American Councils for International Education announces the awardees of the latest round of Central Asia University Partnerships Program (UniCEN) grants to support projects between U.S. and Central Asia higher education institutions.

Funded by the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the 2021-2022 Central Asia University Partnerships (UniCEN) Program builds capacity for substantive international engagement between higher education institutions (HEIs) in the United States and Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan).
For more information, please visit https://unicen.americancouncils.org/central-asia-university-partnerships-program-unicen-awards-announcement-2/

Catalyzing International Administrative and Research Collaborations in Engineering and Agriculture

Over the past three decades, the internationalization of higher education has become a priority in developing higher education in Uzbekistan and is considered an important tool in ensuring its economic stability. 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, University of Tennessee-Knoxville (UT) and Namangan Institute of Engineering and Technology (NIET) designed collaborative approaches for research, administration, education, and workforce development.

In an online format, Dr. David Ader of UT-Knoxville’s Smith Center for International Sustainable Agriculture shared cotton research, Dr. Gretchen Neisler, vice provost for international affairs, discussed planning for international research, and Dr. Deborah Crawford, Vice Chancellor of the Office of Research, Innovation and Economic Development, presented best practices for building the research enterprise. Partners discussed ongoing development of international education programs, partnerships and student exchange programs, industry outreach, and collaboration opportunities in agriculture studies. UT-Knoxville created a YouTube playlist of webinars to disseminate the information for the broader academic community.

Faculty from the partnership used the opportunity to present a joint research project: “Skill Development Across the Globe: How Universities and Industries Can Work Together to Help Their Societies Prosper.” For this project, Dr. Reilman from UT-Knoxville utilized survey data from multiple universities in Uzbekistan to understand international workforce development initiatives, and Dr. Umarkhonov of NIET will support his efforts by recruiting survey participants from Uzbekistan.

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

Enhancing English Education and Teacher Training in Uzbekistan

Enhancing English Education and Teacher Training in Uzbekistan

The Ministry of Public Education of Uzbekistan has introduced significant reforms in the education sector to modernize approaches and methodologies and to link education standards to best international practices. These large-scale reforms include the goal of improving the standard of English language teaching and learning outcomes of students. 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, Ohio University Program of Intensive English (OPIE) and Andijan State University are improve the English language and pedagogical skills for English teachers.

OPIE personnel in the initiative are Kyle Butler, Becky Challenger, Sally Hatfield, Gerry Krzic, and Aaron Schwartz. For ASU, Farhod Alimov, Head of the International Relations Office, and Professor Dilrabo Ahmadalieva coordinate the program in Uzbekistan. The plan, coordinate and monitor the project activities, ASU and OPIE held regular online administrative meetings.

In October – December 2020 and in January 2021, OPIE faculty offered online training sessions in Research Writing, Cross-cultural Communication, EFL Teaching Methodology and Instructional Technology to ASU students enrolled in the Teaching English as a Foreign Language preparation program. OPIE faculty also reviewed lesson plans submitted by ASU students and made recommendations.

The total of 25 ASU students have completed the virtual program offered by Ohio Program of Intensive English. The OPIE faculty reviewed and helped revise four courses taught at ASU, including TEFL Methodology for Communicative Language Teaching; Intercultural Communication; Utilizing Technology for Language Teaching and Learning; and English Language Skills for Writing a Research Paper.

The initiative has been a cross-cultural experience for all participants. In addition to OPIE faculty sharing their expertise, ASU students taught OPIE faculty about their education system and aspects of Uzbek culture such as the Uzbek national dish “palov,” the importance of the extended family, and the special role bread plays in human relations.

ASU faculty and administration of four travelled to Ohio University on November 13-20. ASU staff participated in International Week Activities at Ohio University and met with OPIE faculty and staff to discuss further program initiatives.

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Revitalizing Engineering Education in Uzbekistan

Engineering education in Uzbekistan requires global recognition to improve rankings and attract international students. 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, Tashkent University of Information Technologies (TUIT) and Kent State University are collaboratively exploring ways to bring computer engineering education in Uzbekistan in line with industry needs and best international standards.

Throughout the project period, the partners met online and exchanged perspectives on the modernization of engineering curriculum and teaching. Kent State University lent its expertise to TUIT’s Computer Science department towards receiving ABET Accreditation, the gold standard to meet quality for professional preparation of graduates in STEM fields.

Mindful of computer engineering curriculum that reflects international best practices and actual industry needs, Kent State University faculty and administrators prepared and conducted a series of webinars to help advance TUIT’s course design, curriculum mapping, learning outcomes, assessment metrics, and strategic planning. The total of 26 TUIT faculty and administrators completed the teaching methodology webinars.

As a result of the collaboration and support by Kent State University faculty, TUIT faculty are revising curricula to include learning outcomes and new teaching and assessment methods for implementation in the 2021-2022 academic year.

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Advancing Research in Plant Biotechnology in Kyrgyzstan

With a soil and climate that provides a favorable environment for horticulture, Kyrgyzstan has strong potential to become a leader in the production of high-quality fruit and vegetables. Through the Central Asia University Partnership Program (UniCEN) funded by the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent and administered by the American Councils for International Education, University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) and Kyrgyz National University (KNU) worked to provide tools for better plant disease management and regeneration techniques to improve crop production in Kyrgyzstan.

The partners began their collaboration on advancing research and teaching in plant biotechnology by exchanging teaching methods and materials used at both universities. Faculty set out to develop modules on plant biotechnology. They reviewed teaching strategies, available resources, and specific areas of cooperation in the field of plant and soil studies, which led to the creation of a joint online biotechnology course offered to students at both universities. To support KNU’s efforts to establish a modern biotechnology laboratory, UMES organized the delivery of supplies to aid in research and experiments

In November 2021, Dr. Sadanand Dhekney of the UMES travelled to Bishkek to work collaboratively with Dr. Baktyrbek Asanakunov at Kyrgyz National University and his students. Over the course of two days, they conducted a biotechnology workshop for KNU students and faculty. Participants learned about techniques and methods used in plant biology for crop improvement and preserving pathogen-free plant material for propagation and breeding. Following presentations and demonstrations, Dr. Dhekney traveled to eastern Kyrgyzstan to survey vineyards and orchards, and to meet local fruit growers. During that trip, Dr. Dhekney gained first-hand information about the challenges farmers in Kyrgyzstan face, including lack of access to efficient pest and disease management resources.

The partners intend to continue their collaboration and explore opportunities to further build capacity for training researchers and professionals in modern biology and plant breeding, which will serve to advance the agriculture sector in Kyrgyzstan.

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April 5-7, 2022
Virtual Event
The Virtual Global Summit will be held April 6-7, 2022. The Global Summit includes keynote speakers, networking opportunities, and sessions relevant to those leading internationalization.

In addition, please join us April 5, 2022 for our free Partner Day! Partner Day provides attendees with information about AIEA, mentoring opportunities, a showcase for industry leaders, and additional networking opportunities.

Schedule: (all times are in US Eastern Time)

April 5, 2022- 9:00AM -2:00PM - Partner Day
April 6, 2022- 9:00AM -2:00PM
April 7, 2022 -10:00AM -3:00PM

🌺 Navro'z Muborak! Happy Navruz! 🌺

Building the Reputation of Agricultural Research in Uzbekistan
In a modern competitive world, the role of research in academic institutions is critical for sustainability and development. The quality of research work directly translates to the quality of teaching and learning in the classroom. 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, Iowa State University and the Bukhara Branch of Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers (TIIAME) developed and implement a professional development program for Uzbekistan faculty with an emphasis on academic writing and publishing.
In October-December 2020, Iowa State University and TIIAME Bukhara organized three professional training webinars for faculty members of four Uzbek universities: TIIAME Bukhara, Tashkent State Technical University, Tashkent State Agrarian University, and Karshi Engineering and Economics Institute. A total of 60 Uzbekistan faculty and students participated in webinars that addressed publishing in peer-reviewed international journals, as well as introduced programs at Iowa State University in machinery systems and agricultural and biosystems engineering graduate programs.
In spring 2021, Iowa State faculty delivered an additional program of virtual seminars for TIIAME Bukhara faculty. Participants self-enrolled to the course via Canvas Teacher and watched videos corresponding to the course content at their own pace. The modules comprised of video recordings, supplementary materials, and assignments aimed to improve participants’ practical skills in designing research projects, writing and publishing in academic journals, and applying for research grants. Each module also included an assignment designed to assess the application of concepts and ability to develop and implement a research project. Participants selected one of four projects to work on during the program: a journal submission, a grant proposal, a conference submission, or a research proposal. Most assignments involved writing a section of their project after watching related videos.
Iowa State University professors continue to engage with Uzbekistan faculty members to discuss their research projects. These networks could produce joint research publications, support visiting fellowships, and provide access to library resources.
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Supporting Food Safety Education for Local Growers

Regional and international markets demand that food manufacturers produce final products that meet international quality and safety standards. 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 is collaborating with Tajik Agrarian University (TAU) and Tajikistan Technical University to introduce food safety and agriculture curriculum for faculty.
Two professors from Purdue University’s College of Agriculture, Dr. Amanda Deering and Dr. Kevin McNamara, prepared 10 pre-recorded sessions, totaling 190 minutes, on the topics of food safety, worker’s health, post-harvest sanitation, public-private partnerships, and more. Each video module was translated into Russian and published on YouTube for participants to review.
In December 2021, the partners organized a 3-hour virtual-live hybrid event in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. 30 faculty from Tajik Agrarian University and Tajik Technological University discussed the role of food safety to make Tajikistani agricultural education more relevant for the economy. The workshop provided the opportunity for networking among researchers and professors in chemistry, food enterprises, food production technology, food quality and safety, and other disciplines. Each participant wrote an overview of lessons learned, and those who completed modules earned a certificate.
Based on this workshop, Purdue University agricultural experts introduced faculty in Tajikistan with best practices to support local growers with food production capacity and marketability of food products grown and processed in Tajikistan.

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Modeling Seismic Hazards for Students and Educators

The mountainous country of Kyrgyzstan is located in an active seismic zone, underscoring the need for techniques to assess risk. 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, University of Oregon and American University of Central Asia (AUCA) are collaboratively working on modeling seismic hazards for students and educators
In February 2021, University of Oregon and American University of Central Asia researchers presented a seminar on how geology can an improve seismic hazard estimates in Kyrgyzstan. Through these engagements, University of Oregon and AUCA researchers expanded the number of international collaborators in seismic studies, including the Kyrgyzstan Institute of Seismology.
In November-December, 2021 partners delivered an intensive 6-week course which introduced participants to seismic hazard analysis. Through online collaboration, experts constructed a new seismic hazard evaluation built from the best elements of existing data. The course also incorporated opportunities for 27 participants from the American University, Kyrgyz National University, Osh State University, and the Kyrgyz Institute of Seismology to collaborate weekly with graduate students from the University of Oregon, seismologists from the U.S. Geological Survey, and faculty from U.S., UK, and Italian universities.
Having established a solid framework for partnership, researchers at the University of Oregon and AUCA continue to evaluate seismic hazards in Kyrgyzstan and are preparing several papers for publication.

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On December 15, 2021 American Councils announced a Call for Applications for a four-week, online training program Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) Training Program. Offered between January 10- February 4, 2022 for a selected cohort of U.S. and Central Asian teaching faculty to learn how to design and implement virtual exchange courses using the COIL model.

Dr. Andrea Thomas, a leading expert in virtual exchange delivered online training program. Teaching faculty from Central Asia were matched with their U.S. partners to develop multi-disciplinary courses across subject areas that jointly address UN SDGs (United Nations Sustainable Development Goals): clean water and sanitation; affordable and clean energy; decent work and economic growth; responsible consumption and production; and climate action.

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Bringing the Classrooms Together

Within the framework of the Central Asia University Partnerships (UniCEN), funded by the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent and administered by American Councils for International Education, Muborak Kattaboyeva’s EDUC 301: Intercultural Competence students from Termez State University (Uzbekistan) and Gerald Maki’s English 111: English Composition class students from Ivy Tech College, Indianapolis, Indiana (US) engaged in Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) program in Spring 2022.

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