculty assisted Urgench State University faculty with crafting videos, assessments, and texts for the course.
Professors from both universities co-authored and published a paper in a peer-reviewed journal on “Employing Ecotourism Opportunities for Sustainability in the Aral Sea Region: Prospects and Challenges.”

Follow us on social media:
Instagram | Telegram | Facebook

#acglobal #internationalization #uzbekistan #purdue #urgench #centralasia #globalresearch #ecotourism #partnerships #highereducation
Learn more about UniCEN: https://unicen.americancouncils.org/
The Ministry of Innovative Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the World Bank announces a call for proposals under the Research Excellence Program (REP).

REP provides grant funding for research proposals submitted by researchers from Research Institutes (RI) or Higher Education Institutions. Special attention will be paid to considering proposals for joint research of local and foreign researchers (including Uzbek scientists abroad), proposals for joint research of researchers and the private sector, as well as proposals from young scientists aimed at strengthening the future research potential of the country. The selection will be based on two main criteria: (i) scientific merit and (ii) social and/or economic relevance.

The REP allows for two types of grants: REP Junior Research Grants (REP JRG), and REP Senior Research Grants (REP SRG). Funding for JRG and SRG grants may go up to USD 200,000 and USD 600,000, respectively. Deadline: November 25, 2021
Central Asia University Partnerships Program (UniCEN): Sharing Knowledge and Sustaining Networks
Central Asia University Partnerships Program (UniCEN): Sharing Knowledge and Sustaining Networks

On October 29-21, 50 representatives of UniCEN partner universities from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan gathered near Tashkent to showcase the results of their partnerships, participate in networking sessions, and share new project concepts to sustain networks. In addition, six U.S. researchers and administrators from UniCEN partner universities (Michigan State University, Mississippi State University, and University of Nebraska-Lincoln) presented their partnerships as examples of best practice.

The conference was also attended by representatives of the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan, Ministry of Higher Education of Uzbekistan, and regional directors of American Councils.

Participants also learned about opportunities to deepen and expand UniCEN partnerships through new grant opportunities for research collaboration and curriculum development, and bootcamps in virtual exchanges and academic writing in 2022. Participants created a draft Action Plan for a partnership with an existing or new U.S. partner.

Follow us on social media:
Instagram | Telegram | Facebook

#acglobal #internationalization #uzbekistan #centralasia #globalresearch #partnerships #highereducation #tashkent

Learn more about UniCEN: https://unicen.americancouncils.org/
Central Asia University Partnerships Program: Partnership Grants

Deadline for applications: Monday, 6 December 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Time
To apply: http://ais.americancouncils.org/unicen

Administered by American Councils for International Education (American Councils), UniCEN will select and award partnership grants to increase the quality and sustainability of university linkages between Central Asia and the United States to jointly address United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). The five priority SDGs for the UniCEN program are clean water and sanitation; affordable and clean energy; decent work and economic growth; responsible consumption and production; and climate action.
Partnership grants will meet one of the three key objectives of UniCEN:
1) Enhance teaching and learning capacities by modernizing curriculum and developing jointly taught courses in five priority UN SDGs at Central Asian universities.
2) Increase research capacities at Central Asian and U.S. universities in five priority UN SDGs through the creation of regional “knowledge hubs”.
3) Strengthen institutional capacity to support long-term partnerships between U.S. and Central Asian universities with economic-based outcomes.

Eligibility
Applications must be submitted by U.S. faculty members and administrators from higher education institutions (universities and community colleges) for partnership grants that deepen existing or establish new U.S.-Central Asian university partnerships. American Councils encourages the creation of “knowledge hubs” or consortia that involve multiple Central Asian (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) universities. Partnership projects involving higher education institutions from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are especially encouraged.

Awards
Ten (10)
partnership grants to accomplish project goals and objectives will be awarded. Selected finalists will be awarded a $24,000 project grant to cover salary or honoraria, international and domestic travel, conference fees, materials, supplies, and other allowable costs associated with carrying out partnership activity. All grants will be awarded to U.S. higher education institutions.
University Partners Collaborate on Geospatial Technologies for Agriculture

Geospatial technologies are critical for Kazakhstan's agricultural sector to become more efficient and globally integrated. Through the U.S.-Kazakhstan University Partnerships program, funded by the U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan and administered by American Councils for International Education, Monroe Community College (MCC) and Kazakh Agrotechnical University (KATU) are using geospatial technologies to identify wheat disease in Kazakhstan.

KATU and MCC faculty launched their collaboration on scientific papers and joint presentations. Three geospatial information science and technology students from Monroe Community College completed virtual internships with Dr. Aigul Bekbayeva focused on identifying areas of stressed vegetation and wheat disease using remote sensing. MCC faculty visited Kazakhstan to collect data to verify remote sensing analysis.

In addition to student exchange and joint research, the partners are exploring setting up a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) virtual exchange program to connect Monroe Community College and Kazakh Agrotechnical University faculty and students to build scientific expertise.

Follow us on social media:
Instagram | Facebook

#acglobal #internationalization #kazakhstan #monroecc #KATU #centralasia #globalresearch #remotesensing #geospatialtech #virtualexchange #highereduction

Learn more about U.S.-Kazakhstan University Partnerships Program:
https://unicen.americancouncils.org/
University Partners Strengthen Teacher Training

Kazakhstan’s ambitious education strategy calls for transition to teaching school STEM subjects in English. Kokshetau University and University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) are working together to strengthen STEM teacher training programs through the U.S.-Kazakhstan University Partnerships Program, administered by American Councils for International Education and funded by the U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan.

Since early 2020, UNO organized three online modules for thirty Kokshetau University faculty members on educational leadership, student learning styles, and the use of technology in online and distance education. After completing these modules, Kokshetau University organized a webinar to share their experience on how to build partnerships in English and STEM teaching. More than 170 colleagues from other Kazakhstan and Central Asian universities joined the webinar.

In spring 2021, UNO provided a training on Content and Language Integrated Learning and its application in teaching STEM and social sciences for 25 Kokshetau faculty members. The two institutions have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to expand activities in designing and modernizing courses and syllabi, and are planning future research projects in STEM and English as a Second Language. Both universities are looking forward to the visit of American colleagues in December 2021 to further develop their partnership in strengthening teacher training.

Follow us on social media:
Instagram | Facebook

#acglobal #internationalization #kazakhstan #UNO #KokshetauUniversity #centralasia #STEM #STEMinEnglish #virtualexchange #highereduction

Learn more about U.S.-Kazakhstan University Partnerships Program:
https://unicen.americancouncils.org/
Collaborating to Fight Global Infectious Disease

Spurred by the COVID-19 epidemic, the medical education community has placed increased emphasis in working together to fight diseases globally. Through the Central Asia University Partnerships Program (UniCEN), administered by American Councils for International Education and funded by the U.S. State Department through the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent, the University of Illinois at Chicago and the Tashkent Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education created an online course on public health surveillance to address emerging infectious diseases.

In Fall 2020, the partnership began with online discussion of quality control of testing and training healthcare professionals on COVID-19 protocols. These interactions led to two online training workshops, led by the University of Illinois at Chicago and the Tashkent Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education, on COVID-19 and its complexities. These workshops drew 293 Uzbek and seven American health care professionals.

The two institutions continued to collaborate, developing a syllabus for an online course to be launched in September 2021, and workshops on COVID-19 that have educated 47 Uzbekistani healthcare professionals over six sessions. In addition, University of Illinois at Chicago and Tashkent Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education are piloting a research program on infectious diseases where students from both universities will participate in a pilot research program on the effects of COVID-19 on patients. UIC continues to assist the Uzbekistan Research Institute of Virology with registering on the National Institute of Health website.

Follow us on social media:
Instagram | Telegram | Facebook

#acglobal #internationalization #uzbekistan #uic #medicaleducation #centralasia #globalresearch #partnerships #highereducation
Learn more about UniCEN: https://unicen.americancouncils.org/
Inviting a New Era for Business and Economics Education

Business education is rapidly transforming in Central Asia. Through the Central Asia University Partnerships Program (UniCEN), administered by American Councils for International Education and funded by the U.S. State Department through the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent, the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) and the Tajikistan State University of Commerce (TUSC) are working to improve faculty research and pedagogy of business and economics education in Tajikistan.
In November 2020, professors from University of Nebraska led two online seminars on “Engaged Teaching in the Age of Coronavirus” and “Pedagogy and Research in Covid Times” to participants from TSUC, as well as 30 representatives from the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan. As a follow-up, University of Nebraska professors with extensive experience in Tajikistan presented perspectives on how to revive Tajikistan’s economy after COVID-19 to faculty and staff at Tajikistan State University of Commerce and National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan.
UNO and TUSC are also advancing research priorities. Two professors collaborated on a paper on contemporary U.S.-Tajikistan relations, which was presented at an international conference on political relations in May 2021 hosted by the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan. Both partner universities have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which has established the framework for future university-wide engagement, especially in-person collaboration and exchange.

Follow us on social media:

Instagram | Telegram | Facebook
#acglobal #internationalization #tajikistan #universityofnebraskaomaha #centralasia #businesseducation #globalresearch #academicwriting #highereducation

Learn more about UniCEN: https://unicen.americancouncils.org/