AUCA Magazine June 2011 by AUCA

AUCA Magazine American University of Central Asia

June 2011

The Nurbs '08 and CiTy '08:

Keep Going, Keep Moving! Sanjar Tursaliev '98: From KAF to UNDP

Aron Brudnyi: The Art of Psychology

Aigul Kasymova '08: Guardian of Justice

Experience international education in one of the most exciting and important regions of the new millennium. Beginning fall 2011, study abroad in Bishkek with students from Central Asia at the region's most prestigious university. American Accreditation. 35% international students. 90% of courses taught in English. 100% ADVENTURE. Start yours today...

For program information, go to www.auca.kg/en/studyabroad, or email: studyabroad@mail.auca.kg

Contents

MAY 2011 03 Editor's Note 04 Welcome from the President

UNIVERSITY UPDATE

Aron Brudnyi: The Art of Psychology

05 05 05 06 06 06 06 07 07 08 08 09

Cultural Diversity Week Birth of Manas as a Premonition Multiculturalism in Canada Learning from the Gurus of Media Market USAID and SRC Parlamentarian Wisdom April 7: One Year Later Lessons of the Past Supporting Kyrgyz Democracy The Day of Rebirth Brain Ring Donkey Bridge ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

14 Nurbek Savitahunov (The Nurbs) '08: Keep Going, Keep Moving!

Reyna Arthur Kyzy'11: A Beautiful Mind

16 Chingiz Torobekov (CiTy) '08: Hip-Hop Generation 18 Sanjar Tursaliev '98: From KAF to UNDP 20 Aksana Ismailbekova '05: Anthropology for Life 22 Aigul Kasymova '08: Guardian of Justice 26 Rashid Ivaev '05 and Alima Ismankulova '06: Hand in Hand 30 Zhanybek Saatov '09 and Venera Kamalova '09: Gone with the "Fresh Wind"

SOARING EAGLES

Protecting Human Rights

Becoming Business Tycoons

35 Key to Prosperity

Nataliya Yassinskaya'04: Born to Lead

AUCA Spring Cup MY CAREER

No One Needs a Diploma Today

A Generation of Future Leaders COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Teaching Expertise

39 A Concert of Unity

Freedom and Responsibility

giving to the university 40 What Is a Picture Worth?

AUCA

Editor's Note

Magazine

Publication Team Editor-in-Chief: Kemel Toktomushev Copy Editors: Sven Stafford Madina Sarkulova Contributors: Aliona Kim Diana Takutdinova Kemel Toktomushev Madina Sarkulova Makhinur Mamatova Nargiza Ryskulova Saltanat Ibraeva Svetlana Permyakova Pictures: AUCA Archives Aaron Choi Emil Akhmatbekov Damira Aidaralieva Ilya Devyatovsky Natalia Malysheva 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: Nurbek Savitahunov (The Nurbs) '08 Chingiz Torobekov (CiTy) '08

Dear Friend of AUCA,

ou are holding our new summer edition of the AUCA Magazine, which unveils the splendid life of the most dynamic liberal arts university in Central Asia. On June 11, 2011, with 247 graduating seniors, American University of Central Asia (AUCA) will become the first and only university in the region that awards degrees accredited in the United States. Through this edition we hope to give you a glimpse of the AUCA experience. The articles included in this magazine touch on a range of issues, from learning how to become business tycoons, to what freedom and responsibility really mean. As always, we feature many alumni profiles in our most popular section, “Alumni Spotlight.” In sad news, the AUCA community mourns the loss of an outstanding professor, Aron Brudnyi, who made great scientific and personal contributions to the university. In this issue, we are publishing one of his most recent interviews in memoriam. We are committed to continuing his legacy at AUCA through the Brudnyi Lecture Series, which will bring world-class researchers to AUCA to work with our faculty and students. More information is avaliable at http://www.auca.kg/en/brudnyi. AUCA alumni are becoming more active, engaged, and interested in the life of the university, especially on the eve of our 15th jubilee. To celebrate our alumni, AUCA is commemorating the 5th and 10th anniversaries of classes of 2001 and 2006 with an Alumni Ball that will take place on June 10. The AUCA Alumni Association is also up and running again, and has created the Alumni Scholarship. The award will be given to a senior student from southern Kyrgyzstan who has demonstrated a commitment to the mission of AUCA, achieved academic excellence, and actively participated in community service. If you would like to be a member of the selection committee or to make a donation encouraging more alumni to give, please email develop@mail.auca.kg or alumni@mail.auca.kg. Finally, take a look at the “Magnificent History” section on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/MyAuca), where alumni can reminisce about university life, recall comical incidents, and relive special events such as Spirit Week, Initiation, and games of American football. We would like to congratulate the graduating class of 2011 and encourage them to stay connected, because together we are capable of great things! To access the online version of the AUCA Magazine, please go to http://www.auca.kg/en/magazine.

Yours Faithfully, Kemel Toktomushev Editor-in-Chief

AUCA Magazine*June 2011

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American University of Central Asia, founded in 1993, is dedicated to improving the quality of education it offers by adding new curricula, new programs, and new services to equip its graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to contribute to this rapidly changing and developing region and the world beyond.

President’s Column

Welcome From the President

mazing. It is hard for me to believe that an entire academic year has passed since I arrived in Bishkek. When I came in August I had no idea what to expect. But since I have been here I have caught the AUCA spirit and come to love being part of this university’s world. The excitement of providing world-class university education and the realization that our students and faculty appreciate what we are doing make up for all the little difficulties that inevitably arise in the course of everyday academic life. Oh, and I should mention the highlight of my presidency so far – winning 3rd Prize in the AUCA Football cup (p.34) with our talented 50+ team. With this issue, our alumni magazine is really beginning to play the role I hoped it would play when I arrived. The stories about our alums are so inspiring that I wanted to invite them all back here immediately to uplift the spirits of our whole community. And the short descriptions of our events reveal just how broad and energetic our community is. With this issue we also welcome our newest group of alumni, the proud class of 2011, who will celebrate their graduation along with the 5th and 10th anniversary classes of AUCA. We also say goodbye in this issue to one of our most beloved and talented faculty members, Aron Abramovich Brudnyi, who will be remembered forever by his AUCA colleagues and students (p.10). Aron Abramovich was a perfect exemplar of the late Soviet intelligentsia – exceptionally erudite, multi-faceted, curious about everything, and optimistic that it could all be tied together. Looking forward to 2011-12, expect to see lots of updates about campus construction, which we hope to begin in the fall. Also look for information about new master’s degree programs, and the kick-off conference of our multidisciplinary Central Asian Studies Institute. And, as always, please stop by the campus whenever you are around, if only to see that our current students are just as enthusiastic, talented, and ambitious as you were.

Andrew B. Wachtel President

AUCA Magazine*June 2011

University Update

Birth of Manas as a Premonition

On January 24 - January 28, 2011, AUCA once again celebrated Cultural Diversity Week. The purpose of this annual event is to develop students' intercultural understanding and to promote tolerance. Eleven different ethnicities presented their cultures and traditions. Throughout the week Afghans, Caucasians, Chinese, Koreans, Kyrgyz, Slavs, Tajiks, Tatars, Turkmens, Uighurs, and Uzbeks performed unique dances and folk songs, displayed their colorful costumes, demonstrated the distinctiveness of national humor, and treated everyone with delicious traditional dishes. Suray Rejepova, President of the AUCA World Club, thanked all the delegations for making Cultural Diversity Week so bright and colorful. “So many people participated in the preparation of Diversity Week; it truly shows that we all are one big family united by AUCA!” To the students, Diversity Week is not just a vivid display of culture, but a way to “respect and remember [their] own traditions, while honoring those of other nations,” as one student noted. Every year students, faculty, and staff members anxiously await Diversity Week. It has in itself become a tradition in the small nation that is AUCA.

Multiculturalism in Canada His Excellency Stephen Lloyd Millar, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Canada to the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Tajikistan, delivered a lecture on the issue of multiculturalism in Canada to AUCA students. Since Canada's economic and social development has been based on immigration,

the issue of multiculturalism is crucial in Canada. His Excellency Millar explained how the country's bilingual heritage, democratic institutions and an open immigration policy has produced one of the most ethnically diverse and tolerant societies in the world.

AUCA Magazine*June 2011

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Cultural Diversity Week

The AUCA community was privileged to see a sneak preview of “Birth of Manas as a Premonition,” a new film by Nurbek Egen, the creator of “The Ancestors' Chest” (“Sunduk Predkov”). A large number of AUCA students and famous Kyrgyz artists attended the screening, which was followed by a dynamic Q&A session. After two years of political battles and socio-economic upheavals in Kyrgyzstan, Nurbek Egen found inspiration in the legend of Manas. He interprets the people’s anticipation of a new

leader through the birth of Manas. The film producer believes that expectations become anticipation of changes in our country. The movie contains a message to young Kyrgyz, who should think about their national consciousness and social destiny. Nurbek engages in a dialogue with our compatriots, connecting a number of extraordinary stories about expressive personalities. The director's goal was to create a portrait of modern Kyrgyzstan by displaying destinies of eight people from different backgrounds and social classes. The event was co-organized with the film company “Sanjyra”.

University Update

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USAID and SRC

Learning from the Gurus of Media Market The Journalism and Mass Communications department launched a series of public lectures, master classes and seminars with the participation of journalists, PR specialists, leaders of NGOs, and media managers. The goal of these events is to create possibilities for formal and informal intercourse among students and professionals. It allows students to acquire knowledge about contemporary conditions of working in media, PR and advertising agencies, trends in media development, freedom of speech, and social networks.

Moreover, it helps these young professionals develop skills in producing journalistic output, such as news, TV reports, talk-shows, etc. For the past few months AUCA students have had the opportunity to learn from gurus of the media market such as Sergey Makarov, director of the Institute of New Media, Farrel Styers, American media researcher and entrepreneur, Azamat Cherikbaev, founder of the production studio Art Tengri and other leading media minds.

Parliamentarian Wisdom On March 31, 2011, Kjell Magne Bondevik, Former Prime Minister of Norway, and Petre Roman, Former Prime Minister of Romania, delivered a public lecture entitled “Promoting Inclusive Parliamentary Democracy: Experience from Norway and Romania.” The event was organized within the framework of an official visit of the Club de Madrid to Kyrgyzstan under the mission “Consolidation of new political structures and Constitutional Implementation.” The Club de Madrid is an

AUCA Magazine*June 2011

independent organization created for the purpose of promoting democracy in the global community. The Club's membership constitutes the world’s largest forum of former presidents and prime ministers and offers today’s leaders an unequalled body of knowledge and political wisdom.

USAID awarded the Social Research Center of AUCA a grant to carry out the 2010 NGO Sustainability Index Survey in Kyrgyzstan. The NGO Sustainability Index is a tool used to study the strength and overall viability of the NGO sector in the Baltic and Central Asian countries. “It is a valuable resource for USAID Missions, international donors and local NGOs. It analyzes the following seven dimensions of the NGO-sector: legal environment, organizational capacity, financial viability, advocacy, service provision, infrastructure and public image,” explained Aida Konokbaeva of the SRC. The Index allows for comparisons both across countries and over time. The 2010 Index will be the fourteenth edition of this publication. You can access last year's NGO Sustainability Index Report at: http://www.usaid.gov/ locations/europe_eurasia/dem_gov/ngoindex/2009/complete_document.pdf

April 7: One Year Later

On April 7, 2011, the Social Research Center held a public discussion "One Year after the 2010 April Events in Kyrgyzstan: New Pages in Its Modern History." Dr. Zainidin Kurmanov, former Speaker of the Kyrgyz Parliament, Dr. Nur Omarov, vice-rector of the Kyrgyz Diplomatic Academy, Tamerlan Ibraimov, director of the Center for Research in Politics and Law, and Azamat Akeleev, director of Promotank HQA, participated in a campuswide discussion of the April events. The speakers highlighted the most significant political and economic changes that have occurred since the events.

University Update

Lessons of the Past On April 20, 2011, John Clark, the first President of AUCA, delivered a public lecture entitled “The Role of the Mongol Yoke in the Development of Medieval Russia.” “Many in Russia believe that the cause of Russia's lag vis-à-vis Europe was caused by the Tatar-Mongol invasions of the 13th century. However, without Mongol taxation, Russia might have remained in Sweden (slash and burn) cultivation for much longer than it did, with a consequent greater lag in development than was actually experienced,” argued Mr. Clark. “Since Russia was practicing Swidden farming at that time, it lacked the subsistence basis on which to build a powerful state. It is possible that Mongol taxation encouraged intensification of production, and by the 1460's restrictions on peasant mobility and the European 3-field system were being introduced in Russia, which became the economic basis of the Muscovite state.”

On March 12, 2011, AUCA organized a roundtable discussion focusing on "Supporting Kyrgyz Democracy through Integration into the World Community." Amongst the participants were members of the Council on Foreign Relations of the US Central Command (CFR CENTCOM), prominent Central Asian political scientists,

analysts, AUCA students and faculty. Arriving from Afghanistan, members of CFR CENTCOM expressed deep gratitude that the roundtable was held in AUCA. “We are impressed and inspired by the beauty of the city, its broad boulevards, beautiful trees and the opera house,” opened Peggy Noonan, col-

umnist for The Wall Street Journal. Max Boot, one of America's leading military historians and foreign policy analysts, continued, saying that "American education brought our economy, and it is great that we have our outpost here in Kyrgyzstan.” At the roundtable, the participants discussed a number of urgent issues pertinent to the democratic development of the Kyrgyz Republic. Some of the raised issues were international assistance, security and stability, new media, economic development, civil society, rule of law, prospects for freedom of expression and religion. The guest list for the event included eminent members of the political, economic, and military spheres. Seyitbek Usmanov, Director of the Central Asian Free Market Institute, remarked that the roundtable “was a wonderful event featuring the best collection of American minds I have seen in Bishkek!” With national and international partners, U.S. Central Command promotes cooperation among nations, responds to crises, deters state and non-state aggression, supports development and reconstruction in order to establish the conditions for regional security, stability, and prosperity.

AUCA Magazine*June 2011

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Supporting Kyrgyz Democracy

University Update

The Day of Rebirth

The holiday Nooruz is a symbol of prosperity and purification. It is a moment when everyone embraces the arrival of spring, absorbing new, positive emotions and energy that will last the whole year. In Kyrgyz tradition, Nooruz is considered the beginning of a new year, bringing happiness, luck and renewal. This year, Nooruz was celebrated with a wonderful Festival of Kyrgyz Music, “Kyrgyz Music: from Ancient Times to Modernity," which lasted two days. The festival was organized by the Arts and

Sports and Kyrgyz Language departments, in cooperation with the Youth Committee of Kyrgyz language. The festival was opened with a speech from the President of AUCA, Andrew Wachtel. It was followed by a film about the origins of Nooruz, its history and development. The film covered many interesting issues about the rebirth of nature, the celebration of Nooruz, and the way Kyrgyz people perceive life. A number of performances were prepared by the students of Shubina's Musical School and the members of

Ordo-Sakhna. They presented a variety of Kyrgyz music, playing the melodies of Kyrgyz composers on national instruments. The second day of the event was reserved for a song contest between 13 AUCA students. The audience witnessed the discovery of new talents, as each performance was unique in its own way. Flashes, sparkles, and applause did not cease during the entire concert. The jury consisted of Kyrgyz musicians Talgar Jakshylykov, an opera singer, Yuryi Bobkov, a composer, and Kenje Satybaldieva, an actress and a singer. Performers pleasured the audience with their bright and beautiful Kyrgyz clothing. Asel Tchonkoloeva, a student at the Kyrgyz National Conservatory, opened the song contest. Following her, AUCA students took the floor and with such an impressive array of talent, it was a challenging task for the jury to pick the winners. After a long deliberation, first place was awarded to AUCA student Nikita Menshov, second place to Ahat Imanbakiev, and the third place was divided between Teha Dun and Geete Habiibi. Medina Kudaeva received the honorary grand-prize of the contest. By Diana Takutdinova and Nargiza Ryskulova

Brain Ring In this year’s Brain Ring competition three talented high school students outshone more than a hundred of their peers. Islam Mashanlo from Bishkek School # 61, Timur Dolgopolov from Kara-Balta School #6 and Igor Sim from Bishkek School # 24 won the tournament of wits, thus earning AUCA scholarships. Each winner receives a full scholarship to attend AUCA, valued at over $20,000. Over 2,000 high school students from more than sixty schools took part in the preliminary rounds of this intellectual competition. The students were tested on their knowledge of math, geography,

AUCA Magazine*June 2011

history, logic and English. 110 students with the highest scores were invited to the final round. The AUCA administration, faculty members and representatives of the City Department of Education made up the panel of judges. The finalists were asked more than 500 questions. Unfortunately, only the top three winners can receive a coveted AUCA scholarship (they must also meet other admissions requirements). The Brain Ring Scholarship is part of AUCA’s generous financial aid policy that enables exceptionally talented stu-

dents, especially those from financially disadvantaged families, to study at AUCA. The contest has been conducted annually since 2005.

University Update

Donkey Bridge universities, and those who stayed were simply memorizing the theory without clearly understanding it. These students earned the nickname of “donkeys,” and the Pythagorean theorem was compared to an impassible bridge. Meanwhile, the students who passed over the “Pythagorean Bridge” were truly worthy of graduating from the university. Thus, passing the Donkey Bridge has become a special ceremony for students who are nearing graduation. The theme of this year's Donkey Bridge was “Masquerade,” requiring masks and costumes as parts of the

dress code to give the event an air of mystery and thrill. The celebration was unforgettable because famous Kyrgyz singer Omar performed at the event. As for dessert, the guests were treated to a performance of the dance crew Black Angels and an Illusionist. All dance intermissions were accompanied by the popular DJ Edil Barcode. Finally, the guests were entertained all night long by the hilarious Batyr Shabdanov and Renat Tentimishev!

By Saltanat Ibraeva

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On April 21, 2011, AUCA celebrated the Annual Junior’s Ball “Donkey Bridge” at the Son-Kol restaurant. The goal of the event was to celebrate the Golden Mean of studying at the university. Juniors go through this special ritual, after which there is only one year left until the long-awaited breath of freedom. “Golden Mean” or “Donkey Bridge” dates back to the Middle Ages, more particularly to the time when the Pythagorean theory was conceived. At that time, many students were trying to escape geometry lessons by leaving

AUCA Magazine*June 2011

In Memoriam

AUCA Magazine*June 2011

Aron Brudnyi: The Art of Psychology

Sunday, March 13, 2011, marks the great loss of Aron Abramovich Brudnyi, the head of AUCA's psychology laboratory who dedicated his life to his family, his students, and his research. Aron Abramovich was a corresponding member of the National Academy of Sciences, a member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, and Professor Emeritus at the California Academy of Education. Since 1998 he led the new psychology laboratory at AUCA. During this time he produced over 300 scientific papers, which earned him the National Award of the Kyrgyz Republic

in the field of science and technology. His research was published in 7 languages and reprinted several times. We are publishing one of his most recent interviews given to the magazine Blife. Aron Abramovich Brudnyi was rightly referred to as a national symbol. Such people are not always known to a large audience, and they do not appear in the press, but it is these people and their works that generate intellectual debate and development in our country. It is they who are called the pride of the nation and the representatives of scientific and intellectual elite of Kyrgyzstan.

AUCA Magazine*June 2011

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“If I Have Made This World a Little More Understandable, Then I Am Content With my Life and Destiny… ”

in memoriam

Blife: Aron Abramovich, please tell us about your parents. А.А. Brudnyi: My parents migrated here. My father studied in Petrograd, at the Bekhterev Institute, where he earned his degree in otolaryngology. It was a very demanding profession at that time. My mother graduated from a private college for daughters of army officers. My father was an idealist. He came here in the 1920’s because he thought there were not enough doctors here. He was originally sent to Kokand, but he chose Pishpek because he wanted to start his career in a place where doctors were of great necessity. pek?

Blife: So you were born in Pish-

А.А. Brudnyi: Yes, but in 1932 it had already been renamed Frunze. Blife: What are the memories of your childhood? А.А. Brudnyi: I clearly remember in my childhood the intelligent people who came to visit my father. They played chess and drank tea with lemon. They all were well-educated and well-mannered people. Mostly they came from well-todo families, and maybe that is why they started disappearing in 1937 – 1938. I remember living on Kyrgyzskaya Street, which is now Orozbekova. And I remember Mr. Orozbekov himself. At that time the nation was united, with Kyrgyz and Russians living together. The culture was developing rapidly. Even now, Kyrgyzstan remains special in this sense. To my knowledge it is the only country in the world where we put poems on our money. By the way, the person on the twohundred som bill visited my father too. Blife: We even have a ballerina pictured on our bills. А.А. Brudnyi: Yes, and I know her. She was a very polite and clever girl. The person on the five-hundred som bill is also familiar to me. Sayakbay came to the Academy of Science and I remember helping him walk upstairs when our elevator did not work. He was a very big man. Of course, I did not know Toktogul, but I knew Togolok Moldo, and as a child I called him Kolobok Moldo. My father laughed because togolok and kolobok are close in meaning. Blife: Aron Abramovich, you grew up among very interesting people. Did that influence your career path? А.А. Brudnyi: I was a school boy

AUCA Magazine*June 2011

when one of my father’s friends brought me astronomy books. I still remember the big and colorful illustrations. When I showed the books to my father, he told me that there was nothing more interesting than a human being, that one person is more interesting than all the stars. This was one of the reasons why I got into psychology, even though I did not fully understand what it was. Later I was among the founders of the Psychology department at Moscow University and was delivering the first lectures there. That was after the war (WWII). Blife: Why were you interested in Psycholinguistics? А.А. Brudnyi: I think I was influenced by my childish belief that words can be put together in such a manner so as to express an idea more clearly than even an image in our minds. Once I needed to insert a piece of poetry into my work, but the poem was in Polish. In those four lines the poet expressed his love for his wife and their unity. But in Russian the translation was very clumsy and the idea was lost. Then I asked my friend, a poet from St. Petersburg, for help. In 20 minutes he called me back with his version of the Russian translation. The meaning was just as clear now in Russian as it was in Polish. Just 20 minutes! Incredible! It was his gift. I recently called him and we remembered that situation with the Polish poem. Blife: So there are questions that can reveal the essence of a person’s being? А.А. Brudnyi: Absolutely. These questions might seem harmless and simple, and can relate to various subjects, but still can reveal a person’s most unexpected features. Blife: One of your famous books is “Personetics.” What is the essence of this theory and how did it develop? А.А. Brudnyi: It is one direction of Psycholinguistics. The main idea of Personetics is that you can learn about people from the answers they give to questions they never ask themselves. You have to find a set of questions that a person would never ask him/herself, and by answering these, he/she would reveal their true person. Using this theory, I once asked a girl, “When would you like to die and how, if you had a chance to chose the time and kind of death?” She looked at me and replied, “I want to die free.” The reason for her answer was that she was involved in something not entirely legal and was aware that she should not do it. The future confirmed it and she changed

her career. There are certain questions that operate like a needle, hitting the very center of your being. The first book on Personetics does not belong to me. I am more involved in the theory of communication and understanding. I have several works on this subject. I am deeply convinced that poetry contains a certain power. A bright example of this is Pushkin’s poetry. Literature can grow old, which is why Pushkin chose to write children’s fairytales as a way of expressing his ideas, ensuring that his thoughts will be repeated from generation to generation. His works are very important because they teach children about good and evil, and the importance of keeping promises. Blife: What do you consider to be your most important work? А. А. Brudnyi: If I made this world more understandable, I am content with my life and have fulfilled my purpose, but I think I have done too little. Blife: What feelings do you have for your students? А. Brudnyi: Only the very best feelings. I have always liked to work with them. For the past two or three years several of my students have continued their postgraduate studies in different cities. Youth is a special age when a person has unique opportunities. Later they disappear. Their family obligations and the necessity to work full time become a priority. I really like the students of our university; they know many things better than I do. I think their future is bright. Blife: Do you believe people nowadays should study psychology more to understand each other better? Maybe it would be useful to teach psychology in schools? А. Brudnyi: I am for teaching psychology in schools. However, I am not sure it will help avoid problems. Blife: What was more important in your life – your work or your family? А. А. Brudnyi: I consider myself one of those people who separate the basic from the important. The basic is to live long and be healthy. The important is what you have to do tonight, tomorrow or next year. In this sense family is basic, and work is important. Now I am old and my sons take good care of me. My eldest son is 32, and my youngest is 19. Even though my oldest son is a doctor and my youngest a lawyer, they are both very handy and love technical

in memoriam

things. They tinker with cars and mobile phones, and I do not have a clue about these things. Blife: Your sons are from your second marriage and your second wife was your former student – any comments on that? А. А. Brudnyi: I owe a lot to Dinara. She was very interested in my work and inspired me to new ideas. She was 17 years younger than me. Dinara wrote her senior thesis under my supervision, and shortly after that she completed her master’s thesis. When I married her I thought she would stay home and care for the boys, but her early death changed everything. Dinara’s first priority was family and children – she believed it to be the most important aspect of life. I also have two daughters from my first marriage, and they both work as psychologists. I decided not to meddle in their career choice. I think the path of a psychologist really exhausts a person’s strength. It surely is an honorable occupation, but it does not necessarily guarantee success in life.

А. А. Brudnyi: Somehow I feel attached to this place. I have a clear feeling that I am at home here, because a city is not its walls or buildings, but rather its people. It is a place where you can work, and I do not need anything more. Different things happened in my life. There were moments when I was invited to move to a different country. While it is true that there are places where I could do interesting work, my family is here. My parents and my wife Dinara are buried here. Blife: Do you have favorite spots in Bishkek? А. А. Brudnyi: I would say I have a favorite time in Bishkek – I love Bishkek evenings. I saw something similar to them only in Switzerland. It is actually a lot like Kyrgyzstan. Blife: What is so special about evenings in Bishkek? А. А. Brudnyi: They bring me back to my childhood. That was a time when there were many green trees everywhere, a turtle lived in our yard, and huge dragonflies flew around. This feeling of wanting to return to your childhood is very important.

Blife: Aron Abramovich, what would you wish for our citizens? А. А. Brudnyi: When the Soviet Union collapsed the citizens of Bishkek behaved in a very honorable manner. It was not clear how they would continue to live. And at that exact moment of history people remained humane. Although there were no heroic deeds, bad things that could have happened never did. People respected each other, and I wish the citizens would keep this attitude. It was difficult to conclude our conversation with Aron Abramovich, several hours went by like several minutes. It is not often that you get a chance to spend a day in such interesting company. No wonder students love him so much. As

one of his students said, “In any prestigious university or college in the world, he would undoubtedly be one of the best professors and a part of the educational elite.” Another student put it this way, “Aron Abramovich? No comments, he is only the best.” This love from several generations of students is not surprising at all. After talking to Aron Brudnyi you understand that he is a wonderful person, a scientist who devoted all of his life to the benefit of humanity. By Svetlana Permyakova Special thanks to BLife Magazine for the exclusive permission to reprint the interview Translated by Aliona Kim and Madina Sarkulova

AUCA Magazine*June 2011

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Blife: You have always lived in Kyrgyzstan and traveled to many countries delivering your lectures. Why did you not stay abroad?

Alumni spotlight

Nurbek Savitahunov (The Nurbs) ’08:

Keep Going, Keep Moving! The first thing he does in the morning is ask himself whether he was good last night. His first words were, “Yo Mama.” His favorite drink is Kvas, with beer running a close second. He fell in love with Amy Adams from “Enchanted,” but is ashamed to admit it. For him, the best birthday gift is a hefty dinner and a good night’s sleep. He would like to be called “Sir Nurbek Constantine the Third”, but friends call him “Ner-beck from Kyrgyzstan”. Allow me to introduce Nurbek Savitahunov, a singer-songwriter also known as The Nurbs.

"I was born in the second maternity ward in Frunze, on a stormy morning in December, twenty five years ago. I moved in and out of Bishkek with my family from the age of seven, stopping by New Delhi, Beijing and Dubai on the way. Then, when I was ten, my mother was accepted at the University of Colorado on the Edward S. Muskie fellowship program, allowing us the opportunity to spend a year in the beautiful college town of Boulder. Afterwards, when I was fourteen, my mom was posted to represent Kyrgyzstan in the United Nations, so we moved to New York City for the next three years of our lives. Upon our return, I graduated from the KyrgyzRussian Slavonic University prep school and spent the first semester of my undergraduate career studying Political Science at KRSU, after which I immediately transferred to AUCA. I graduated from AUCA’s International and Comparative Politics department in 2008 and moved to London to join my family. I am currently applying for various scholarships to help finance my Master's Degree at Westminster University in London." What made you choose AUCA over KRSU? Disillusion. My single semester 14

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at KRSU went so horribly wrong that even the entreaties of the head of the Political Science department could not convince me to stay there for one more semester.

forces me to make tough decisions, I will always have my Myspace and Facebook pages to share my music with the world. That way I can truly live for singing.

You travel quite a lot. The London tube map has an ad, which states, “Travel is a Means to an End. Home.” In the case of the London Underground, this phrase is pretty straightforward. Upon reflection, its second meaning could be that the more you find yourself in different surroundings, the better you start understanding yourself. In my case these new friendships, landscapes and circumstances helped shape me into the man I am now.

How did you choose this path? My distant relative recently shared with us a startling fact that she was too scared to disclose at the time of its happening, and I was too young to remember: I was two years old, and she took me for a walk in the park. I found a tree stump to stand on there and started singing an old Russian song. A kind passerby gave me three rubles for my "act," and we immediately spent the money on ice cream in fear of reprisal from our parents. Eventually we had to go home, so I did not get to finish eating my share. That was, in essence, my very first paid gig. I also have my own vague recollections and distant memories of lip-syncing to music videos and cassette tapes while pretending to play dad's old guitar. Later on I began coming up with random melodies and rhymes that I would hum and mumble to myself. After mom bought me an acoustic guitar for my fifteenth birthday, the disease started spreading. I guess what I'm alluding to, without trying to sound too mystical about it, is that instead of being chosen by me, music was the one that chose me.

You studied comparative politics, but now you sing for living or live for singing… I am certain that I am not the only one with a backup plan in case the first one does not work out. Besides, these days a higher education is akin to having a passport: you would be simply lost without it. Songs simply oozed out of me for as long as I can remember, and I cannot see myself doing anything else. Either way, whether I end up hauling dumpsters for a living or being a career academician, I will keep writing and performing in my spare time. If push comes to shove, and life

Alumni spotlight

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s music for you now? It is a welcome escape from the mundane side of everyday living. When I am absorbed in the world of song, everything else takes a back seat. Assignments, debts, obligations - all my cares are whittled away one by one until I am no longer a ball of anxiousness, spewing out bad energy into the atmosphere. Conversely, music helps augment the real world around me. For instance, the smell of a tulip in bloom, or the sight of the setting sun across the horizon, or the touch of soft skin on my cheek. These are just some of the sensations I become more aware of when listening to music. If you had to live your life over again, what would you change? Any regrets? Not a single one. I would have had a more elaborate answer to this question a few years ago, but I have come to learn that in order to enjoy life, I must stop pretending to be in control. This is not to say that I haven't made some bad mistakes in life, but I can only acknowledge their existence and keep going. Nurbek, what is your craziest dream? It is a recurring phenomenon of weightlessness right before I fall asleep. Quite literally, I start falling into an abyss and wake up right away. Sometimes I open my mouth to say something, but the words do not come out, no matter how hard I scream. If this does not qualify as crazy, it sure is disturbing when it happens.

Then coming back to the pleasant moments, mind sharing your fondest memories at AUCA? It was definitely in the early days of Wi-Fi hotspots on campus. For a while, I quite selfishly had all the wireless traffic to myself. But gradually students got smart to the game and started bringing their own laptops to Bravo and the library hallway. The rest, as they say, is history. How do you see the role of alumni in supporting AUCA? The very fact that AUCA alumni are moving up in the world keeps those four letters in good standing. It is only a matter of years before more and more of them begin to give back to the university and open up a world of opportunities for an even wider circle of aspiring students across Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia. Furthermore, we could play a valuable role in spreading awareness across the world of the lone liberal arts institution in this country, and help recruit qualified instructors to keep academic standards high. So, what's next for you? A quick trip to Spain followed by a year in London studying International Development Management at Westminster University. Having said that, nobody knows what's waiting around the bend, so even that plan may go out the window. And if it does, there is always next year. Anyone you would like to thank who has influenced you greatly? I owe the biggest debt of gratitude to my mother for her boundless love and patience, for her strength and courage to raise two rascals on her own, for the moral values she instilled in us and for being a living, breathing example of the type of human being you only read about in books. Of course, what kind of son would I be if I did not go astray occasionally? And yet, every time I falter, she is there to take me back in and comfort me.

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Maybe you have a guru? I wish I could name a single influential figure or event that spurred me on to create, but it was more a combination of influences from various periods of my life. From Michael Jackson to Peter Gabriel, from public radio to my high school jazz band instructor, from Quincy Jones to the Russian band Spleen â&#x20AC;&#x201C; these, and many more people, served as catalysts on my way to becoming a "singer-songwriter."

By Kemel Toktomushev AUCA Magazine*June 2011

Alumni spotlight

Chingiz Torobekov (CiTy) ’08:

Hip-Hop Generation Our next guest dreams to be like Jay-Z and Diddy. He adores Ravshana Kurkova, Meagan Fox and Meagan Good. He cannot imagine life without his cell phone, computer and microphone. Every morning he drinks a glass of water and goes for a jog. He wants his friends to call him “Mr. Torobekov”, but most just call him “CiTy”. Introducing to you a graduate of the Business Administration department, musician, businessman, and executive director of a public foundation – Chingiz Torobekov.

With a degree in Business Administration, how did you end up rapping? I started rapping at the age of 15, and at the time it was just for fun. After spending one year in the U.S., I enrolled at AUCA, where two of my friends and I organized a band called Azian Bloodz. Ever since then I took rapping pretty seriously. Our first official single was “05 Bonnie & Clyde”. It made the charts here and made our name known to a wider audience. Later we recorded around 10 songs, most of which became very popular. Since we did not have any management, the music lost direction and we decided to dissolve the band. Although we each went in our own direction, I never stopped rapping. I think that music comes naturally from the inside. I can feel it even though I never took any music lessons. Now I’m planning to record an album, where I want to collaborate with different artists. Recently I released my first single and shot my first video for the song called “Mystery Girl”. “Mystery Girl”? Yes, I perform the song with Azat Bolotbek. The 16

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music was actually recorded by an AUCA student, Saddam Baialiev. We filmed the video in Bishkek, and Saule Erki played the lead role, acting as the mysterious girl. They say that “a picture is worth a thousand words”, so I think it is better to watch the video in order to understand it. Chingiz, what is music to you? Do you see it as a way of life, a career or just a hobby? Right now it is a hobby, something I really enjoy doing. If I could earn money by being a rap artist, I would certainly do it. However, I understand the realities, so for now music is just a good way to spend my time. I expect the music industry to change dramatically in the next couple of years, and while I am not sure whether I myself will perform, I would also be happy to manage other artists. Who is your musical inspiration? It would be great to meet producers like Jimmy Iovine, or LA Reid. In my opinion, they are the best minds in the music industry and are especially successful in the hip-hop and R’n’B genres. the

What do you think is best way to promote

commercial music in Kyrgyzstan? Kyrgyzstan is a small country without a large audience, so there are few ways to go. One is to become an artist who sings popular songs from the 80s in different clubs and cafes. The other is to record new songs, shoot videos, and launch PR campaigns to make your name known. A few years back, I helped a couple of young upcoming artists. For me, it was a chance to make some changes in the industry. I cannot say that I was entirely successful, but I gained a new perspective on things, and it was a great

Alumni spotlight

You used to perform a lot, but not anymore. Will you return to the stage? Currently, I am working on new, upbeat songs to play in clubs. I will probably perform more once I am finished. It is great that now there are a lot of clubs with good acoustics and professional instruments. You are also an active blogger and columnist, and are even launching your own website. What are you trying to say via new media and social platforms? In my opinion, the Internet is the best way for independent artists like me to communicate with the audience. It allows me to reach out to my listeners and establish a connection with them. In developed countries

it is already a common medium of fan interaction, and we are trying to keep up. Do you have time for friends and family? Of course! Family and friends are very important to me, and they are my biggest supporters. I like spending time with my friends. Every week we play soccer and go to different events. You are a frequent visitor of AUCA events like the alumni Brain Ring and Football Cup. AUCA is like a big family. For me, participating in such events is a chance to catch up with people I have not seen in a while. Besides, there is always the possibility of learning something interesting, meeting new people, and connecting with current students.

What is the role of alumni in keeping AUCA a very special place? AUCA itself is a very special place. It is different from other Kyrgyz universities in that it possesses some kind of a spirit, which unites all students. As alumni, we should support and partake in the activities organized by the university. What is your favorite memory from AUCA? Although I enjoyed studying, my fondest memories of AUCA are of social events. A few days ago, while clearing the memory on my computer, I found a video that we made for our Initiation party and it was hilarious! By Kemel Toktomushev

AUCA Magazine*June 2011

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experience for the artists as well.

Alumni spotlight

Sanjar Tursaliev `98:

From KAF to UNDP Every year AUCA hosts many special guests who come from all over the world and represent various spheres of expertise, giving students an opportunity to ask questions and receive genuine answers. Last semester this opportunity was provided by one of AUCA’s first graduate, Sanjar Tursaliev (BA, 1998), who now works at UNDP headquarters in New York as a Program Manager at the Division for Central Asia and Azerbaijan.

Thank you again Sanjar for finding time to talk to our students about UNDP and for sharing your experience with them! What is it like to be back at AUCA after such a long time? Frankly, I was not sure how I would feel, but, surprisingly, I felt good. My visit brought back very good memories from my student years. The first three minutes in the building revived many memories in my mind. Although it has changed, the cafeteria instantly reminded me of the “three-inone” coffee and “like-at-home” treatment from the vendors. Walking through the first floor, I remembered the strict people from the accounting office and very nice ladies from the administrative department. As I made my way up to the second floor, I realized that I spent most of my student years in the library and the current building of the parliament. Seeing the lecture room again, I felt proud that I studied at this university. I pictured myself on the other side of the room, sitting on the benches and listening to our teachers. We had great teachers like Mr. Kydyraliev, Mr. Bardin, Ms. Myrzabaeva, Ms. Majarova, and many others. 18

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Thinking back to your years at AUCA (AUK at that time) what are the special moments that come to mind? Well, actually when I started it was not AUCA, it was not even AUK. It was KAF, Kyrgyz American Faculty, at KNU. I graduated in 1998 from the business administration program which was then called “Business, commercial law, and humanities”. However, I did graduate from AUK. Strangely, my best memories are from KAF times. It was a very young and small institution, and there were only 60 students. We knew each other well. Teachers ‘like parents’ knew us well. We were like a big family. The ‘Parents’ were strict and the ‘children’ were friendly. To this day, many of us are still very close friends and we get together whenever time permits. Other special moments are related to SIFE. We started it during our time and were quite successful, I think. We received some good prizes, both regionally and globally. A lot of sleepless nights turned into days full of joy and fun. We all tend to regret some things in our past. If you had a chance, what would you change

during your student years? It is a difficult question because being a student means exploring the world. Everything is interesting and attractive and one tries to enjoy it as much as possible. I guess I wish I had more time to enjoy those moments. We all rushed to graduate, start working, and begin “real” life. Secondly, I would spend more time with professors to better learn some of the subjects. I also wish we worked in groups more, as we often did our home assignments and studying on our own. Nonetheless, we did spend a lot of time together outside the classrooms. That part I would not change. If you had a chance to address AUCA students today, what would your message be? I have many messages to pass. First, study hard, because your life standing depends on it and because education is one of the best investments in life. The returns of this investment are numerous and continuous. Do not just stop at the bachelor level, go ahead and earn those master ’s and PhD degrees. Second, know your price, do not underestimate your abilities, but stay realistic. Third, try to

Alumni spotlight

Can you say there are people who made a lifelong impact on you? Who are they? My mother and father told me to do what I feel is right. They said this to me right before I left home to study at KAF, and ever since then, I do what I think I must. I often meet people who influence me, and I am very thankful to them for supporting me and sharing their wisdom. I think everyone should seek the advice of those wiser than themselves. Everyone is given a chance in life. Use it, don’t lose it. Sir Winston Churchilll once said, “Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm”. Do you agree with him?

In your opinion, what is the key to being successful? I completely agree with Churchill. I am convinced he was a very wise person. From my life experience I can confirm that you do not always reach your goal. I like another wise expression, “whatever happens is for the better.” In my mind, the secret to success is to believe in yourself. You are the owner and creator of your life. Take full responsibility for your life and shape it into what you want it to be. It will not change overnight, and it will take several years to transfer the change in your mind into a real change. However, I believe the transformation will become easier with time. Family and career – contradictions or a beautiful combination? In my case, it has been a beautiful combination. Family and career can develop simultaneously. It takes a lot of time to advance in a career and the

same is true for building a family. Therefore, you cannot do it simultaneously. In my case, I was able to find a golden balance between the two. Determine your priorities, consider your responsibilities, and then make the decision. Do you believe alumni relations carry any greater meaning than just a club? If yes, what are your thoughts? It took me quite a while to realize the importance of alumni relations. Our “worlds” develop as a result of exchanges in knowledge and experience. People need to connect in order to generate new ideas and solve old problems. I believe alumni can play a crucial role in fostering the dialogue between younger and older generations. I think, as a group, we would be able to find solutions for many issues that the students, university, and even the country face. By Aliona Kim AUCA Magazine*June 2011

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achieve the most in life and do not forget to share your wisdom with the next generation. And lastly, enjoy your life, stay fit, love your parents, create, innovate, and celebrate!

Alumni spotlight

Aksana Ismailbekova ’05:

Anthropology for Life Aksana Ismailbekova was one of the first graduates of AUCA’s Cultural Anthropology and Archeology (CAA) department. After graduating in 2005, Aksana received a scholarship to pursue a Master’s degree at the University of Edinburgh. She recently submitted her PhD thesis at Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology. Currently, Aksana is working on her postdoctoral project in Berlin, learning two new languages, and planning to write a manuscript based on this project.

Aksana, why did you choose to study Political Anthropology? When I was at AUCA, in addition to Anthropology courses, I also took classes in International and Comparative Politics (ICP). As a result, I decided to get a PhD in political anthropology. My dissertation is on democracy, kinship, and patronage networks in Kyrgyzstan. In my paper, I present a sensitive, nuanced and extremely rich account of the election days in Kyrgyz villages. As well as demonstrating ethnographic sensibility, I deploy ethnographic materials to explore critical themes in the anthropology of democracy and the state. Anthropology is one of the most wide-ranging academic disciplines. However, there is a stereotype that it is all about archeology and history. Anthropology is the study of humans, not only in the past and present, but also in the future. Nevertheless, in order to understand the complexity of cultures across all of human history, anthropology draws and builds upon knowledge from humanities, as well as social, biological, and physical sciences. Anthropology takes into account not only archeology 20

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and history, but also other disciplines such as ecology and environment, education, agriculture, and development. Social anthropologists examine social patterns and practices across different cultures. Their special interest is how people live in particular places and how they organize, govern, and create meaning in their own lives. Why do you think anthropology is not a very common field of study in Central Asia? Since anthropology is new to most Kyrgyz students, many do not understand the field, fearing that it will not offer viable future employment opportunities. However, in my view, anthropology can benefit both students’ lives and their country by involving them in various activities. However, many universities, including AUCA, have difficulties helping students make connections between anthropology and other academic disciplines such as law, politics, psychology, and sociology. I think there should be more collaborative relationships between instructors from different departments to “bridge” materials across disciplines. The role of AUCA in popu-

larizing anthropology is crucial, and in order to accomplish this goal AUCA should work very hard to build and reinforce academic networks with other local and international universities. What does anthropology mean to you personally? I like two interrelated things in anthropology. First, anthropology taught me to appreciate people’s wisdom, the way they structure their lives to give them meaning, and their ability to adapt to changes. Second, what fascinates me about anthropology is that I become part of what I am studying. I like anthropological research methods such as observation, which places the researcher within the context of study. This way, the anthropologist gains a first-hand sense of how local knowledge is utilized when dealing with practical problems of daily life. What about AUCA? What foundations for your success were laid here? Of course, AUCA students inspired me, because they seemed so enthusiastic and competitive. I remember when our group got together to talk about our school experience, it

Alumni spotlight

In order to show our gratitude to the university, and more specifically to the Anthropology department, we created our own scholarship. The â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Mary Schweitzer â&#x20AC;&#x2122; scholarship is intended to support the next generation of anthropologists. It was established in 2010 in honor of Mary Schweitzer, a wonderful professor who taught Cultural Anthropology courses at AUCA. Please visit http://maryschwe i t z e r s c h o l a r s h i p . b l o g s p o t . com/ to learn more about this scholarship.

tunity. I would like to bring energy, enthusiasm and a longterm commitment to help raise anthropology to a new level at AUCA.

How do you see the role of alumni in supporting AUCA? Personally, I would encourage alumni to grant scholarships to AUCA students. I myself would like to return to the Anthropology department and teach courses. In fact, Ruslan Rahimov, the department chair, has already invited me to teach next academic year, and I am very grateful for this oppor-

Is there anyone you would like to thank who has influenced you? I would like to thank my first professors and instructors at AUCA: Gulnara Aitbaeva, Aida Alymbaeva, Mukaram Toktogulova, Mary Schweitzer, and Talantaaly Bakchiyev.

So, what's next for you? My real commitment is to teaching and research. I am currently gaining experience and lecturing students at Halle University. Moreover, I want to come up with innovative ways to strengthen anthropology as a field in Kyrgyzstan.

By Kemel Toktomushev AUCA Magazine*June 2011

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seemed as if everyone had participated in academic Olympiads and graduated from their schools with flying colors. I am also thankful to our open-minded instructors who pushed us to critically evaluate information. Overall, I enjoyed the courses that I took at AUCA. However, it was difficult to maintain a high GPA while working to pay for my tuition. I would not say that my years at AUCA were easy, but I believe that the experience helped me achieve my goals. Additionally, the unique environment at AUCA changed me and encouraged me to continue my education. What drew me most to AUCA were my lovely, smart friends, the Cultural Anthropology Alumni of 2005. We still keep in touch despite all of us being in different countries, and we try to visit each other whenever we can. It was AUCA that fostered our lifelong friendship.

Alumni spotlight

Aigul Kasymova '08:

Guardian of Justice Aigul Kasymova is a proud graduate of the International and Comparative Politics department. After graduating from AUCA in 2008, Aigul received an OSI scholarship to study nationalism at the University of Edinburgh. In addition, Aigul is a Hansard Scholar and wrote a piece on clan politics and the electoral system. Currently, Aigul works for the Humanitarian Law Center – Kosovo (HLC Kosovo), where she monitors war crimes trials and the decentralization process in three newly established Kosovar municipalities.

Why did you choose to go to Kosovo? Initially, I was supposed to work in Belgrade. The HLC is headquartered in Belgrade and has a branch in Kosovo. A month before my start date, I was informed about a new project in Kosovo, and was offered the choice of location. Prior to my arrival, I did a bit of research on Kosovo’s ethnic composition and on the status of the decentralization process. For me as a professional it was obvious that working in Kosovo would not only be extremely interesting, but also challenging. Kosovo seemed a natural choice. Can you tell us more about your work? The HLC Kosovo has four main programs– protection and promotion of minority rights; monitoring of war crimes trials and ethnically and politically motivated crimes; Kosovo Memory Book, and the RECOM Initiative. I work with minorities and monitor war crimes trials. It was difficult at first since I have no legal background, but now I feel comfortable attending trial sessions and writing reports. The two trials that I 22

AUCA Magazine*June 2011

monitor are extremely sensitive as they deal with former KLA (Kosovo Liberation Army) commanders. Many consider them national heroes, however, in the eyes of international justice they are criminals. There is no witness protection program in Kosovo, so getting victims’ testimonies is a challenge. However, the Kosovar judiciary, in cooperation with EULEX (European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo), works towards providing anonymity, and in most cases testimonies are taken through video conference. The entire process is extremely complicated due to the fact that these crimes were committed 12-13 years ago. I must admit that I could never have imagined working in court as a trial monitor. While in Kosovo, I get to observe the things that I only saw in movies and documentaries. Why did you decide to work in this sphere? One of the reasons I chose to study ICP was my desire to become a diplomat. Over the years I found myself drifting away from politics and diplomacy towards issues of

nationalism and discrimination against minorities. Countries such as Iraq, Rwanda and the entire Balkan region became interesting to me. That was why I studied nationalism. What stops you from leaving it all and coming back to Kyrgyzstan? Working in a post war country is challenging, especially taking into account how recent the war was. When I first entered the courtroom, I was under the assumption that the accused was Serbian. To my surprise, he turned out to be an Albanian commander of the KLA. It made me wonder how a nation could be divided internally when they had a common enemy. I am an emotional person, so hearing how the witnesses were maltreated in the most inhumane ways was very disturbing. Because of the sensitive nature of these cases, strict security protocol is observed. The entire court house is surrounded by the police and you have officers inside the court room protecting the accused. In one of the cases, we have a witness who wears a helmet and a bullet proof vest while in court.

Alumni spotlight

At the very beginning it was strange to see Special Forces in masks and with automatic guns, but I have gotten used to it now. Although it is hard living away from your family and friends, the people here are extremely friendly and they go out of their way to make you feel at home. More importantly, if my work helps to change at least one person’s life, it will all be worth it. Besides, I remind myself of my father ’s words. He always called me a survivor and this has often helped me in tough situations. My parents encouraged me to do my best and taught me the importance of believing in myself. I would like to thank them and my friends for always standing by me and putting up with my nomadic lifestyle. What do you like most

about your job? My favorite duties are field missions and court sessions. I enjoy court because it is the only place where I understand everything. The working language is English, since some judges and prosecutors are from other countries. Honestly, being in court is very much like being an observer. Field missions to different parts of the country are also very interesting. They give me an opportunity to actually interact with local people, who, in this case, are representatives of minority groups. As for your alma mater, what makes AUCA “AUCA”? I think it is the special relationship that students have with faculty and staff. AUCA is a big family and I hope that it will always stay that way. I still remember the SRC library two days prior to our ICP final.

I had five course readers next to me and only two days to memorize everything, but instead of reading my friends and I took a trip down memory lane. We did, of course, study in the end, and just when I was leaving AUCA, I turned around and for the first time realized how much I would miss this place. I think that the role of alumni is extremely important. Despite the fact that AUCA is a relatively young institution, it has amazing alumni, both professional and creative. I strongly believe that we as alumni should support AUCA and its new generation of students. So, what's next for you? Honestly, I do not know, but whatever it might be, I am ready for the challenge! By Kemel Toktomushev AUCA Magazine*June 2011

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Aigul Kasymova (in the middle)

Alumni spotlight

Natalya Yassinskaya ’04:

Born to Lead

Natalya Yassinskaya graduated from AUCA in 2004 with a degree in Psychology. Since then she has worked in the human resources field in Central Asia, Europe, Middle East, and North America. In 2010 Natalya received her Master’s degree in Human Resource Development from George Washington University. Currently, our alumna resides in Washington, D.C. and works as an Organizational Development Consultant for The Washington Post, a world renowned media company. She leads the company’s efforts in new employee training and works with performance and succession management, leadership development, and team effectiveness.

In addition to her professional endeavors, Natalya has long been involved in volunteer work. In 2004, she served as the president of the AUCA Alumni Association, leading fundraising and network-building efforts. Natalya enjoys creative hobbies, like making digital art. In 2003 her artwork was used for a publication by AUCA professor Irina Nizovskaya. Why did you choose to attend AUCA? A friend of mine was studying at AUCA and kept writing to me about how great the university was, so I decided to visit Bishkek and see for myself. I was immediately taken in by the unique environment. There was this aura of perpetual action, excitement and dreams of an amazing future all around, which made me want to be a part of it. I applied and was accepted. Now I can honestly say that this was one of the best decisions I ever made. The AUCA experience shaped my approach to life and, to a large degree, determined my future. Who were your favorite professors? Why? I am very happy to use this opportunity to express my deepest respect and gratitude to two of the most amazing people – Aron Abramovich Brudnyi and Natalia 24

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Georgievna Slastnikova. Aron Abramovich was among the people who influenced me the most. I took his courses almost every semester during my four years at AUCA. At first, I had a hard time staying awake through his class. He spoke in a very low, calming voice and used very simple words and examples. His ideas seemed almost trivial to me and, to be frank, I could not understand what all the hype related to his classes was about. However, the longer I was exposed to his ideas, the more I became fascinated by the depth and agility of his mind. By my senior year Brudnyi’s classes were my favorite. It never ceased to amaze me how he applied his ideas on so many levels. In the instances where I could come up with 3 or 4 different answers for a question he posed, he could easily come up with 17. He taught us to think as psychologists more than anything else. And as if this was not enough, he was always kind, humorous, and genuinely concerned for his students. His passing is a great loss for all of us. I feel very lucky to have known him. Natalia Georgievna was my guardian angel through my university years. She was, and still is, a mentor and a role model for me. She is always full of energy, creativity and never-ending optimism. She

approached her students with a wide-open heart and a desire to help in any way she could. Natalia Georgievna was the one who stuck with me through all of the frustrations of thesis-writing. It is people like her who teach you to give back, because they have given so much to you without asking for anything in return. How did your education prepare you for your career? The best thing about AUCA was how comprehensive and all-encompassing the experience was. Through this complete immersion into AUCA life I not only received professional skills and knowledge, but, more importantly, I developed the ability to think for myself and to continuously learn. Making my own judgments, daring to have an opinion, always taking advantage of learning opportunities, being proactive in pursuing my goals – these skills I acquired at AUCA still prove to be essential on a daily basis. Moreover, they are valid across cultures, countries, and professional arenas. What motivates you in life? The concept of motivation is very volatile because it changes and evolves with my experiences. Looking back, I am quite amazed at how drastically my perspectives and goals changed over the years. For the past

Alumni spotlight

throughout my years of formal education. It is also extremely satisfying to see when things fall into the right places at work: clients’ issues get solved, or the whole organization goes through a system-wide change and starts functioning better. There are also other accomplishments that are more subtle, but extremely important to me personally, like one of my students saying that I have influenced her life choices. Yet others are bittersweet, like when I doubled the fundraising goal of my charity project, but could not shake off the feeling that, in a grand scheme of things, the sum raised is a drop in the sea. Overall, at this point of life I am most satisfied with my deeds that actually bring some value to the world.

What accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction? Accomplishments that are important to me form an eclectic mosaic. Some are more traditional, like being able to maintain an “A” average while working two jobs

If you had to live your life over again, what would you change? If I did it all over again, I would spend less time pondering over this very question “What could or should have been done differently?” It is important to learn your lessons from

successes and mistakes, but it is also important to let go of the past and keep moving on. East and West – home is best. What is home for you? To me home is not a specific place, but rather a compilation of important people, experiences, opportunities, and hopes – everything that makes up one’s life at a certain place. When I studied at AUCA, I missed my home city, Karaganda. But whenever I was in Karaganda for the holidays, I used to tell my parents stories about my “other home,” Bishkek. Now I live in Washington, D.C. and feel absolutely at home here. It is a cultural hub and a place where I have already witnessed several historical events in the short 3 years that I have lived here. More personally, though, D.C. for me is the people I have met here and the memories that stare at me from every other corner of the city. By Aliona Kim AUCA Magazine*June 2011

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couple of years, I’ve been very interested in the idea of “habitual charity.” There are numerous organizations all over the world, which work with advocacy issues and round up major donations for various needs. But I feel that much more can be done by making charity an ordinary and habitual practice. For my part, I organize 2-3 charity projects a year. They vary in scale and reach, and there are ups and downs in this work, but I do feel extremely motivated and happy when somebody, who considered the idea of charity completely alien, starts seeing it differently and actually participates in my projects or casually asks me several months later “What was that non-profit’s name? I want to donate my stuff next week.”

Alumni spotlight

Rashid Ivaev ’05 and Alima Ismankulova ’06:

Hand in Hand

Is AUCA a place where dreams come true? Well, it is definitely the right place to create a solid foundation for achieving your career goals. At the same time, AUCA is a great place to start life-long relationships with people who share your dreams and ambitions. Enter the 2003 King and Queen of the University - Rashid Ivaev (ECO 2005) and Alima Ismankulova (BA 2006) as they share their love story and professional success.

Rashid, Alima, you probably get this question a lot, but how did you story start? Rashid (R): Indeed, we have been asked this question many times. Our story started on the shore of beautiful Issyk-Kul. The academic year had just begun, and Nikolay Grigorievich Shulgin had organized a weekend trip to IssykKul to rehearse for the upcoming Initiation Ceremony. Alima was one of the freshmen students chosen for that trip. On the way to the lake, the guys on the bus were discussing “this young lady, who wore blue contact lenses during Orientation week.” Although I did not pay much attention at first, I was later intrigued, and was curious to see who had inspired so much interest. The first time I saw Alima, she was wearing sweatpants and had her hair in a ponytail under a baseball cap. It was definitely love at first sight. During that weekend I did everything possible to capture her attention, but I was not the only one. On our way back, I arranged it so that the other ‘competitors’ would not be on the same bus with Alima. That way, I got to enjoy four hours of her undivided attention. The next day I saw Alima at the university and did not recognize her. Instead of a girl with a ponytail, I saw a stylishly dressed,

AUCA Magazine*June 2011

beautiful girl with blue eyes, contact lenses in fact. This was fascinating and astonishing! For that entire month I did everything I could to see Alima and get to know her better. She finally agreed to date me, and on September 19th we had our first official date. We went to see the Japanese ballet at the Opera and Ballet Theater. To this day, we celebrate this date as one of our anniversaries. We got married on June 4, 2008, and this year will mark our third anniversary. What is your favorite way to spend a free evening? Restaurant, movies? R: In the past five years we have often had to live apart due to different circumstances. When we do see each other, we are happy to just stay home and enjoy each other’s company. At the same time, we are both “social butterflies,” and we like to spend time with our friends. In Bishkek, we have close circle of friends, with whom we always organize various activities, such as snowboarding and skiing trips, picnics, poker nights, etc. Alima and I often went to restaurants and movies when our relationship was just beginning. These activities create an intimate environment and allow two people to get to know each other. We still enjoy dining out and watching movies in the theater, but do

not do it as often. To summarize, we do not have one good way to spend a free evening, and we like to diversify as much as possible. Best memories of AUCA? What was most challenging? R: Let's play some word association here. What is AUCA? It is a perpetual crowd of students in Kitchenette; it is Room 105, the hub of all extracurricular activities, home of the Student Senate, and meeting room for many university clubs; it is CH-1, a place for student gatherings and internal events; it is the Student Room, officially a place for students to relax, but in reality, a place for students to miss classes; it is the moment of chaos, when a new timesheet for computer labs has been posted; it is the Library, where you can spot potential valedictorians; it is the many university celebrations, such as Orientation Week, Initiation, Halloween, Valentine's Day, and, of course, Commencement. This list can be endless! Alima (A): The most challenging was finding the right balance between our studies and all the university activities. I think we did rather well. Although we did not graduate as valedictorians, we managed to gain a solid educational foundation, participated in a lot of fun events, and made a huge number of friends!

Could you briefly describe your career path? What do you consider your greatest achievement? R: I started out in the tax and financial consulting field, but somehow it just did not click with me. When I switched to telecommunications, I realized that this was a much better fit. Having an interest in computer science and information technology, and being very communicative, I found my personal balance as an accounts manager at Cisco. I also enjoyed the flexible work hours and frequent business trips. Today I am working at NIL, a Slovenian data communications company focused on telecommunication solutions and training. I am heading our representative office in Uzbekistan, and my job is to expand NILâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presence in CIS countries. I believe that my greatest

achievements are yet to come. I have already accomplished a number of things, but I am sure that without AUCA, I would not have my lovely wife by my side, my job, and I would not be answering these questions. A: It is rather complicated. R: I want to add, on behalf of Alima, that she has worked in three different banks in the past five years: Kazkommertsbank, Demirbank and BTA Bank in Almaty. She obtained her Masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree at Rotterdam Business School in the Netherlands. However, she realized that this is not something she wants to do and found a new calling. Right now it is a secret, but it is going to be her own project. She has my full emotional and partial financial support, and soon enough we should be able to disclose the details of her initiative. What do you think makes

AUCA a special place? R & A: It is the people who make all the difference. Throughout its entire life, AUCA has been developed and supported by very special people. Through hardships and with the support of many enthusiastic and courageous people, such as Kamilla Sharshekeeva, George Soros, and the Kyrgyz government, AUCA has evolved from being just a department into a leading university in the region. What is more, the mass of talented students has driven the university to greater heights. It is still the same todayâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;many brilliant and interesting people manage the university, the brightest faculty teach the subjects, and an army of inspired students are actively involved in university life. Put it together, and they make AUCA truly special. Would you like to say something to our current students and AUCA Magazine*June 2011

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Alumni spotlight

those who are thinking of applying to AUCA? R: To all the current students, we hope you successfully finish your studies at AUCA. However, do not limit yourself to merely studying. Find additional activities within the university and participate in many clubs. This will help you develop a number of skills required for future success. To the graduating students, I recommend becoming an active member of our AUCA Alumni Association. We have to show that our alumni com-

AUCA Magazine*June 2011

munity is no less valuable than that of an Ivy League school. I would like to assure all prospective students that AUCA is the best place to gain your educational foundation. There is no other university in this region that creates such a special educational environment and gives so much freedom to its students. Each student can select his own path to graduation. I do not recall anyone ever being bored at the university. Everyone could find a class, activity or club that matched his or her interests.

It is definitely worth studying at AUCA! A: In general, be curious, be active and be flexible, and do not be afraid of obstacles that will occur along the way. If you had to live your life over again, what would you change? A: Nothing. Reallyâ&#x20AC;Ś R: I would not change anything in my own life. I am fully happy with my family, friends, and work. Of course, there are

Alumni spotlight

What are your plans for the next 3-5 years? A: I would like to settle in Kyrgyzstan for some time, lay a foundation here, and launch my own business. Of course, I want to continue travelling and discovering new places around the globe, and, probably, start planning a family. R: I am planning to get an MBA degree and to continue my career in the telecommunications industry. I see it evolving in one

of two ways: I will either work on further expanding my existing company, NIL, into other CIS countries, specifically Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine; or I will start my own business within this industry. Naturally, I will join Alima in her travelling and family plans. Anyone you would like to thank who has influenced you greatly? R & A: We believe every person we meet influences us in some way. However, the most significant influence is from our family, our teachers and classmates, our managers and colleagues and, of course, our friends. We thank all of them. R: My separate thank you message goes to my family, my Texas host parents, my parentsin-law, Almazbek and Elena Ismankulovs, my brother-in-law, Alibek Ismankulov, AUCA Dean of Students, Nikolay Shulgin, and my managers, Andrey Krasnikov,

William Radburn, Thomas Philippart De Foy, Ali Kuralkan, and Niksa Tomulic. R & A: We thank our best friends, Rinat Aksyanov, Erkin Adylov, Oleg Valiev, Zarrina Shamieva, Rafael Kim, Aliaskar Kiiizbaev, Indira Uzbekova, and Stepan Filshin. R: My biggest thank you goes to my second half, Alima, who has tremendously influenced me in the past 9 years and supports me in all my endeavors. A: I would like to thank my family for the continuous support I receive from them. R & A: We would also like to thank Kamilla Sharshekeeva for establishing AUK. We thank our alma mater, AUCA. And, finally, we want to thank AUCA Magazine for giving us an opportunity to share our message with the whole AUCA community. By Aliona Kim

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some bad things that happen to each of us, but, instead of changing them with a magic wand, I try to learn from my mistakes and do my best never to repeat them. Yet, if I WERE Harry Potter, then I would change one thing. Just recently I found out that my grandparents died due to lack of timely medical diagnosis and attention. So, if there was a magic opportunity to fix things in our past, I would make sure my grandparents received the required medical treatment.

AUCA Magazine*June 2011

Alumni spotlight

Zhanybek Saatov ’09 and Venera Kamalova ’09:

Gone with the “Fresh Wind” Zhanybek Saatov and Venera Kamalova graduated from AUCA in 2009 from the Business Administration and Economics departments, respectively. Fascinatingly, Zhanybek and Venera are not only partners in love, but also in business. Currently they run the travel agency “Fresh Wind” and are in the process of launching a new taxi service in Bishkek.

is, “Anyone can start, but the real achievement is to finish what you have begun!” At the moment, we are at an early stage of business development, and as young entrepreneurs, challenges are to be expected.

How did you start your business venture? Venera (V): After graduation I was thinking of what to do next. I always wanted to be a businesswoman like my idol, Oprah Winfrey. I see Kyrgyzstan as the future Mecca for tourism in Eurasia. Having done some research, I decided to open a travel agency, and today “Fresh Wind” is working in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Zhanybek (Zh): There are moments when, after achieving a certain goal, you have to move forward and grasp for new horizons. I worked in many different international companies and organizations, but after gaining some experience and 30

AUCA Magazine*June 2011

perspective, I decided it was not the path for me. I joined forces with Venera, and this year we decided to expand the range of services our company offers. Now, we will be providing taxi services, and because it is such a competitive market, we promise an individual approach to every client. Expect many pleasant surprises! Do you think that entrepreneurship is something that is in your blood, or is it something that can be learned? Zh: Entrepreneurship is an ability to make rational decisions at the right time and we think that it can be learned. Our motto

What stops you from throwing in the towel and giving up running your own business? Zh: This is our child, and we have put in a lot of effort, perseverance, time and financial investment into it. It would be foolish to give up now with success still in reach. We believe, as Georgii Pirtskhalashvili said, “A person who is honest and fair in his work will always succeed.” V: Never let anyone question you. Nothing is impossible, so strive for your dreams! Is there anyone you would like to thank? Zh & V: We would like to thank our parents for giving us so many opportunities and, of course, our dear friends for their endless support! AUCA played a very important role in our development as entrepreneurs. There, we received the necessary knowledge, skills, and inspiration, and it will always remain a very special place for us! By Kemel Toktomushev

students in action

Reyna Artur Kyzy '11:

Once again, AUCA students prove to be talented and driven young people. A bright example of this is Reyna Artur kyzy, a senior in the Sociology department. Reyna has recently won the international science forum "Lomonosov - 2011: Link between Times and Generations," which was organized by the M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU). After her brilliant presentation of her research, the high jury of the forum invited Reyna to continue her post-graduate studies at the prestigious university. The international forum "Lomonosov" is one the largest scientific youth congresses in the postSoviet sphere. This year it was even more distinguished, as it marked the 300th birthday of M.V. Lomonosov, the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the CIS, the Year of the Historical and Cultural legacy of CIS, and, finally, the 50th anniversary of the first space flight. The main goal of the

conference is to develop, enhance and stimulate scientific activity among a new generation of scientists. In fact, “Lomonosov – 2011" was included in the list of official events of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) by the unanimous decision of the CIS State Leaders Council. Almost 15,000 participants from different parts of the world attended the conference this year. Reyna's research was entered to compete in the "Sociology of Communication Systems" division. “Almost 1,500 participants presented their work in this particular division. Amongst them were not only students of various universities, but also graduate and PhD students,” explained Reyna. The research presented by Reyna was entitled “Violence on the Internet: Critical Discourse Analysis of News Flows.” In her work, she attempted to discover and analyze violent messages in the news circulation of several popular internet newspapers during last summer's events in Osh. Using critical discourse analysis, she tried to reveal expressed violence, its instigators, and power relations within the discourse on violence. “This conference was just a trial of my senior thesis before my thesis defense at AUCA. At the moment, I am in the deep and marvelous process

of writing my senior work, and it is quite sad that I am almost finished with it,” smiles Reyna. Noteworthy, Reyna is quite an experienced and active participant in international conferences. In 2009 she took part in a collaborative forum that focused on globalization in postSoviet countries. This sociological conference was held in Chita, Russia, and attracted students from a wide range of countries. In 2010, Reyna visited Dalian, China, to explore youth and child policies. In 2011, she participated in the international forum “Cultural Heritage and Its Contemporary Implications” in UlanBator, Mongolia. "I am very thankful to all my Sociology professors and to President Wachtel for their continuous support and encouragement!” Reyna is an international student at AUCA. She was born and raised in Russia, where she successfully graduated from a gymnasium specializing in history and literature. Although she was going to continue her studies in Moscow, her parents insisted that she attend AUCA. Now, as her studies come to a culmination, she happily admits that "parents' intuition never betrays!" "I chose sociology because of my desire to have a very flexible job with some philanthropic elements. I wanted to study and learn a great many things, and it is well known that sociology is one of the broadest and most comprehensive disciplines,” said Reyna. We would like to congratulate Reyna on her prestigious accomplishment, and wish her success in all her future endeavors!

By Kemel Toktomushev

AUCA Magazine*June 2011

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A Beautiful Mind

international accent

Freedom and Responsibility In cooperation with the Christian A. Johnson Endeavor Foundation, AUCA hosted an international student discussion on freedom and responsibility. Students from universities around the world took part in the dialogue. The event was held

at AUCA on April 29-30, 2011. The idea to organize this event evolved after AUCA introduced a new upper-level interdisciplinary course entitled “Individual Freedom and Social Responsibility: A Comparative Perspective.” The conference

was an extension of the main themes of the course. Its goal was to enhance students’ understanding of freedom and responsibility, and their interplay in local and international conditions. Students and professors

from the European College of Liberal Arts (ECLA), Bratislava International School of Liberal Arts (BISLA), and Bard College participated in the conference. The two-days were entirely student-oriented, and participating professors only moderated student discussions. The conference featured four student roundtables and four keynote speeches devoted

to the following questions: How do philosophical ideas on freedom and responsibility play out in today’s local communities as well as on the world stage? Can education help us engage in the development of a free and open society? What is our personal responsibility to participate in public life? Is ‘responsible freedom’ a universal idea? AUCA senior students took

a creative approach to the issues of freedom and responsibility. Maria Pliutina, AMS, discussed the subject from the worldview of Fyodor Dostoevsky and William James; Zoya Belmesova, ICP, examined religious liberty and human rights; Roza Ovezova, ICP, traced the evolution of personal responsibility into global responsibility in the nuclear age; and finally, Aizat

AUCA Magazine*June 2011

Zhakybalieva, ICP, delved into universal human values. Students from Bard College also raised interesting issues. Zachary Israel, Travis Bostick, and Jeremy Carter-Gordon discussed the responsibility to participate in public life, freedom and educational experience, and formation of the habit of voting, respectively.

BISLA students explored the philosophical aspects of freedom and responsibility. Peter VĂĄclavĂk looked at it in the context of liberal morality; Zuzana Jasenkova questioned whether individual freedom is a realistic notion; and Katarina Mrvova wondered if individual freedom can coexist with social responsibility.

Finally, the ECLA team studied freedom and responsibility through a social prism. Madalina Rosca considered the problem of responsible journalism; Gabriela Ionascu analyzed the interplay of freedom and responsibility in the postcommunism context; and Sarah Junghans presented freedom as a condition and responsibility as

an expression of relationships. For two days participants worked intensively in an atmosphere of intellectual collaboration and mutual understanding. Our international guests were treated to a city tour and vivid cultural program. AUCA students Dasha Gettueva and Misha Shakhnazarov organized a wonderful itinerary to show our guests the culture and tradi-

tions of our country. AUCA would like to thank the participants of the conference and all the contributors who helped make this event so enjoyable and fruitful, especially students from the Freedom and Responsibility class. Thanks also go to Ellen Hurwitz, AUCA President Emerita, and Samuel Abraham, Rector of BISLA, for sharing their ideas on freedom

and responsibility. Thank you to the professors from ECLA, Bartholomew Ryan and Bruno Macaes, for the interesting discussions. And special thanks, finally, to Mrs. Julie J. Kidd, President of Christian A. Johnson Endeavor Foundation, for making this conference possible.

By Makhinur Mamatova

AUCA Magazine*June 2011

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international accent

soaring eagles

Protecting Human Rights On March 17, 2011, the department of International and Business Law organized an interuniversity conference on human rights entitled "Problematic Aspects of Human Rights Protection in the Legal System of the Kyrgyz Republic." The conference was supported by the Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) and the Open Society Institute. Amongst the honored guests were Ombudsman of KR Tursunbek Akun, Supreme Court Justice Baktygul Amanalieva, leading specialist at the Center for Coordination of the Legislative Activities of the Government of KR Louise Maatkarimova, and director of the American Bar Association and the Action Group on the rule of law Azamat Kerimbayev. The conference was attended by representatives of civil society and a number of law firms. "The subject of human rights protection is important in different spheres of life. Therefore, we decided to involve students in the discussion and also gave teachers an opportunity to consider whether a human rights component should be introduced into the law curriculum," shared Kanykey Kasybekova of the International and Business Law department. This event demonstrated studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; understanding of human rights. Students proposed various initiatives to promote the importance of human rights. The best projects will be published, and their authors rewarded with a cash prize. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our department has existed since 1998, and its mission is to train a new generation of lawyers. They will possess the analytical thinking and practical legal skills that will enable them to create a society based on the rule of law," concluded Ms. Kasybekova. 34

AUCA Magazine*June 2011

soaring eagles

Becoming Business Tycoons

On March 28-31, 2011 the Business Administration Department, in cooperation with Arnhem Business School, organized a business game simulation. During this intensive, four-day simulation, student participants managed real businesses through six business cycle periods spanning six-months. Acting as members of the senior management board of a commercial firm, participants had to develop and implement marketing and business development strategies to ensure that their companies would function effectively in their respective market. Business games of this kind have already been

conducted by the Arnhem Business School in a number of cities, including Moscow, London, and Sophia. Such workshops enable participants to gain managerial skills and develop a broad-minded approach to tackling the diverse challenges of operating a business. For the simulation game at AUCA, the market consisted of 10 firms, each represented by a team of 3 to 4 participants, operating in the same industry. Every firm received a set of financial documents showing the health of the firm and then had to develop business strategies to improve their firm’s performance. The jury consisted of Professors Roel Kalkwijk and Piet Post from the Arnhem Business School. They judged the quality of each firm’s decisions by looking at the demand for their products. “We believe that this game will help participants understand that a firm’s performance depends on the decisions made by other groups, market conditions, and the state of the economy. In addition, this course effectively integrates the concepts of accounting, marketing, finance, human resource management, manufacturing, resource planning, international activity as well as creative thinking in a simulated business environment,” emphasized Robert Anderson, Chair of the Business Administration Department.

The American University of Central Asia hosted the first interuniversity economic conference, "Competitiveness of the Economy - the Key to Future Prosperity of the Country.” The conference was organized by the AUCA Economics department jointly with the Ministry of Economic Regulations and the GIZ Program “Promoting Sustainable Economic Growth". “This is the first such event attended by students from all higher education institutions of the capital. Prior to the conference, the organizers announced a contest for the best research project. Over 20 papers were received, and a special evaluation committee was set up, headed by Professor Charles Becker from Duke University, USA,” shares Rahat Sabyrbekov of

the Economics department. The winning project dealt with the textile industry and was submitted by Aykanysh Ataknova, an AUCA student. Second place

was awarded to a student from the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University, Asel Umarova, and third place went to Azamat Sulaimanov from the Kyrgyz National University. AUCA Magazine*June 2011

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Key to Prosperity

soaring eagles

AUCA Spring Cup “Ole! Ole! Ole!” were the excited cries of football fans as AUCA student team Unreal Madrid won the final match of AUCA Spring Cup. This victory ended the AUCA Alumni six-year domination of the Football Cup, as Unreal Madrid crushed all on-comers at Futbolistan Stadium on April 9-10, 2011. Tengelbes Musaev, an AUCA student and organizer of the AUCA Football Cup, announced that 2011 was the biggest field in the tournament's history. 14 teams represented students, alumni, staff and faculty. The 2005 Alumni team was the pre-tournament favorite. However, they stumbled against President

Andrew Wachtel’s team, 50+, a team of staff and alumni, in the quarter-finals. As for 50+, it won the bronze medal, beating the alumni team 104 Calibers in penalty kicks after a 4-4 tie at the end of regulation. Meanwhile, Unreal Madrid faced another student team, PES, in the finals. Though one of PES's key players was unable to recover from an injury sustained earlier in the tournament, PES battled to the last minute of the tournament. It was not enough, however, as splendid play by Unreal Madrid and their MVP, Marlen Alishev, ran roughshod over the competition, including a 5-0 result in the final game. Faruh Abaev of Unreal Madrid became the top scorer of the tournament with 13 goals. Tengelbes Musaev received the Best Goalkeeper award. The alumni team 104 Calibers received an award for “Competitiveness.” AUCA’s very own president Andrew Wachtel was awarded with the "Best Newcomer Award." Congratulations to the AUCA Football Cup Champions Unreal Madrid. Glory, Unreal Madrid, Glory! By Kemel Toktomushev

AUCA Magazine*June 2011

my career

No One Needs a Diploma Today

On February 11, 2011, a guest lecturer came to AUCA to discuss a provocative article entitled “No one needs a diploma today.” The article was published by the Bishkek Business Club, and nobody is more appropriate with which to discuss this controversial article than the director of the Club himself, Mr. Uluk Kydyrbaev. The article instigated an exciting conversation as to what today’s employers look for in a job applicant. Mr. Kydyrbaev began his interesting talk by asking the students a seemingly simple question, “Why do you attend the University?” Although the question dismayed students at first, they soon engaged in a lively conversation as to why they each chose to attend university. Some claimed obtaining knowledge as the reason for enrolling, others viewed university education as a stepping-stone towards a future career, and

some just found it interesting to study. Following the student responses, Mr. Kydyrbaev challenged the students further, asking them whether a diploma helps one secure a job, elevate social status, or earn more money. All of these questions sparked an absorbing debate, with students avidly promoting the importance of their diplomas. “No one looks at your diploma, if you do not have practical skills,” Mr. Kydyrbaev asserted. However, students seemed skeptical to accept this statement. In a joking manner, Mr. Kydyrbaev explained that it is not the diploma that makes one stand out. Rather, it is the practical experience and the inventive ideas that one has to offer that catches employers’ attention. The guest speaker made the disclaimer that university education is still important as it teaches you to think. While a diploma is not the determining factor in obtaining a job, it certainly plays a role. Mr. Kydyrbaev explained the dichotomy of his opinion, “I am for education, but I want to fight the erroneous cliché that you must have a diploma in order to have a better life than everyone else”. As the presentation came to an end, Mr. Kydyrbaev imparted one last message to the students, “Do what you enjoy doing most.” Filled with jokes and laughter, the presentation was a huge success with students, who left the room still enthusiastically discussing the raised issues. The event was organized by Advising and Career Services.

On April 8, 2011, AUCA hosted the annual Career Fair “Generation of Future Leaders.” The event was organized by the Advising and Career Services. “The main goal of the event was to give young

professionals and students an opportunity to become familiar with the modern business environment, to learn about requirements of today’s employers, as well as to present themselves to the labor market as young, motivated, and enthusiastic people with a high level of knowledge and skills,” emphasized Lira Djuraeva, director of Advising and Career Services. Along with AUCA students and alumni, students of KRSU, KNU, and Manas University participated in the fair. Twelve companies were present at the event with Demir Bank acting as the Platinum Sponsor and Coca-Cola Bishkek Bottlers as the Golden Sponsor. “Mobile operators, micro credit and audit companies, tour operators and international organizations had a chance to recruit the future elite of Central Asia. In addition, they were able to choose the best of its representatives from the large army of graduates of the leading universities of the country,” noted Lira Djuraeva. AUCA Magazine*June 2011

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A Generation of Future Leaders

Community Outreach

Teaching Enterprise T h e C o n t i n u i n g E d u c a t i o n C e n t e r w o r k s w i t h N ATO t o c re a t e a n e w c o u r s e o n s m a l l b u s i n e s s administration

The American University of Central Asia has won a grant to invite former Kyrgyz Republic servicemen to enroll in a new course that was created within the framework of NATOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s military staff retraining program. The main goal of the program is to create opportunities and promote business skills amongst retired military servants. The course is specifically designed for servicemen that have retired in the past three years. The CEC/NATO program will provide 350 academic hours of instruction that will span three months. The curriculum includes master-class38

AUCA Magazine*June 2011

es such as Enterprise Management, Marketing, Finance, Taxes, and Business Communication. The project aims to provide former servicemen with basic knowledge of the local and international market, and an understanding of basic business and economic practices. By the end of the course, students are expected to be able to run a small, competitive business. Moreover, course participants will be informed of various events and employment opportunities. This project will help people that have had no opportunities to realize their business potential.

"This project is a great chance for retired military servants to adapt to civilian life and discover new career opportunities. The Continuing Education Center has all the resources to ensure the success of this program. Moreover, the CEC wishes to contribute to the development of civil society. We are proud to partake in this great project and are honored to be NATOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s choice as an educator," shared Natalia Slastnikova, Director of the Continuing Education Center. By Saltanat Ibraeva

Community Outreach

A Concert of Unity

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On April 6, 2011, the American University of Central Asia held a Charity Concert “Give me your Hand – We Should Be Together!” All proceeds were donated to the Children's Cancer Center and to the family of Aidana Sakeeva, who recently died from cancer. Among the performers at the concert were Yulia Rutskaya, Salkynai Alieva, and Nurbek Savitahunov. Through this event Unity Fund volunteers hoped to attract public attention to the issue of children's cancer. “We planned to organize a charity event to help Aidana financially to fight her oncological illness. Unfortunately, we were too late. We wanted then to honor the memory of Aidana Sakeeva and Islambek Tologon Tegin, our friend and teammate who also struggled with this horrible disease,” explained Vasip Ramazanov, a member of the Unity Fund. The Unity Fund was established after the tragic June events in southern Kyrgyzstan. According to Karlygach Nurmambetova, an activist of the club, “Initially, we were doing some fundraising to deliver humanitarian aid to Osh. But as more and more volunteers joined our group, we began to implement different charity projects and help children in Bishkek and Belovodsk.” This group of young enthusiasts even founded a small educational center for orphaned children where they learn English. “We hope that the membership of our club will increase, since we believe that together we can help many people!” optimistically concluded the members of the Unity Fund. AUCA Magazine*June 2011

giving to the university

What Is a Picture Worth? Renowned Photographer and Professor Hersh Chadha has made a career of telling stories through his art. Now, Professor Chadha is helping the next generation of storytellers through a generous donation to AUCA. The gift, in excess of $500,000 US, will be used to support the activities of the Journalism and Mass Communications department, student scholarships, and the new campus Construction. When the new campus is complete, the rooms that house the special video and photographic equipment of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communications will be named after the Chadha Family. In addition, Professor Chadha’s donation will support at least 20 partial tuition scholarships for students in the Program of Journalism and Mass Communication. The first cohort of Chadha Family Journalism Scholars will be chosen in the 2011 Fall semester. Professor Chadha backs his commitment to demonstrating the value of photography through action, and he has inspired countless apprentices to express themselves through pictures. During his visit to AUCA in April, Professor Chadha delivered public lectures on photography, presented his books Visions of Nature and With Ink & Film to the AUCA library, and led a photography workshop for students. He also recruited three AUCA students to study photography with him in Dubai

AUCA Magazine*June 2011

AUCA sincerely thanks those who have given their time and money in support of the university's mission, especially: Gifts and Grants 2010-2011 Friends of AUCA

this summer, continuing to donate his time to mentor and develop AUCA's promising students. AUCA students were particularly enthused to learn the nuances of fashion photography from the master himself. “These trainings were fabulous! We were divided into two groups and each had a ‘theme’ to develop. The theme for the indoor group was ‘retro,’ with models dressed up in retro style outfits. The outdoor group had a ‘wedding dress’ theme, and models donned beautiful wedding gowns,” excitedly shared Svetlana Verchenko, a senior from the JMC department, who was also chosen for an internship with Professor Chadha in Dubai. Andrew Wachtel, AUCA President, announced the gift saying, “Professor Chadha's investment in the future of Central Asian journalism is timely and important. Equally valuable are his personal time and financial contributions to AUCA and its students. Looking forward to further collaboration and outreach, AUCA is grateful to Professor Chadha, and wishes him many more inspiring chapters to his life's story.” Professor Hersh Chadha resides in the UAE, where he works with a number of wildlife agencies conserving Arabian wildlife, and has made significant photographic contributions to these agencies.

Aisha Agivetova Alan Niazi Anonymous Students Bard College Dora Thomas Browder Ellen Hurwitz Gulnara Dreier Helen Smith Hersh Chadha Informational Center DAAD Indiana University Irina Korobina Ivan Nesterov Linda M. Ashley Mary Schweitzer Martha Merrill Medlin Lehardy Open Society Institute Rotary Club Yuriy Maltsev Board of Trustees Dede Bartlett Emita Hill Jonathan Becker Stanislav Karpovich Ulan Sarbanov William Newton-Smith Faculty & Staff А. Adjibekova А. Morozova Aleksander Shklyarov Aleksandra Sasykova Asel Shekinova E. Niyazova Ekaterina Kombarova Elena Alyushina Evgeniy Eremeev Makhinur Mamatova Nikolay Shulgin Rustam Hairullin S. Kurochkin Alumni Aijan Chynybaeva Anonymous Alumnus Ashim Kulcharov Cholponbek Jumashukurov Elbek Muslimov Elnura Osmonalieva Farida Abdulhafizova Jyldyz Oskoeva Kubat Alymkulov Temirbek Chodurov

Open Doors for the Next Generation of Leaders AUCA is the best university in Central Asia for a reason. We only to educate students who want to change the world that surrounds them. AUCA provides students with the ability to think critically, act globally, and solve the problems of tomorrow. AUCA alumni now serve as leaders in their communities, in Central Asia, and around the world.

Join AUCA by opening doors for a future leader in your community.

Financial gifts to AUCA transform the lives of Central Asiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most promising students. To learn how you can contribute, please go to: www.auca.kg/en/giving or contact Sven Stafford at: www.auca.kg

stafford_s@mail.auca.kg American Univeristy of Central Asia is a not-for-profit univeristy, and all donations are tax deductible in the United States.

AUCA Magazine*June 2011