AUCA Magazine Fall 2011

AUCA Magazine October 2011

Bishkek, I Love You The New Generation Academy

Central Asian Studies Institute

Gulnasa Asakeeva and Uluk Kydyrbaev

AUCA Magazine*October 2011

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American University of Central Asia

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AUCA'S DISTINCTIVENESS

• World-class liberal arts curriculum • US accredited degrees • Innovative, student-centered teaching and research • Exciting multicultural, international student body

• Worldwide alumni network • Small and friendly atmosphere • Strategic location in Central Asia • Beautiful campus among city parks

“Welcome to AUCA, an exceptionally dynamic liberal arts university in the heart of Central Asia’s most livable city. With over 1,500 graduates around the world embodying the transformative power of the liberal arts approach to learning, we look confidently to a future of further innovation, collaboration, and outreach.”

Dr. Andrew B. Wachtel President of AUCA OPEN DOORS: Located on the Silk Road, the American University of Central Asia (AUCA) opens world-class education to everyone that seeks it. Study with students and faculty from all over the world, and open doors for yourself that you never knew existed.

OPEN MINDS: Learn new perspectives, challenge what you think you know, and get the tools you need to succeed in and outside of Central Asia.

OPEN FOR ALL: AUCA accepts students who want to lead. Once you are accepted, we do everything we can help you complete your education. 65% of all students receive financial aid.

20% of incoming students complete a preparatory year.

FOR MORE INFORMATION call +996 312 663309 or visit www.auca.kg

BEYOND CONFLICT MICRO-ENTREPRENEURS LEAD THE WAY IN KYRGYZSTAN Micro-Enterprises play a vital role in the economy of Kyrgyzstan, not only providing many families with their livelihoods, but also providing essential products and services to communities. We believe that in an emergency like the June 2010 conflict, restoring markets and livelihoods should take immediate precedence after emergency medical, food and shelter relief.

Our early recovery programs have assisted over 80,000 directly impacted people and our micro-entrepreneur equity grant program has helped restore over 1,150 micro-enterprises supporting more than 2,100 jobs.

About Mercy Corps Mercy Corps works worldwide amid disasters, conflicts, chronic poverty and instability to unleash the potential of people who can win against nearly impossible odds. In 1994 Mercy Corps became one of the first international non-governmental organizations to work in the new independent Kyrgyz Republic. Today, our programs reach over 520,000 people in all major urban and rural communities of the country’s seven oblasts.

About Kompanion In 2004 Mercy Corps formed Kompanion Financial Group through the consolidation of five Mercy Corps-affiliated microcredit organizations. Kompanion now employs over 1,000 staff in 96 offices throughout Kyrgyzstan. We provide financial products and services to over 130,000 clients involved primarily in small-holder farms and animal husbandry. Kompanion’s dual approach of providing micro-loans along with the science-based support for agriculture and natural resource management helps to build healthy, financially stable communities in Kyrgyzstan.

Photo credits: Malik Alymkuloff and Patrick Eckford

CONTENTS

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Editor's Note

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Welcome From the President UNIVERSITY UPDATE

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Kesilish Club: Is Education 'High' Enough?

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The New Generation Academy

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Life in the Kyrgyz Republic: A Survey

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Family Day in AUCA

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Faculty Excellence

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AUCA Open Door Grants

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Archaeological Fieldwork STUDENTS IN ACTION

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Reaching for New Heights ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Featured Profile:

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Valery Hardin

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Zarina Chekirbaeva

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Mamatkhalil Razaev

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Gulnasa Asakeeva and Uluk Kydyrbaev

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Alumni Reunion 2011

The Truth About

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INTERNATIONAL ACCENT

"Bishkek, I love you" 39

Central Asian Studies Institute: Promoting the study of Central Asia in Central Asia MY CAREER

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Place Under the Sun CLASS NOTES

30 Maksat Korooluev and Asel Akmatova

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Class Notes

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Build the AUCA Campus Brick by Brick

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Commencement

AUCA

EDITOR'S NOTE

Magazine

Publication team Editor-in-Chief: Stepan Golovash Copy Editors: Sven Stafford Madina Sarkulova Editorial Board: Kemel Toktomushev Contributors: Aliona Kim Svetlana Verchenko Shairbek Juraev Alina Linnik Kemel Toktomushev Pictures: AUCA Archives Aaron Choi Emil Akhmatbekov Design and Layout: Emil Akhmatbekov AUCA Magazine is published by the American University of Central Asia You may send your correspondence and subscription inquiries to: AUCA Magazine American University of Central Asia 205 Abdymomunov St., Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic 720040 Tel./Fax: (996 312) 66-45-64 E-mail: magazine@mail.auca.kg www.auca.kg On the cover: Official Poster for "Bishkek, I love you"

Dear friends,

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oday we live in the age when technology allows us to be in the middle of massive information flows that sometimes seem impossible to follow.

Here, at AUCA Magazine, we try to keep you updated in a way that will allow you to feel connected to the university, find out about the most important events taking place at AUCA, and follow the stories of various people all of whom are related to the best higher education institution in Central Asia.

In this issue of AUCA Magazine you will find compelling interviews with our alumni and faculty, learn about the project “Place Under the Sun,” learn about AUCA’s new Central Asian Studies Institute, and peek behind the scenes of the movie “Bishkek, I love you.”

However, before you turn the page and dive into the exciting world of AUCA, I’d like to share a few thoughts with you.

The next three months are promising to be very busy for AUCA. Awaiting us is the groundbreaking ceremony for the new campus, the launch of a completely new recruitment campaign, the traditional student initiation, and, of course, the end-of-year review of past challenges and planning of a whole new year.

Regardless of how busy we are, our doors are always open to you, whether you are an alumnus, a student, a good friend, or just someone interested in learning more about AUCA. Come and see the many interesting projects going on at the university, hang out with our students in the cafeterias, or schedule a meeting with one of the AUCA offices to find particular information that interests you. Make sure to check out our new website at www.auca.kg to make the picture of our university even more vivid before your visit. You can also connect with us via Facebook (www.facebook.com/myauca) or follow us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/myauca).

We sincerely love telling people everything they want to know about us, and sincerely hope that AUCA magazine contributes to this process. Enjoy your exciting trip through its pages, and let us know if you have any ideas that may contribute to making it even better by sending your e-mails to magazine@mail.auca.kg.

Sincerely, Stepan Golovash Editor-in-chief

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American University of Central Asia, founded in 1993, is dedicated to educating leaders for the democratic transformation of the region. It is the most dynamic and student-empowering education available, and is the only university in Central Asia with the authority to grant degrees accredited in the United States. AUCA equips its graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to solve problems and open doors in this rapidly changing and developing region and the world beyond.

PRESIDENT'S COLUMN

Welcome From the President When I look at this issue of the AUCA Magazine, what strikes me most forcefully is the drive and ambition of our alums and our current students. I spend a lot of time talking to all sorts of people in the Kyrgyz Republic, and one thing almost all of them have in common is a tendency to complain, and to explain the inability of the country to progress on past and existing systems. Of course, citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic are not unique in this tendency (even though they often think they are). That is why it is all the more remarkable to read story after story in this magazine about AUCA students, alums, and faculty who simply refuse to blame the past and others, but rather just get down to the business of doing something positive - building a career, making a movie, teaching a class, growing a research institute. Naturally, we in the AUCA administration would like to take all the credit for this: “obviously it must be the education and atmosphere of AUCA that have given them the tools to think and act in this way,” we are tempted to say, even if those of us who work in the humanistic and social sciences know all about the fallacy of assuming that correlations are always the result of causes and effects. Still, regardless of whether the ambition, positive attitude and drive of our students and alums is a direct result of what we teach them or simply an accidental byproduct (we don’t really believe that, by the way), what you see in this issue is really just the tip of the iceberg under which there is an enormous and growing AUCA community working every day to make their country and the world a better place. We could not be more proud of them!

Andrew B. Wachtel President

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UNIVERSITY UPDATE

Kesilish Club: Is Education "High" Enough?

The club of reform-minded youth and policymakers, Kesilish Club, held its second session at AUCA, where they discussed how to reform the higher education system in the Kyrgyz Republic.

The discussion featured some of the best-known names in the sphere of education. Among the attendees were Minister of Education Kanat Sadykov, members of the Advisory Board Keneshbek Sainazarov and Abubakir Juraev, as well as Members of Parliament Marat Sultanov, Nariman Tuleev, Ravshan Jeenbekov

and Omurbek Abdrakhmanov.

In a dynamic dialogue, the young reformers raised issues of university licensing, budget transparency and increasing competitiveness through privatization.

Students were not afraid to ask the most provocative and urgent questions, such as: “Where does the tuition go?,” “Why do universities need to be licensed, if licensing does not guarantee a quality education?,” “Why are our universities engaged

in the mass production of diplomas, while the graduates remain jobless?,” “What does the government do to improve the curriculum?”

Seyitbek Usmanov, Director of the Central Asian Free Market Institute, commented that, “the Kyrgyz Republic’s education system has been on a steep decline for the past 20 years. Any attempts to institute reforms will be met with organized protests. Effective reform of the educational system will demand painful and unpopular measures, which will agitate the majority of students, their parents and the universities themselves. Brave reforms are needed!”

Stay connected to learn more about the new sessions of the Kesilish Club.

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Effective reform of the educational system will demand painful and unpopular measures, which will agitate the majority of students, their parents and the universities themselves.

Brave reforms are needed!

UNIVERSITY UPDATE

Republic. It will also contribute to the integration in the country by bringing together students of a formative age from all its regions.

We see the need to develop in the Kyrgyz Republic a new generation of leaders who have benefited from the life-transforming experience of quality teaching at university.

The American University of Central Asia (AUCA) signed an agreement with Mina Corp to create “The New Generation Academy” at AUCA. The Academy will offer an innovative one-year “bridging” program to talented high school graduates from across the Kyrgyz Republic who do not have the means to afford high quality private education. The Academy will begin teaching in September 2012.

Mina Corp’s initial funding of $2.5m will cover tuition and accommodation expenses for 70 students per year over a four-year period. It will also pay for 15 full scholarships, including room and board, for the Academy’s most able graduates in both 2013 and 2014 to study for a four-year degree at AUCA. The Academy is expected

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to admit seven to eight students from each region of the country and a similar number from Osh and Bishkek.

Students will be selected by an independent committee on the basis of merit and financial need.

They will complete a one-year rigorous course of study in English, Kyrgyz, Russian, math, history, and science, oriented toward developing critical thinking skills. Building on AUCA’s experience of running its existing Preparatory Program, the Academy will provide students with a foundation to access high quality university education.

The establishment of the Academy marks an important step forward in developing the capabilities of a new generation of gifted and deserving high school students throughout the Kyrgyz

Commenting on the signing of the agreement with Mina Corp, the President of AUCA, Andrew Wachtel said: “The high-school system in the Kyrgyz Republic, especially outside of Bishkek, suffers from serious resource challenges and has a hard time producing students with the level of preparation needed to enter a top university like AUCA. We are extremely happy that Mina Corp has chosen to focus on this area and has agreed to provide the funding to allow any talented child in the Kyrgyz Republic to have the possibility of receiving the best university education available.

AUCA’s fair and transparent selection system will ensure that talented and deserving students enter the Academy.”

Mina Corp’s CEO, Denis Grigoriev said: “We are delighted to be starting this partnership with AUCA. We see the need to develop in the Kyrgyz Republic a new generation of leaders who have benefited from the life-transforming experience of quality teaching at university. We are sure that this project can make a real and lasting contribution to the Kyrgyz Republic’s development. AUCA is one of the country’s top universities with a well established track record of delivering world-class education.”

UNIVERSITY UPDATE

Life in the Kyrgyz Republic: A Survey AUCA and CASE Kyrgyz Republic, in partnership with Humboldt University and DIW Berlin, released the first results of their three-year project "Economic Transformation, Household Behavior and Well-Being in Central Asia: the Case of the Kyrgyz Republic."

The international research project, funded by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and the Volkswagen Stiftung, is meant to significantly enrich the household data already collected by the National Statistics Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Researchers from the Kyrgyz Republic, Uzbekistan and Germany completed the first part of research in 2010, surveying over 3,000 households throughout the Kyrgyz Republic. Two more sets of surveys will be conducted, which will create the most comprehensive data set on changes in household living, and hopefully, will provide insights to Kyrgyz policy makers.

The chair of AUCA's Economics department, Zarylbek Kudabaev, said that the purpose of the survey was not to displace or cast doubt on statistics collected

by the national government, but to complement them with a more comprehensive look at households, and specifically how they change over time.

research project on the Kyrgyz social safety net and its ability to protect the poor.

DIW doctoral candidate Damir Esenaliev presented his working paper on intergenerational migration in the Kyrgyz Republic, and Aibek Baibagyshuulu, a World Bank poverty economist, showed his initial results from his current

The daylong conference attracted over 40 participants from Bishkek and abroad. The survey questionnaires can be found at the DIW website, and more information can be requested by contacting AUCA’s Economics department at econ@mail.auca.kg.

Family Day at AUCA

The CEC created the idea

for Family Day as a way to invite people to the university who would not ordinarily have a reason to come. "We were told that although Bishkek is a city with a lot of families, there are not enough family events where parents and their children can participate together and have a great time," said Natalia Slastnikova, director of the CEC. Family Day was the first of many events that the CEC will now run to try and attract different

groups of people to AUCA. There were many fine works of art displayed at the end of the day, and many satisfied and worn out children. Renata and Anastasia, AUCA alumni and founders of Studio AKME, and their team of volunteers kept the children moving between different activities, which allowed the parents to catch their breath and relax.

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On June 18th, AUCA’s Continuing Education Center (CEC) and Studio AKME organized Family Day at the AUCA campus. Over 100 children from all over Bishkek came to participate in the arts and crafts extravaganza. There were 5 different activities for children to choose from, including origami and hula-hooping. Each child was also able to design their own T-shirt to take home.

UNIVERSITY UPDATE

AUCA Open Doors Grants During Knowledge Day 2011, AUCA was happy to announce a gift of $30,000 for student-initiated projects. The new AUCA Open Doors Grants will allow AUCA to expand its program of enabling students to realize their educational aspirations both here in the Kyrgyz Republic and abroad.

All AUCA students are encouraged to apply for Open Doors Grants, which will provide

funding of up to $1,000 (more in exceptional cases). The grants will be used to study abroad, participate in international conferences and competitions, support regional research, and fund creative media projects.

Students interested in receiving an AUCA Open Doors Grant should contact the Student Intellectual Life Committee for further information on how to apply.

The $30,000 gift was donated anonymously from a friend of the university in the United States.

AUCA sincerely thanks the donor for supporting AUCA students, helping them achieve their goals, and assisting AUCA in keeping its promise to deliver real opportunities for its students to have a complete education.

Faculty Excellence Elena Molchanova, Associate Professor of the Psychology department, was acknowledged by the UNDSS Critical Incident Stress Management Unit for excellent facilitation of the UN Certification Training on Crisis and Stress Management for mental health providers from Asia Pacific.

In an effort to provide efficient support services to UN staff worldwide and in order to build the capacity of UN Country Offices on stress management, CISMU has established the Global Network of mental health experts by training local counselors in each country of the region and involving them in activities coordinated and facilitated

by CISMU. Dr. Molchanova's research field is multicultural psychiatry and psychology. She has been working as a mental health first responder in Jalalabad and Osh, two regions that have experienced the most civil unrest as a result of the 2010 armed conflict. As part of this work she has been responsible for the training of local laypeople on psychological first aid and prevention of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

In addition she has assisted with

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the establishment of community psychological services for affected families and conducted group interventions on resilience and reconciliation in these areas.

Ms. Molchanova’s “academic experience, expertise in mental health, and full dedication to the training process have considerably contributed to conducting the workshop at the highest technical level with active involvement of all participants,” emphasized Magalie Hurez of UNDSS CISMU. Dr. Molchanova has been exploring cognitive models of

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normative and disordered behavior and the role of culture in the treatment and diagnosis of mental disorders in KG; adaptive cognitive factors in mental health; alexithymia and somatoform disorders; the development of fractal and dynamic chaos theory in psychiatry. She conducted a large-scale study on social dominance, attitudes towards violence, and physical violence in three different regions of KG. In addition, she has consulted for organizations such as USAID, Red Cross, WHO, WPA and City Hope International.

UNIVERSITY UPDATE

Drinking in the Arpa Valley The goal of the trip was to search for archaeological artifacts that could illuminate the history of ancient cultures.

We led the life of a shepherd, living in the wideopen space between the mountain ranges. For fourteen days we shared tents, meals, experiences, and pretty much everything else. The nights were warmed with the sparkling of beautiful stars and the sounds of our singing, the melodies of our guitar stretching far across the sky.

Despite the capricious weather and the isolated living conditions, our days were filled with much laughter and joy.

The goal of the trip was to search for archaeological artifacts that could illuminate the history of ancient cultures. Through the study of culture we are able to reconstruct the past and to see the evolution of culture in time. Moreover, knowledge of the past leads to a better understanding of the modern society.

Our excavation site, the “Semetei grotto,� contained numerous stone artifacts, scattered bones and coals.

The stone artifacts were comparatively small and sharp, suggesting that people were making tools for hunting and other household activities. The site can be dated to the Stone Age, as far back as 15,000 years ago.

The Arpa jailoo can contain all four seasons of the year in the course of a single day. Spring freshness greets you in the morning, gradually turning into summer heat towards midday. The evenings are reminiscent of a cool autumn that deepens to a crisp winter night. In addition, the beauty of the place, with its incredible wild life, dazzles everyone who visits.

As a group of talented and spirited students with different backgrounds, nationalities, and academic interests, we felt very fortunate to have the chance to explore this beautiful place. We were able to do so thanks to a travel grant from AUCA.

To conclude, we would like to express our gratitude to our professors and the whole Anthropology department.

We are thankful for the opportunity, and we definitely enjoyed the fieldwork. We will return to Arpa as soon as possible, without the slightest hesitation. An unforgettable experience, this trip will stay with us through our lives.

Atamyrat Gurbangeldiev ANTH 109 Kanymzhan Bektasheva, ANTH 107

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Every time I see mountains warm memories rush to my mind. The cause of this is an archaeological dig that took place in the Arpa valley of Naryn, approximately 3500 feet above sea level.

The significance and value of the grotto is recognized not only in the Kyrgyz Republic, but also throughout the world. As archaeologists, we found that the ultimate purpose of fieldwork is to use the objects left by our ancestors to deepen our understanding of human society and to reconstruct cultures that no longer exist.

UNIVERSITY UPDATE

Commencement 2011 On June 11, 2011, AUCA hosted nearly 1000 students, faculty, parents, guests and well-wishers at its Fifteenth Annual Commencement Ceremony. AUCA officially became the first and only university in Central Asia with the authority to award degrees that are accredited in the United States through Bard College. Proud families and guests came to the Kyrgyz National Philharmonic to celebrate the long-awaited moment.

Following university tradition, it started with the parade of flags of the countries represented by AUCA’s diverse student body, followed by the procession of faculty and graduates, and the performance of the national anthems of the Kyrgyz Republic and the United States of America.

AUCA conferred degrees on more than 220 students.

Special greetings were offered by the Minister of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic Kanat Sadykov, US Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic Pamela Spratlen and President of Bard College Leon Botstein, who congratulated the graduates with the first major accomplishment of their lives – completing an excellent education at one of the region’s most rigorous and prestigious universities.

When all the speeches and presentations were over, AUCA students conducted a special ritual, which symbolizes the end of their university studies. By turning the tassels from left to right, fresh AUCA graduates officially ended their time as students, and began their next adventure.

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STUDENTS IN ACTION

Reaching for New Heights Photography has been a part of my life from the earliest age. With my first amateur camera I saw the world through pictures. Back then, it was only a distant dream of mine to work with photography gurus of the fashion industry. However, I knew I had to be confident to achieve my goal one day.

This spring, a famous Dubai photographer, Hersh Chadha, visited AUCA and conducted a series of photography workshops. That’s when it all began.

Along with two other students, I spent an unforgettable week working with Professor Chadha and enriching my

I have always believed that dreaming is the driving force of life.

My summer experience in Dubai has further reinforced my belief in dreams. photography skills. At the end of the workshops, I was invited for a summer internship in Dubai.

Time flies, and before I knew it, I was breathing in the sauna air of the Emirates. The next three weeks were the most exciting and productive in my life. Two photosets per day, coupled with theoretical materials and absolute removal from everyday Bishkek concerns, plunged me into the world of photography, a feeling I never wish to forget.

Our mornings were spent photographing the most beautiful places of Dubai, and in the afternoons we would hold photo sessions with professional models. What was wonderful is that we had an opportunity to try different types of photography, not only fashion. As a result, I was able to choose the branches of photography most interesting to me.

As Professor Chadha says, “the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”Dream, try, and make everyday count! With each step you are approaching your dream. Believe, and you will determine your own fate.

I have always believed that dreaming is the driving force of life. My summer experience in Dubai has further reinforced my belief in dreams.

By Svetlana Verchenko

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I am grateful to the person who saw potential in me last spring and offered me this unique internship. It was equivalent to months of practice and years of theoretical learning. Professor Chadha’s belief in my capabilities as a photographer bolstered my self-confidence and showed me where to go. Now I know my abilities have no limits, and understand what it is that I am looking for in both photography and life. This internship pushed me forward and helped determine my future.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

I feel comfortable in many places, but the Kyrgyz Republic is my home.

Zarina Chekirbaeva '02 She finds motivation in everything, regrets nothing, sets ambitious goals, and feels accomplished when she can encourage other people. Please meet Zarina Chekirbaeva, an active traveler, who lives by the motto of “yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present.”

Why did you choose to attend AUCA? My answer will probably be pretty similar to what you hear from most other AUCA graduates. AUCA offers the best education, is free of bribery and corruption, has professional faculty members and offers a unique opportunity to shape your own future. Having just returned from a high school exchange program in the US, I saw AUCA as the perfect environment to continue my education, because it was close to what I had been exposed to in the US. Who were your favorite professors and why?

AUCA attracted the best professionals and professors to teach us, and I can say with certainty that each of them was

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special in their own way. All of them truly dedicated their time and energy to pass the expertise, knowledge and skills onto us, and I was fortunate enough to go through schooling with Tremasova, Parfyonova, Myrzabaeva, Ershova, Kashitsina, Nishanov, Aitbaeva, Brudnyi, and many other professors. All of them, in one way or another, helped me grow professionally and personally.

How has your education prepared you for your career?

My education and experience at AUCA not only prepared me for my career, but also for my life outside of my career. I gained skills that cannot be taught. I had flexibility in shaping my area of specialization, and I met people whose energy and determination drove me to achieve success. Through interaction with my peers, professors, internship supervisors, and coworkers, as well as other university faculty members, I earned a "degree" in people and social skills. I learned a lot about myself, my passion, and my life goals. Studying and graduating from one the most prestigious universities in the region by default instills confidence in being destined for success. This is precisely how AUCA impacted my personality—it made me a more confident, well-rounded, and responsible citizen of the world.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

What motivates you in life?

Everything and everybody! I guess it comes from within and from what you value in life. It could range from something as simple as first sun rays or dew on the grass in the morning, a rainbow after the rain, or watching the sunset from atop the mountains, to people like my parents, my friends, siblings, and random people in the street. To be more precise, it is anything and anybody that lights a fire within and empowers me to be a better person and do more for myself,

for those close to me, and for my community. It might sound strange but I get motivated merely by the ability to see, feel, hear, walk and talk! I get motivated by children with disabilities, whenever I get to interact with them, by their ability to love life and to believe in a happy future. Generally, it all depends on my goals, experience, and what I am willing to do.

What accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction in your life?

I am satisfied the most when I achieve the goals that I have set for myself, and by setting new goals to accomplish. I am satisfied when my actions or words inspire someone or had some positive impact on what they want to achieve in their lives.

If you had to live your life over again, what would you change?

I do not regret much in life or think too much about how I would have changed things, because even the “bad” things are things to learn from and help me change for the better. I believe that everything happens for a reason. I do not know who is the author of the quote, but I use it as the motto of my life, “yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present.”I enjoy what I have in my present. However, there is only one thing I would change if I lived my life all over again—I would spend more time with my loved ones who have passed away, tell them how much I loved them and would cherish every single day with them. Often we get preoccupied with the routine and overwhelmed with our ambitions, so

that we forget to take a moment to appreciate what and whom we have.

I have learned not to postpone plans with my special ones for tomorrow but to enjoy the people and things while I have them around me.

East and West – home is best. What is home for you? Where do you feel home? Do you enjoy travelling?

Travelling is one of my biggest hobbies, as I love exploring new countries, cultures and places. I think once you are exposed to the world outside of your country, you cannot get enough of what is out there, and this curiosity to see even more drives you to travel and explore the world.

Despite extensive travels and living in different parts of the world, the Kyrgyz Republic is still my home as I have my family, friends, culture and everything here that has shaped me to be who I am today. There are so many places in the world where I feel comfortable, where I could live and make my home, but my heart will always belong to my Kyrgyz Republic.

We do not know where life will take us in the future, but I know for certain that I have my own home, named the “Kyrgyz Republic,” that has the most incredible and multifarious landscape, scenery and nature, amazing culture and traditions, and the people’s contagious love for life and kind spirit.

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Could you briefly describe your career path?

Similarly to many AUCA students, throughout my four years of school I had part-time jobs ranging from tourist agent, to translator, to international development project assistant. Upon graduation from AUCA, I continued working full-time for a USAID development project, first at a national level and then at a regional level.

Later I earned my Master’s Degree in Public Administration in the US and went back to work in development.

However, a year later I realized that it was not what I wanted to do in life and went back to the private sector, specifically to the gold mining industry. I think this was one of the best decisions I have made as I enjoy what I do tremendously. I guess there are different things we are inspired to do at different stages of our life—as time goes by we outgrow some of them and continue onto next stages.

The best decision one can make is not to steer off the right track due to temporary impulses.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Mamatkhalil Razaev '02 This alumnus thinks that it was enough for our grandparents to be literate in order to find a job. It was enough for our parents to have a university degree to secure their well-being. Our older brothers and sisters had to know English to succeed in life. And today, in the age of developing technology and globalization, one has to surpass the previous generations in order to thrive in this competitive environment. Introducing to you Mamatkhalil Rzaev, the man for whom words like "optimal system of governance" and "process for reforming administrative systems" mean a lot more than they do to the average citizen.

Please tell us about yourself I am a graduate of the International and Comparative Politics class of 2002. My academic path was the mirror-image of the geopolitics of

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that time: Russian primary school, Kyrgyz secondary school, Turkish Lyceum, American University in the Kyrgyz Republic, and Central European University. Each of those

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schools left a remarkable footprint on me.

What are you doing now and why have you chosen this professional field?

Currently I work at the Asian Development Bank. I have experience working in the government, the NGO sector, and other international development agencies. Regardless of the sector, I deal with program management in the field of governance, institutional development, and public sector reform.

I did not choose this exact career path the day after graduation from AUCA. There are many factors that shape our lives, which we cannot control. The only thing I knew for certain in 2002 was that I had to go to graduate school and that I needed 1-3 years of solid professional

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

What are your main research interests?

I am mostly interested in the local governance reform, i.e. decentralization. Throughout history, all nation-states, be it Germany or Russia, always looked for a more optimal system of governance, and were constantly in the process of reforming their administrative systems. There are no rules on the size of local administrative units or the number of tiers; no universal formulas on what kind of functions each tier should perform. Every country just sets up a certain system that suits that specific economic and political environment. However, the environment changes and governments start to look for other combinations. Perhaps this is the reason why it is always on top of the agenda, especially in our part of the world. This ‘mess’ is my topic. I have a number of publications, and took part in the development of several laws, regulations and concept notes concerning local governance reform in the Kyrgyz Republic.

What role did AUCA play in your life?

AUCA is a place where you go every morning, regardless of whether you have classes or not, because it is more than a just a place where you take courses. It shaped our perception of things, of the world and how we fit in it. In 1998, we were reading articles about Osama Bin Laden from The Economist, when very few people here have heard about either The Economist or Bin Laden. We were the first to understand the term “academic honesty,” and today it enables me to effectively pursue integrity standards in development projects.

This list can be endless. Definitely, I would be a different person with a

different career without AUK in my life.

you are not sure whether it is worth it.

Do you miss the “good old times” at AUCA? Of course! Today’s AUCA is not the AUK it used to be, where we were the center of the university. Now it belongs to the current students. We are no longer those young careless freshmen, and naturally we miss those times! All we can do is to assist the university in preserving the best of the ‘old school’ and keep the rest alive in our bright memories. Surely the KVN-movement, which we initiated, was the best part of “my AUK.” The whole university would go to support us at each performance and we had to win each time. These small and big victories in KVN, SIFE, and many other initiatives gave us a winners mentality, which helped us a lot later in life.

In your opinion, what is a movie that everyone should watch?

I do not have a specific one in mind, but I can suggest the book Little Prince. We all read it in childhood, but it is for adults! Read it once more. My personal favorite is Cruel Times by Kalashnikov, which describes the life of Genghis Khan.

Although it is 700 pages, I know it almost by heart, and I keep rereading it time and again.

What do you do in your free time?

What are your interests?

What free time? I try to use every opportunity to get out of town, even for a small picnic, mushroom picking, or fishing. Two years ago I started skiing. I play tennis and billiards, but only occasionally.

I also cherish books. Reading a masterpiece is one of the best ways to meditate. Free time for a father of two small kids is a complicated subject.

We know you have a beautiful family - what priority do you assign to family and parenting?

Thanks! When my first child arrived I suddenly realized that the whole world changed. I no longer had the freedom to risk my life, job, etc., and I no longer belonged only to myself.

I have a daughter and a son, and their well-beings are the number one priority for my wife and me.

Parenting is not an easy task, folks.

You can forget about going out in the evenings, sleeping as long as you want, and resting on the weekends.

Yet, that toothless smile and happy laughter when you arrive home in the evening is, indeed, the best thing in the world, and worth giving up everything else.

If you were to address the current AUCA students, what would your message be?

For our grandparents it was enough to be literate to find a job. For our parents it was enough to have a university degree to secure their well-being. For our older brothers and sisters knowledge of English was the ticket to a good job. We, in the early 2000s, had to know English, computers, and master some specific profession just to be competitive on the job market.

Since then the number of people in the world has increased from 5 to 7 billion, meaning that you guys should be better than us and better than your contemporaries from other universities. I hope you are. Good luck!

As a member of the AUCA Alumni Council, what would you say to our alumni readers?

It is a mistake of many schools to turn Alumni Relations into just a fundraising tool or series of useless parties. I know many of you who would like to participate in AUCA’s life and development by different means – research, networking, public lectures etc. Let’s do that. In Alumni Council we are exploring initiatives that will allow us to make better use of being KAF-AUK-AUCA alumni for ourselves, for our alma mater, and for the current students.

Please join us in our efforts! All suggestions are welcome. And keep an eye out for alumni updates, a series of very interesting initiatives are coming soon!

What is the best advice you have ever received?

You should not sacrifice yourself if

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experience before applying. I was one of the very few AUCA graduates to go into public service right after graduation. After two years I was accepted to graduate school for Public Policy, and only at this point, my professional path became more or less specific. Whatever I did after has been tied to policy analysis and implementation, mostly in governance-related topics.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Gulnasa Asakeeva '02 and Uluk Kydyrbaev '02 She reads “The Little Prince” by Saint-Exupéry, he reads “Super Freakonimics” by Levitt and Dubner.

When responding to a philosophical question, she gives a paragraph, he answers with two words. She still refers to AUCA as AUK, and he follows the latest stock reports first thing in the morning. Yet these opposites make for a happy family with two wonderful children.

Introducing to you Gulnasa, a full-time mom with a Master’s Degree in International Economics and Law, and Uluk, the director of the Bishkek Business Club.

Thinking back to the days when you were choosing which university to attend – why AUCA? G: I chose AUK because I felt I would find my destiny there.

U: AUK was the only choice for me at the time, because I had just returned from the FLEX Exchange program. Also, I wanted to enroll at AUK because many of friends were going there.

What are the most important skills you gained from your studies?

G and U: We learned a lot of valuable things within our majors. Our additional courses taught us how to debate, and generously awarded us with skills such as public speaking, communication, efficiency, and teamwork.

What are your best memories of AUCA? What was most challenging?

G: My best memories go back to my freshman year in 1998.

Back then, the current library building made up the entire university. Imagine the whole university sharing this two– story building! We were just in the process of obtaining the new one, but no one really cared because the small space was enough for 400 people. It felt like we were a family, since everyone knew each other. If you snuck out of class, you could confidently join any group of people for a friendly chat, because everybody was a friend! There were only two computer labs, and we had to sign up for the computers just to check our e-mail. Back then no one had cell phones, laptops,

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family.

or iPads. The coolest people had pagers! Labs had the old blue-screened computers, there was a small kitchenette, hallways with plastic tables, and the classrooms became our hang out places. The challenge was to grow up.

Another best memory was my next-door neighbor, Galina Gavrilovna Tremasova, an outstanding person and a great teacher with such a strong personality! Those who remember her will understand me.

U: What was most memorable for me was the diverse student life within the AUK walls. It was also the liberal arts education.

The university was the place where I met my beloved wife, with whom we created a

Could you briefly describe your career path? What do you consider to be your greatest achievement(s)?

G: I would say that one of my greatest achievements is my Masters Degree in International Economics and Law from the World Trade Institute in Bern, Switzerland. The price I paid for it was a yearlong separation from my Uluk, which was quite challenging.

U: Following AUK I was hired by an international construction company, which was involved in the reconstruction of the Manas International Airport. Later, I was heavily involved in the development sector. Now I manage the leading business organization in the Kyrgyz Republic.

G: The career path of my second half makes me proud of myself.

Talking about the future of the Kyrgyz Republic, what is your attitude, and perhaps advice, for those young specialists who are just starting their careers?

G: I cannot complain about my life, but then my life definitely does not reflect the quality of life of my fellow countrymen.

Unfortunately, the Kyrgyz Republic needs much more time then we think just to break through. Perhaps our country will see better times after a generation or two. The few people who have the authority to make decisions need to stop thinking about filling their pockets and start doing some good for their country. Nevertheless, we shall not lose our hope, otherwise, it will not get better. I guess Uluk is more optimistic than I.

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U: My advice would be concise to all young specialists. I suggest being open for professional opportunities and, more importantly, being flexible. There might be times when you would work for the experience rather than a high salary.

If you were to address our current students, what would your message be?

G: You are so lucky to be a part of the AUCA family. Enjoy your student life and do not miss the many opportunities provided to you. The ‘baggage’ you are picking up here might seem overweight, but it is definitely worth carrying along.

U: I would say they are living the greatest moments of their lives, so they must make the best of it and be sure to lay the foundation for their future professional careers. As I said before, be open, be flexible, be hardworking, and have fun doing it!

If you had to live your life over again, what is the one thing that you would change?

G: I wish I could go back to being 18, but retain everything I have learned and experienced so far (except for kids, of course; they would come in due time).

U: I would study harder than I did before. I have to say I was a bit lazy.

What are your plans for the next 3-5 years, if any?

G: It is hard for me to plan anything. I change everything every day.

U: All my plans surround my family. I want us to do more traveling, explore new business opportunities, and be a happy family.

Is there anyone you would like to thank for the influence they had on you?

G: Each and every member of my family, my hosts, friends, the people around us, and different circumstances that life generously presents me. And our kids of course.

U: Definitely, I have to thank my family

and friends. Since I have my own family, I want to thank them for their full support and encouragement.

Dreams come true. Can you agree with this statement?

G: Absolutely. I am a lawyer, and had nothing to do with the fine arts.

Nevertheless I have always had the so-called “dream of an idiot” to star in a movie. I kept telling this to my friends and Uluk for years until one day, to my surprise, we were given roles in “Bishkek I love you!” Dreams definitely come true.

U: I can!

Is there a book you read over and over again?

G: The Little Prince by Antoine de SaintExupéry. I have also realized that it is time to re-read all the fables of Krylov.

They are very meaningful.

U: I have to admit that I read fewer books these days because of the high volume of work materials that I have to read throughout the day. Now I am reading Super Freakonomics by Levitt and Dubner.

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There might be times you have to work for the experience rather than the salary.

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“Bishkek, I Love You” Every love story is like a short life. Mutual… Proven…

Unconditional… Real. Although every love story has a beginning, it does not always have an end. This fall, a great many of you will have a chance to start your own story of infinite love. Just three little words that make hearts beat faster, only this time, addressed to a city—“Bishkek, I love you!”

The long-awaited movie “Bishkek, I Love You” will premier in all Bishkek cinemas on October 20, 2011. Similar to other anthologies, this movie pays tribute to Bishkek, the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic, with ten love vignettes.

We are very delighted that all members of the production managed to find some time for AUCA Magazine. And we are even more delighted that half of the crew is AUCA alumni. Today in our booth: Chingiz Torobekov ‘08 (Business Administration), Stepan Golovash `07 (Software Engineering), Ruslan Akunov `09 (Journalism and Mass Communications), Eldar Supataev (enrolled as AUCA student in 2002-2004), Alexander Tsay and Saule Alymbekova. intend to provide it. We mostly watch foreign movies, especially American and Russian, but I think there is a lot in our own culture, modern life and day-to-day that is worthy of film.

KT: There were already several love story sets filmed in Paris, New York and Moscow involving some of today's most imaginative and famous filmmakers and artists.

Don’t you think “Bishkek, I love you” is too ambitious, considering that people will compare it with those movies?

Saule: Every city’s atmosphere is created by its people.

Bishkek has its own atmosphere and flavor. Therefore, comparing the films would be like comparing the cities themselves. As for the industry as a whole, the cinematography in the Kyrgyz Republic is still under developed compared to the world movie industry.

However, it is very important for us to demonstrate that we should not simply wait for the country to change, the economy to improve, and the politics to get better. Life does not wait. If you want to do something useful for society, then just do it! Create your own culture and your own way of development. The Kyrgyz Republic moves to its own rhythm, and maybe there is something here that others can learn from!

Ruslan: Bishkek is a unique city. Even though it lacks in some areas, there is no dearer place for me in the entire world, because this is my city. The same is true for the movie—it is a unique movie about our city and no one else’s.

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Kemel Toktomushev (KT): Guys, thanks for coming! So, what’s the deal with “Bishkek, I love you?"

Stepan Golovash: “Bishkek, I love you” is a project that was conceived in our minds, but ended upcoming from our hearts. Every time something like this happens, you can be certain of an interesting outcome. I like ambitious projects and when my boys said, “Let’s make a movie,” I said, “Let’s start tonight!” Before we knew it, it grew into “Bishkek, I love you, ”and it was a natural process of turning “wanting something” into “doing something.”So that’s the deal.

Ruslan Akun: When Chingiz came up to me with a small piece of paper and explained the whole movie plot, I did not take it seriously, because a script is supposed to be 6070 pages long. But when I looked through those ten lines, I instantly saw that this is going to be a positive, bright and life assuring film. So I jumped in.

Chingiz Torobekov: We were thinking about different business ideas. Shooting a movie was the first thing that interested all of us. We had already had some thoughts about the movie, but what we have now is completely different from our original intentions. The movie consists of 10 unconnected stories. It takes a lot of time to explain it, so I invite you all to the cinema to see it for yourselves.

Eldar Supataev: We felt that there was a lack of good local movies reflecting the lives of regular people, the youth of the Kyrgyz Republic, and their interactions with the world. Most of the locally produced movies are about rural life and are very traditional. I think that Kyrgyz cinematography needs an injection of freshness and we

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What I can suggest to critics is to come and watch the movie, and they can see that they are completely wrong. - Eldar Alexander Tsay: Considering the fact that this is our first project, it is ambitious. However, we would not compare it with Paris, New York or Moscow, because it is not quite the same format. You will always meet people who will compare, criticize or commend the movie. The important thing is that they do not stay indifferent.

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Eldar: We were well aware of people's perceptions concerning the similarity of the movie title. However, when we were coming up with the concept and the idea of the movie, we decided that "Bishkek, I love you" was the most suitable title for our project. We are not famous at the moment, but we are hoping to get there one day.

Stepan: People love to compare. I guess it is one of the most common human reactions.

On the one hand, it wastes your time, creates envy and sometimes gives you enemies. On the other, it can help you realize that more things are possible, that you are capable of doing something you have never dreamed of,

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

KT: Some people say your film will be a cheap copycat and it is all about the glamorous and posh youth?

Eldar: Even though there are shots of glamour and posh in the movie, most of the episodes will reveal stories about the day-to-day interactions of regular people. What I can suggest to those critics is to come and watch the movie, and they can see that they are completely wrong.

Ruslan: They are wrong!

Stepan: Show me glamorous and posh youth, and maybe I will write a script about them. The reason why people say that is because we have a story – one out of ten! – about young people that spend their time having fun. However, there is a lot more to it than just hanging out, and you will see it when you watch the movie.

Chingiz: Cheap copycat of what? We did not steal any ideas; every story was discussed by the team and written by our screenwriter, then corrected by directors during the filming process. The movie has some scenes of posh youth, but glamorous life is something I have never seen in Bishkek, so there are no glamour scenes in the movie.

We tried to cover different sides of life in our city, and

it is better if people will say those kinds of things after watching the movie and not after seeing just a couple of episodes.

KT: Interesting fact: half of your crew are AUCA graduates, half of your actors are AUCA graduates and students.

Saule: Our film is about young people. It involved more than 50 actors, and to find such a number of good actors is quite problematic. As a result, we turned to nonprofessionals, some of whom happened to be students or graduates of AUCA. Perhaps, this is because AUCA students are interesting and active people who represent a wide cross-section of Bishkek’s contemporary youth.

Alexander: I am a graduate of the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University, and the second half of our actors was educated there. Again, this was just a coincidence, and no tribalism was involved.

Eldar: I am thankful for having been a part of AUCA during my two years there and this fact once again proves how important AUCA networking is. AUCA creates great networking opportunities and since AUCA affiliated people were the most supportive, I think it is only natural that more AUCA people participated.

Ruslan: In guerilla filmmaking you have to save money on everything, so many of our friends who were ready to contribute happened to belong to the AUCA gang.

KT: Then maybe you should name the movie “AUCA, I love you!” What do you think?

Stepan: How much?

Eldar: I think it is a good idea to shoot a separate movie with such a title.

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and therefore encouraging you to get off the couch and take action.

Regardless of how people react to the movie, as long as they react in some way, I will know that our efforts were not wasted. And if at least one person says, “these guys stink, I can do better,” and goes and out does us, I will consider our project a success, because our goal was not just to create a piece of entertainment, make a big deal out of it, and get all the girls. We also wanted to show people in the Kyrgyz Republic, especially the younger generation, that ambitious projects are possible, and hopefully we will achieve our goal.

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We are energetic, bold, and fearless, though some call us stupid. - Alexander Stepan: How much?

Chingiz: I guess that it is a good idea for students of AUCA to film a movie, which will present different stories of AUCA students. I do not think that it will be commercially successful, but it will still be very nice. I would want to take part in that process.

Stepan: How much?

KT: Talking about your team, you are quite a funny filmmaking group – a software engineer, a PR specialist, a military serviceman, a rapper, a journalist and a

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model.

Eldar: Wow! You just opened my eyes!

I never looked at our team from such a perspective. Nevertheless, I think this only brings more diversity into our production process. Having people from different fields of interest only adds to the quality and success of our project.

Saule: Please revise the question, because I am not a model, and I never was one.

Alexander: We need the serviceman to get locations to shoot, the engineer works on technology and logistics, and so on. So we all fit in!

Chingiz: It gives us a broader view on the subject, so in my opinion, it is great.

Ruslan: The technology is getting cheaper and more accessible. Give it time and soon you will see elementary schoolchildren making their own films. This is just the beginning.

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KT: Tell me the truth. What is the budget of the movie?

Stepan: Only because it is you asking, Kemel, I will tell you that the budget is less than 10 million dollars!

Ruslan: It is hard to estimate, as there were a lot of in-kind contributions.

Alexander: I have no idea, ask our producers.

Eldar: I honestly do not know the exact amount. Please go ask our producer Chingiz Torobekov.

Chingiz: The budget of the movie is a couple billion dollars. We wanted to cover the foreign debt of our country, but then decided to just film a movie. Seriously, the budget is a secret. But we have two general sponsors, MCC Mol Bulak and Coca-Cola Bishkek Bottlers, who covered part of our expenses. The budget is not really large, especially comparing it to foreign releases, but we tried to do as much as we could.

KT: In one of my previous interviews, I asked an AUCA graduate and a promising independent filmmaker Elnura Osmonalieva to comment on the following. Eugene Grishkovec once said: “Young filmmakers do not shoot real films, but rather dream about money and a house in Nice.”

Stepan: He is wrong! I want gold and a villa in Monaco.

And does this mean that you have run out of questions, asking us the same one you asked Elnura?

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Stepan: You are quite a funny looking guy, Kemel, can I comment on that? Anyways, you have just named the areas of our life that we are least involved in at the moment. I would rather see my team this way: a director, an operator, a scriptwriter, a video editor and two producers. But getting back to your point, I would say that we are the team that has come together to do something with a passionate desire in our hearts. Our professions and previous experience help a lot, but it is not the cornerstone of what we are doing with “Bishkek, I love you,” our passion is!

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Eldar: Excuse me, who is Eugene Grishkovec?

Alexander: I think there’s nothing wrong in wanting a house in Nice, but if you are making a low-quality product, then you can kiss Nice goodbye. First of all, you have to concentrate on the quality of the product.

If you make a good product, then the money will come.

If filmmakers earn enough for a house in Nice, that is a good indicator of their success, it means they produced something valuable.

Saule: It is a healthy feeling to seek happiness and prosperity. And it is even more important when it is backed by actions: the right way of life, ambitious goals, patience, and diligent work.

Chingiz: Money is really important, but the product is much more important. As a businessman and as a creative person, I prefer to think of the long-term benefits. I think that at this moment I have a chance to learn a lot and make a name for myself. In the future it will pay dividends.

Ruslan: All films have a soul. There are no real and fake films. Speaking about money, believe me, there are tons of easier ways to making money, especially in the Kyrgyz Republic.

KT: Is it easy to be a young film director?

Stepan: No! But it is fun, if you like what you are doing.

Ruslan: Indeed, not easy, but fun.

Chingiz: Actually I do not know. I have been doing almost everything else for this movie except directing, so I cannot answer this question.

Alexander: It is super easy! Why should age be an issue? I think that it is even easier for young people to

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start ambitious projects than it is for the older and more experienced ones. We are energetic, bold, and fearless, though some may call it stupidity.

Saule: It is difficult enough. In society, people recognize only “adult uncles with authority." So sometimes it is difficult for young people to be perceived in accordance with their actions as opposed to their age. However, the world has changed, and the young generation plays a more important role in the world of culture, politics and business. There are a lot of progressive ideas and examples of this, take Mark Zuckerberg, for instance.

Eldar: Any endeavor that you pursue in your life will present challenges and hardships, but the most important thing is to get the most out of what you do and incorporate the lessons learned into your lifetime experience. It is also important to enjoy what you are doing. I would like to comment that shooting this movie was fun, educational and worthwhile.

KT: In three words, what does AUCA mean to each of you?

Stepan: Sex. Money. Drugs. What was the question again? Oh, I heard ‘three words’ and said whatever came to my mind first. As for AUCA – first real love, first real heartbreak, first place where I actually learned something useful, including academics, I mean.

Ruslan: The place of my dreams, boyhood and first steps.

Alexander: Bunch of paperwork you have to fill in for admission; liberal system of education; and, what the Soviet system of education lacks, inspiration and revelation of individual potential in students.

Chingiz: AUCA is my youth.

Saule: Competitive education, students with developed analytical skills, and a university that changes society.

Eldar: I only studied my freshman and sophomore years in AUCA, after which I got accepted to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. AUCA was the stepping-stonethat helped me move forward and achieve better things in life. In my opinion, AUCA is not like any other university in the Kyrgyz Republic or even in the world. AUCA has its own unique culture.

KT: Any plans of winning an Oscar?

Eldar: (Laughing) No, we are not that ambitious, but we are hoping to win the sympathies of people.

Ruslan: Yes, of course, and maybe a Palme d'Or. Saule: Oskar? For sure!

Stepan: Of course! Not sure in which lifetime though.

Chingiz: Of course! Why not? Though I guess not this time and not with this movie. “Bishkek, I love you” was mostly done for the local audience, and Oscar needs something different.

Alexander: We have a plan to win “Stylish KG 2011” for the best choice of actors. We will see about the Oscar later.

KT: So, what’s next for you?

Stepan: I am going to go work now. I have a press-release to publish.

Alexander: Next for us? Hmm… You can anticipate more interesting projects, since we will have more experience.

And right now I need to prepare for classes that I plan on teaching. New students are waiting for me!

Saule: Work, seek, develop.

Stepan: We do want to make more films, if that’s what you mean. We have a second movie project in our heads, but have not had much time to discuss it properly yet. I am happy to hear our crew members saying, “next time we do a movie, we will improve this,” or, “we should get rid of that.” It means that we want to move on and are actually learning something.

Chingiz: I really liked working on this movie, but it was really tiring. I guess I will relax for a while, maybe go on a vacation somewhere for a week or two. During this time I will try to come up with new ideas, and although I have some plans right now, I do not want to reveal them just yet.

Eldar: We will see. I also plan to take a short vacation, since we have been working on this movie non-stop since May. After that, maybe we will shoot another movie.

Ruslan: Hopefully I will make another movie. It will be a story of guys from the Kyrgyz Republic chasing their dream in New York City and decide to come home once they’ve made it.

Stepan: We would also like to welcome anyone who has ambitious plans for filmmaking in the Kyrgyz Republic and beyond. We want to answer your questions and share our experiences. As I said earlier, if someone is inspired by our movie, we will be very very happy!

KT: Once again, thank you for finding the time for our magazine. Good luck with the premiere! And I hope we will interview you in the future, maybe when you return from the Cannes Festival.

By Kemel Toktomushev

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

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Maksat Korooluev '04 and Asel Akmatova '06

Their “Sweet 60s” are yet to come, but for them, it will have a double meaning because of their first date. Although their years at AUCA are long gone, they still remember their alma mater as the place where their paths crossed and became one.

Introducing to you the love story of Asel Akmatova and Maksat Korooluev.

Maksat and Asel – a beautiful couple with a beautiful history – please share how everything started?

Maksat (M): As I remember it, the first time I ever laid eyes on Asel was in one of the computer labs, shortly after the school year began.

Asel (A): And as I remember it, the first time I saw Maksat was during a meeting of the Debate club.

One thing is for certain though, it was AUCA that introduced us to each other.

Can you tell us about your first date?

A: Interestingly, we did not date when we were at AUCA. Maksat graduated two years before me and left for the US immediately afterwards. By the time he returned, I had graduated from the university and entered the OSCE Academy in Bishkek. Meanwhile, Maksat found a job in Almaty and was traveling back and forth between there and Bishkek. From time to time we would exchange e-mails, and several times Maksat even invited me to parties and gatherings with close friends. For some mysterious reason though, I could never accept these invitations. Something would always come up, and sometimes I would miss his call, message, or e-mail. Our first date actually took place on March 23, 2007. We still remember the café where we met, “Sweet 60s.”

What is your idea of the perfect romantic date?

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A: For me, our first date was the ideal romantic evening, with flowers, dinner, and a movie. We also went driving around the city at night.

M: I agree with Asel here.

I guess good music, a nice atmosphere and a view of Bishkek is the best.

Talking about AUCA, what are your best memories?

What was the most

challenging?

A: Thinking back now, I realize that Maksat was very romantic, because he once organized an entire regional debate tournament just to be closer to me.

As a teammate, I helped him organize the event, since there were many logistics involved. Of course, at that time I did not have a clue about his intentions, and he confessed them only when we started dating. Overall, the Debate club brought us closer, since it was an area of common interest. He was an experienced debater and I was a beginner with a lot to learn.

M: The biggest challenge was probably maintaining our long distance relationship while I was in Almaty and Asel was in Bishkek. We had just started dating when I accepted a job offer in Almaty. Even though I was coming back to Bishkek almost every weekend, and Asel would sometimes visit me in Almaty, it was still difficult for us.

Love and career – is there a secret formula for managing both?

A: It is actually very difficult, especially during school.

Your mind is preoccupied with this chemistry and it is really hard to concentrate. When it comes to a career, when you have a family with kids, one of you simply

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

What do you think makes AUCA a special place?

place in the professional sense?

A: I have not just yet. Nevertheless, I experienced something as important, which is being a mother.

I spent 3 years with our kids and do not regret my decision. Due to this, Maksat has had more flexibility and freedom to develop his career and his network. I know his ambitions and goals, and I realize the importance of his professional life to him. As such, I try to free him from some family responsibilities.

However, when I need time for myself, he happily takes over the management of the kids. When it comes to family and carrer, you need to negotiate with your spouse.

Now it is Maksat’s turn, and mine will come soon.

M: We try our best to keep our life interesting. We enjoy camping,

We want our kids to be involved in sports, to know several languages, and to study at top universities.

A and M: In our case AUCA was a place where we first met and spent our student life. It was here that we found many of our good friends. It is so important to have people who share the same ideas as you, who can teach you new things, and who can give you advice. AUCA was the place where we found these special people. Many of our classmates also have families, and we still keep in touch with them today.

A: Academically, AUCA was and still remains the best university in the region, with its completely corruption-free system. I have cousins who told me really surprising stories of corruption at their universities. They were shocked to learn that we do not have such problems at AUCA. M: The entire atmosphere at AUCA was very interesting. There were always different events going on, and students were busy with projects and papers, spending numerous hours in the library and the labs. I miss those days.

Tell us about your life after AUCA – can you say you have found your

hiking, gatherings with friends, and this, of course, would not be possible without our helpful parents.

If you had to live your life over again, what is the one thing that you would change?

A: I never thought about it, but I would not change anything, In my opinion, everything in life happens for a reason. You have to accept this and learn from the experience. As I said, we were not dating while at AUCA, yet now we have a strong family, which we both treasure.

M: If I had the chance, I would probably have started our relationship sooner.

Now that you are parents yourselves, has your attitude towards education changed in any way?

M: Yes, we have already started thinking about our kids’ education.

It is crucial for them to get a quality education. We also want our kids to be involved in sports, to know several languages, and to study at a top university. When the time

comes, we will let them choose for themselves (under our careful guidance, of course).

A: We think that university defines your network in the future. As any parents, we want the best for our children. What we wish for them is a good quality education and loyal friends.

Is there anyone from AUCA or beyond whom you would like to thank?

A: First, I would like to thank my parents for their continuous support, understanding, and help. Also, I would like to thank Aijan Karabukaeva for being my best friend, my sister Arianna, for always being with me, and Meder Toktosunov, for being making me laugh.

M: We would like to thank our AUCA professors for helping us become who we are today. For each day you were with us teaching, grading, and advising: THANK YOU!!! Sometimes in the evenings, Asel and I recall teachers we both had. Those who have passed away remain in our hearts and memories.

As members of the AUCA Alumni Council – what would be your message to our alumni – readers?

M: Dear alumni, Asel and I treasure AUCA so much because it was a place where we first met. It was a place where we learned and are now growing professionally as a result. There should be a time to give back, andnow AUCA needs your support and help. Your donations, your suggestions, and your ideas are always welcome at AUCA. A: Dear alumni, please stay in touch with our alumni office. There are different events going on at AUCA for alumni and their families. Please register on our web page and you will get updates on the upcoming alumni events. It is very important for AUCA to stay in touch with its graduates and be supported by us.

AUCA gave us so much and now IT IS TIME FOR US TO GIVE BACK!

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has to take a break. In our case, we have two sons, three-year old Adilet and 14-month old Nursultan, and I spent more than 3 years with our children. During this time, Maksat was able to develop professionally.

M: This is true. With my previous job in Kazakhstan I traveled a lot. Currently, I am working for GIZ and having some ideas about moving forward. I try to network as much as possible. I have to thank Asel for taking care of our family, and thus allowing me to develop professionally. With kids, you need a lot of time, energy, and patience.

I am grateful to Asel for having all these qualities.

Alumni Reunion 2011 The 2011 Alumni Reunion was held in Bishkek on June 10, and was a great success.

Over 100 AUK-AUCA graduates attended and enjoyed the summer evening at the open-air restaurant at the Jannat Hotel. The atmosphere of the event was light and casual, allowing friends to catch up and recall their time at AUCA. For the official part the administration of the university and the Alumni Council awarded the James Emison Alumni Leadership Award, and introduced the AUCA Foundation Wall, an opportunity to have your own personalized brick at the new campus, to support a modern academic campus in Central Asia.

The James Emison Alumni Leadership Award honors the memory and legacy of James Wade Emison, a member of the Board of Trustees of American University of Central Asia from 2002 until his death on December 28, 2005. He was an extraordinarily committed Trustee as well as a generous friend of AUCA, who was known for his vital personality, exceptional leadership, and sincere concern for each and every student.

The James Emison Alumni Leadership Award is conferred on the alumni who best exemplify Jim's leadership qualities in public service and individual integrity. For the first time ever the decision was made to give the Leadership Award to a group of AUCA activists who founded the April Relief Fund. This group collected money to support victims of the tragic events of 2010 in the south of the Kyrgyz Republic. We are proud to see our graduates taking responsible actions to influence the situations around them in all spheres of the society.

The next Award will be bestowed during the 2012 Alumni Reunion, which will be held on May 26, 2012. Alumni are urged to nominate deserving candidates for the James Emison Alumni Leadership Award. You are welcome to send nominations that describe the candidate’s leadership characteristics to alumni@mail.auca. kg. Also please save the date and make sure you can make it to Bishkek for the Reunion. We hope to see many of our international alumni and faculty and we are ready to assist on visa invitations or any other formalities.

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FEATURED PROFILE

Valery Hardin I would prefer to leave a book about myself untitled, because my life is not over yet.

You would never recognize a professor in this man, unless you knew he was one. Dressed in casual clothes, you can find him telling stories and jokes in the hallways or helping a student when he is in a rush. He prefers tea to coffee and blueberry pie to cheesecake; he stood shoulder to shoulder with General Petreus and shook hands with a Taliban tradesman in the streets of Kabul. To him, humor is the main achievement of the human intellect. Please meet Professor Hardin, an instructor in the American Studies department.

Mr. Hardin puts on his glasses and gets a box of earl grey tea out of his backpack, reads through the ingredients and then says that staying young inside inevitably reflects on the outside. Intrigued, I ask him, “why did you take out the box?”

“Just tried to remember the English name for vasilek – the flower,” replies professor Hardin. He has not changed since our first meeting; as usual, he juggles several things at once. I will share a secret with you, if you promise to keep it to yourself: back in my days at AUCA students nicknamed Mr.

Hardin “The Energizer” because of his endless vitality, regardless of how many classes he had already taught that day or which conference he had just attended.

Mr. Hardin, you are a professional interpreter. Have you interpreted for any famous people?

I have interpreted for events with presidents, government leaders, heads of major international organizations, four star generals and ambassadors.

Last December I interpreted at the OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) summit in Astana for the Canadian delegation

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Professor Hardin, you do not look your age. What is your secret?

FEATURED PROFILE

headed by its Foreign Minister. It was an historic summit, the first of its kind to be held in Central Asia.

I also interpreted at several highlevel meetings, including a meeting with Mr. Daudabaev, Kazakh State Secretary and Foreign Minister.

Is it interesting to work among such high officials?

It is interesting, challenging, often stressful, and sometimes funny.

Can you recall a funny episode for our readers?

Of course! Several years ago I was interpreting for Mr. Soros during an AUCA commencement at the Kyrgyz Opera and Ballet Theatre, and Mr. Akaev, then president of the Kyrgyz Republic, was in attendance.

The security let me go backstage to interpret Mr. Soros’s statement, but would not let me exit once he was finished, so I watched the rest of the ceremony from behind the stage. At

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least I did not have to stand for two hours because they were kind enough to provide a chair for me.

Another funny episode happened during a very important meeting with high officials who were supposed to sign an agreement. In interpretation of this kind you have to have the document in front of you to make sure everything is translated accurately.

I had the document before me, and as the honorable participants of the meeting opened their copies, I opened mine. That same second, to my horror, I realized that I did not have my glasses with me. Like a hurricane I ran out of the booth, out of the room, down three flights of stairs, and out of the building to my van. I pulled the door, but it would not open!

Why? Because it was not my van, mine was across the street. At last, I got my glasses, ran all the way back, and, of course, by the time I returned everybody was staring at me, because no translation was happening. I put my glasses on, opened my mouth to

AUCA Magazine*October 2011

speak, but, being short of breath, not a single word came out. I had no other choice but to pretend to have a severe stomachache that was literally taking my breath away. After a short break we continued. Although it was not so amusing back then, today, as you can see, I recollect the situation with laughter.

If someone were to write a book about you, what would you name it and why?

I believe humor has a healing effect, so I would like it to be a comical book or a collection of jokes that would make people laugh. This would be my request and I leave the business of the title to the publisher. And if no book is written, which is likely to be the case, we will be remembered in the stories of those who outlive us.

Do you have a hobby?

I enjoy walking, playing games and reading books, preferably not too

FEATURED PROFILE

How do you spend your leisure time?

I try to get out of town and hike in the mountains. Sometimes I go with friends and students. A year ago I went hiking with three AUCA students. One of them was wearing formal black shoes with smooth leather soles. When we were descending the mountain he was sliding down the dry grassy slope as if he were skiing until his feet began to burn. He had problems getting to campus the next day. The second one wore down his shoes so that they fell apart during the descent, and he had to buy a new pair. However, the third student was as light as a snow leopard. He could have made it to the top of the mountain that we planned to climb and name it in AUCA’s honor, but failed to do so because of us.

My impression is that both AUCA students and teachers work too hard and do not exercise enough.

In Republic, Plato claims, and I quote, “when those who have some pretensions to a liberal education, need skilled doctors and lawyers, that is a pretty conclusive proof that the education in a state is disgracefully bad. For is it not a strikingly disgraceful sign of a bad education if one has to seek justice at the hands of others as one’s masters and judges because one lacks it in oneself?”

Are there any recent achievements that make you happy?

Recently I translated into English a monumental book on Kyrgyz art of the 20th and 21st centuries.

This heavy volume, which contains excellent illustrations of Kyrgyz art, was published in Turkey, and copies were sent to museums around the world, such as the Louvre, Prado, and the Tate Gallery. Also, not too long ago I presented the Kyrgyz Republic at the British Alpine Club in London. Attending the meeting were members of the Club from different parts of Great Britain and the Kyrgyz Ambassador to the UK, whom I was honored to introduce to the audience.

I was happy to use my linguistic skills to promote tourism in the Kyrgyz Republic.

building after teaching inside its walls all these years?

What is your guiding philosophy of teaching and learning?

Ideally, it is seeking the truth together with the students when teaching and seeking the truth again when learning.

You have been teaching at AUCA for over ten years. In general, what has been your experience so far, and how do you see AUCA progressing over the next ten years?

I think AUCA has remained true to its commitments. I remember when the question of accreditation was first being raised publicly about eight years ago. In the last few years the university moved swiftly towards earning international accreditation through forging a partnership with Bard College in New York and reforming the curriculum to this end.

It took some time and now AUCA managed to raise its status. The same can be said about the new campus, which has been a topic of discussion for some time. Now, AUCA is getting down to business and taking steps towards building a significantly enhanced learning environment.

The progress that AUCA has been steadily making promises a great future for AUCA. The new campus will have a sports complex that will strengthen the liberal arts mission in the Platonic sense. A healthy body in a healthy mind can become a lifelong philosophy for students. I like that AUCA opens new doors, but does not close “old” ones. I mean it is great that AUCA intends to keep the building now housing the library and IT. It is a historic site located right in the heart of the capital city, and it can also be used for different functions.

To get back to your question, Dr. Wachtel has outlined plans to make AUCA a research university. Among other things, we can see AUCA as the center for Central Asian studies where scholars and students from other countries come to study and research.

I myself would like to organize an AUCA study and exploration expedition into China’s Xianjiang region, which is historically and geographically connected to Central Asia.

Do you think you will miss this

To tell you frankly, I do have a personal attachment to this building.

It used to be a secondary school that I attended for three years. I still remember how each room was used then—what is now CH2 used to be a gymnasium for PE classes, the library in the western wing used to be a chemistry lab, and room 214 was my classroom. Traffic was prohibited on the square, and because the school did not have a sports ground, we played soccer on the square. That was also against the rules, and the policeman would ask us to stop and confiscate the ball if we continued to play.

When the school moved to another location, the building housed the city library where my mother worked as a librarian. The library relocated, AUCA took over the building, and my daughter enrolled here as an ICP student. Finally, in 1999 I returned from the US and became a faculty member.

Have you worked in other universities in the Kyrgyz Republic or abroad?

I taught at Kyrgyz State University, when it was the only university in the Kyrgyz Republic, and also spent a couple of years in Moscow interning at the famous Maurice Thorez Institute of Foreign Languages, which had the best translation program in the USSR. During the 90s, I lived in the United States where I taught at Mississippi College and then worked at the Mississippi Consortium for International Development as a coordinator of training programs and interpreter. I also briefly taught at the University of Arizona where I went to graduate school. I guess I can say I led a life of education and work, and this is true of many, if not all, AUCA faculty. Thinking about my teaching career, I would like to mention here that I was often impresses by idealism and intelligence of my students, and I wondered why the governments often lack this idealism and intelligence.

Tell us about your students at AUCA, who are they?

I have students from all the Central Asian republics, Afghanistan, Korea,

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long, like poetry, plays, stories and dictionaries.

FEATURED PROFILE

the USA, and this diversity is a great asset. In my class on Central Asia we watched a film by Tajik director Bakhtiyar Khudoinazarov. He speaks about the loss of the common Central Asian space and his hope for its return. In a way, AUCA embodies this space with students representing all Central Asian republics. We were all disappointed when the Turkmen students were unable to resume their studies at AUCA two years ago. Who are my students? I looked through the November 2010 issue of AUCA Magazine, and most of the featured alumni took my English composition or some other class. I believe the alumni are sincere when they say they remember their AUCA professors.

What I like about students is their curiosity. I understand that students want concrete skills and knowledge, but being educated and enlightened means more than that. It is also independence of mind, empathy and social intelligence.

Comparing AUCA students with students from other universities, are

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there any differences?

They are certainly different and we can be proud of them. There are so many AUCA success stories. Initiative and activism, goodwill and civility, decision making, thinking, knowledge of several languages, and computer literacy are just some of the things that set our students apart. And there is certainly more to add to this list.

What do you think makes AUCA unique among all other universities in the region?

AUCA is a liberal arts college, and this is reflected in its curriculum, academic spirit, learning environment and teaching methodology. Students have a voice here and a share in the university’s ownership. They are more like partners in the educational process than anywhere else in this region.

Instruction in English allows students from different countries to study here and successfully communicate with faculty and peers. Moreover, good command of English across all departments allows interesting

AUCA Magazine*October 2011

personalities from different parts of the world to visit AUCA and talk directly to the students. It is now an accredited university through a partnership with Bard College. AUCA community enjoys more academic freedom and the administration is more transparent and open to the constituent parts of our community than in any other higher institution in Central Asia. AUCA is an open and ethical institution with clearly outlined priorities and standards of honesty, responsibility and excellence.

Mr. Hardin, we are out of time, but I have a final question I want to ask you. You teach many literature courses. Who is your favorite writer?

Do not ask me who my favorite writer is; instead, ask me who is my favorite woman.

By Kemel Toktomushev

INTERNATIONAL ACCENT

CASI - Central Asian Studies Institute: Promoting the study of Central Asia in Central Asia CASI was created with the deep belief that Central Asia remains one of the pivotal crossroads in the world.

CASI was created with the deep belief that Central Asia remains one of the pivotal crossroads in the world, with developments in this area directly and indirectly affecting other contiguous and outlying regions. Conversely, outside happenings increasingly affect the

Central Asian region. Many researchers treat the region as a part of the former Soviet space.

Others see it as a part of Eurasia, and a third views Central Asia as essentially linked to South Asia.

On one hand, this underscores the crossroads nature of the region, and yet, on the other hand, it highlights the importance of developing the study of Central Asia as a region in and of itself, not as a part of other fixed structures.

The Institute’s activities will include supporting and promoting individual and group research projects, hosting conferences, seminars and other forms of intellectual engagement on the most pertinent issues of the region.

CASI will help promote local and international understanding of ongoing processes in Central Asia.

The formal launch of CASI is scheduled for October 14 - 16, 2011, when AUCA will host a three-day international conference titled “Twenty Years of Central Asian Independence: Shared Past, Separate Paths?” In this intellectual forum the Institute will gather a blend of experienced and growing scholars from Central Asia and abroad, who share the dedication and commitment to the study of the region. Hopefully this will become the first of many CASI annual conferences. The conference schedule as well as more information about the Institute will be available at www.auca.kg/en/casi, a part of AUCA webpage that we hope will grow in content in the near future.

On June 13 - 16, 2011, CASI hosted an academic workshop for the Panel on New Approaches to Research and Security in Eurasia (PONARS Eurasia). PONARS Eurasia is an international network

By Shairbek Juraev

www.auca.kg

In spring 2011, AUCA launched a major effort to consolidate its accumulated research potential and promote it further by creating the Central Asian Studies Institute (CASI).

The Institute, established thanks to the generous support of USAID, will seek to promote the study of Central Asia locally and internationally. The goal will be pursued with special attention to creating new research opportunities for AUCA faculty members, but also, importantly, to establishing and encouraging productive, balanced and lasting relationships between local and international scholars studying various aspects of the region of Central Asia.

of social scientists, based at the George Washington University, focusing on transnational and comparative topics within the Eurasian space. The workshop, involving AUCA, Central Asian and international scholars, resulted in in-depth peer-review discussions of academic papers focusing on various aspects of security in Eurasia.

The CASI office is located in Room 319 of the main building. All are welcome to drop by and learn more or share with the Institute.

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MY CAREER

Place Under the Sun The project members help various organizations find the personnel potential among the most talented and skilled Kyrgyz people.

AUCA and Gulnura Toralieva, the chair of Journalism and Mass Communications department, are proud to present a new TV project with a catchy title: “Place Under the Sun” (“Место под Солнцем”).

This reality show is broadcast every Tuesday on the Kyrgyz National TV Channel (OTRK).

The program is aimed at young, ambitious people who want to build their careers. It guides youths in finding their place in both life and career. “Place Under the Sun” is a unique program as it battles unemployment problems and contributes to recruitment transparency in the best companies of the Kyrgyz Republic.

“The project members help various organizations find the personnel potential among the most talented and skilled Kyrgyz people,” commented Gulnura Toralieva, the mastermind behind the program. “The project embodies the competitive nature of the job market while facilitating the exchange of knowledge among Kyrgyz companies,” she added.

Applicants can send their resumes to sun.tvproject@gmail. com, with the chosen few invited to the studio for a live shoot. Each applicant is given a task that has to be resolved in the course of the day.

The solutions are then presented to a panel of judges who vote on the best approach. Every episode also features the applicants’ individual stories, expert interviews, and advice on career building.

Join them every Tuesday night at 22.15 and stay connected!

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CLASS NOTES

Class Notes 1997 Elbek Muslimov BA earned his MBA from the School of Management at Yale University. His experience includes working for Citigroup in London, Deutsche Bank AG in London, USAID, the National Bank of Kyrgyzstan and Citibank in Almaty.

1998 Sanjarbek Tursaliev BA joined UNDP upon graduation on the Poverty Reduction and Economic Development team in Bratislava. Currently he holds the position of Programme Manager for the Central Asia Cluster, UNDP, NY. Ermek Niyazov BA has experience working as the Head of Corporate Sales for Beeline Kyrgyzstan, Cisco Systems Account Manager for Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, and many others.

2006 2003 Kumar Bekbolotov ICP, BA received his MA degree in Political Science from Central European University. He works as the Executive Director for Soros Foundation Kyrgyzstan. Prior to holding this position Kumar worked as a Country director for Kyrgyzstan, IWPR.

Azamat Akeleev BA holds an MBA degree from the Kelley School of Business and since 2006 has been working as an AUCA Professor. Azamat is also the Director of Promotank HQA and has a solid experience in Marketing and Advertising.

Elnura Osmonalieva MC is a promising independent filmmaker and producer. She came to AUCA in 1998 after a student exchange year in the USA. She won the International Almaty Film Festival with her film “Shaken Zhuldyzdary.”

2007 Kairatbek Murzakimov ICP started his career in mass media and public relations at the US Embassy in the Kyrgyz Republic and currently works as a Media Assistant for the UNDP in Bishkek.

2008

2009 2004 Aziz Soltobaev ECO is the General Manager at Svetofor. kg, an online retailer. Aziz has professional experience as a Marketing and Logistics Manager; CEO Adviser at TashKumyr Silicon Productions; United Nations Consultant; Contributor at EurasiaNet; and many others.

Shemshat Kasimova ICP works as the Coordinator of the AUCA President’s Office and is planning to continue her career in Educational Management.

Email magazine@mail.auca.kg to tell us what you have been doing.

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Jyldyz Stattarova ICP, SOC, IBL worked as an Assistant to a Market Analysis Manager at Target Communications, then AIESEC. Currently works as a Program Officer for Save the Children both locally and internationally.

CLASS NOTES

Build the AUCA Campus Brick by Brick

AUCA sincerely thanks those who have given their time and money in support of the university's mission, especially: Gifts and Grants 2011-2012 Friends of AUCA George Soros Seth Fearey Songbae Lee Mary Schweitzer Gulnara Drier Sharon Bailey Madeleine Reeves Hersh Chadha Henry Myerberg

AUCA takes pride in all the people who have worked to build it into the best university in Central Asia. The hard work of alumni, faculty and university leaders has made it possible for AUCA to finally break ground on a new, modern campus in Bishkek. On October 14, 2011, AUCA celebrated this achievement with alumni, friends and fireworks at the site of the new campus 2 miles south of downtown Bishkek.

Board of Trustees Almas Chukin William Newton-Smith Aidan Karibdjanov Stanislav Karpovich Scott Horton Faculty & Staff Andrew Wachtel Bermet Tursunkulova Sven Stafford Salkyn Ibraimova Alumni

Set in the mountains, the campus will consist of a central academic building, dormitories and a sports complex. The buildings are in harmony with their location, look beautiful, and utilize space and energy with maximum efficiency. As a result, the best part of the AUCA experience, our tight-knit community and concentration of learning, will be preserved and promoted. AUCA will also be able to grow its student body, expand its program offerings, and deepen its mission to educate leaders for the democratic transformation of the region.

to contribute, by showing their public support for AUCA. The AUCA Foundation Wall will stand outside the main entrance of the new campus, and individual bricks will display the names of all the people and groups that came together to make the new AUCA Campus a reality.

Each brick can display your own personal message up to 65 characters long. The AUCA Foundation Wall will display the strength of the AUCA community, and impress upon future students, professors and staff the spirit of all those who came before them.

We want the new AUCA Campus to be an AUCA communitywide project. The AUCA Foundation Wall is a way for alumni and friends

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Gulzat Baialieva Yasmin Lodi Elnura Djenish Psychology Alumni Journalism Alumni Ivan Nesterov Jyldyz Beisheeva Musabayev Atai Alan Niyazi Zarina Chekirbaeva Aziz Soltobaev Jyldyz Sattarova Aijan Chynybayeva Erik Mambetakunov Ulugbek Salymbekov Corporate Partners Mina Group Kumtor Operating Company

Now Avai lable

AUCA Foundation Wall

Brick by brick, the AUCA Foundation Wall will display the names and messages of alumni and friends forever. The AUCA Foundation Wall will show every person that enters the university the worldwide support for AUCA and its mission. $100 - Big Brick and up to 65 characters $50 - Small Brick and up to 26 characters Payment can be made online at www.auca.kg/en/brick, or contact us by email at alumni@mail.auca.kg or by phone at +996 312 664 564

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AUCA is finally getting the campus it deserves.

On October 14, 2011, AUCA broke ground on a state-of-the-art facility in southern Bishkek. The AUCA Foundation Wall is your chance to put your personal stamp on the new campus.

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