AUCA Magazine Fall 2014

Published by American University of Central Asia | Bishkek | Kyrgyz Republic

American University of Central Asia

AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

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ГДЕ МЫ ИСПОЛЬЗУЕМ ВИДЕО-ИНФОГРАФИКУ? (Инфографика – это новая технологическая система, способная превратить массив информации в понятную и легкую для восприятия форму. Прибавьте к этому большой инструментарий визуализации и копирайтинга, и вы увидите, как цифры и объемы данных перестают быть скучными. Для нас контент является ДНК, поэтому его создание и монетизация - задача номер один!)

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AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

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CONTENTS 04 President’s Column 05 Editor’s Note University Update 06 AUCA Committed to Giving Books to Rural Libraries 07 Special Screening of Kurmanjan Datka for AUCA students 08 Tian Shan Policy Center Presentation at Bir Duino Film Festival 09 CASI “Intersection of History and Literature” Workshop 10 Almaz Sazbakov On the Future of AUCA and the Kyrgyz Republic The Future of AUCA 13 Professor Gülmira Düisheeva at the Forefront of Kyrgyz Language Instruction 14 Environmental Management and Sustainable Development Program Offers New Opportunities to AUCA Students

16 New ‘Enterprise Resource Planning’ System Leading the Way Among Central Asian Universities 18 Building an Ongoing Relationship with AUCA, Brick by Brick 20 AUCA Interviews - Salkynbek Tashbaev: “Life is Like a Boomerang” 22 American University of Central Asia Working with the First World Nomad Games Student Profiles 28 New Generation Academy: Preparing Students for the Future 31 Student Reporting on NewEurasia 32 Saibhan Nadirov: Life Lessons From a Semester Abroad Alumni Spotlight 34 -37

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

Publication Team Editor-in-Chief: Stephen Lioy Russian Content Editor: Dinara Orozbaeva Contributors: Asel Amatova Christopher Baker Aaron Chalmers Daria Chebakova Gulazor Gulmamadova Nurzhan Kadyrkulova Zheenbek Kulenbekov Rustam Niyazov Dinara Orozbaeva Daniele Rumolo Begimai Sataeva Diana Tsoi

Pictures: AUCA Archives Emil Akhmatbekov Yuri Kim Stephen Lioy Zhamilya Sagyndykova Anastasiia Shevtsova Bakhrom Tursunov

Design and Layout: Emil Akhmatbekov

On the cover: AUCA Campus Scale Model Photography by Emil Akhmatbekov.

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: pr@mail.auca.kg, www.auca.kg

President's Column

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ear Alumni, Students, and Friends of AUCA; This issue of our AUCA magazine is devoted primarily to a consideration of the future of the university. When I can escape from the tyranny of my in-box, this is a topic I think about a lot. Recently I have had a chance to think about it even more in the context of a consulting project in which I am involved, which aims to improve the quality of Russian universities. Seeing what our colleagues are doing in the broad sphere of higher education in the CIS spurs me to imagine what AUCA can become over the next five to ten years.

Of course, at the moment, most of our energy is going to finishing the building project. However, a building is nothing more than a physical space – it doesn’t teach anyone (although we will try to use ours as a text book at times, so perhaps it will to some extent), it doesn’t do research, and it doesn’t build programs. What really matters is not the physical space but the people in the space and the inspiration that drives them. As a central part of our mission

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AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

President’s Message statement, we claim to “prepare future leaders for the democratic transformation of Central Asia.” I think that the new programs we will unveil in the years to come will precisely focus on that mission, while nevertheless broadening our conception of it significantly. When AUCA began, probably the single biggest area of need was to build the Kyrgyz economy. It seemed obvious that business and professional legal skills had been completely absent in the USSR, so a focus on law and business was justified. To be sure, even today Kyrgyzstan still needs qualified people with expertise in these areas and we will continue to produce them. However, it has become abundantly clear that for Central Asian societies to flourish, people with a broader range of skills will be required. And AUCA proposes to create them!

In this issue you can read about AUCA’s new program in Environmental Management and Sustainable Development, that will produce professionals who can help understand both the development needs of the country and its citizens

and the needs of investors who would help to grow various sectors of the Kyrgyz economy, from sustainable agriculture and building, to mining and energy. We have also expanded and will continue to expand our offerings in Computer Science, Mathematical Modeling, and Applied Science, having come to see that a new generation of specialists who possess technical skills is desperately needed if the region is to grow and develop. Finally, we are currently discussing the possibility of a program in design, again probably with a focus on the interface between creative design ideas and the technologies needed to bring them to life.

As always, we welcome your ideas, your visits to campus and your support for our activities. We hope to see all of you in the course of this year, especially at the grand opening of our new campus, which will take place sometime this spring.

Andrew Wachtel President, AUCA

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Editor’s note

hat, exactly, is ‘The Future of AUCA’?

I posed this question to a number of students recently, in the guise of a midterm project for the photography class I co-teach. Some of their responses, proposals like a student diligently hitting the books with a cup of coffee at hand or a more abstract depiction of flags showing all the many nationalities of students who attend classes at AUCA, represent

the diverse reality of the university now and the continued growth of that diversity moving forward. Other thoughts, composite shots combining elements of the new campus and the current one or representing very modern student events in the decidedly old-school Conference Hall 1, embrace the linear progression of AUCA from its founding in 1993 to the today and forward to a suggestion of what comes next.

Perhaps some of the most creative answers to this question

came out of discussions about what should be on the cover of the very issue of AUCA Magazine that you hold in your hands. An artistic representation of the new campus as it will look upon completion, surrounded by memories of our present and past to provide a sense of continuity? Maybe a representation of the next new AUCA campus, a century into the future when students commute to their space-borne studies via rockets rather than marshrutka?

It seems clear to me that every individual on campus has their own unique understanding of what ‘The Future of AUCA’ might look like, but the chief point that really struck me was that the interpretations of this question I heard were overwhelmingly positive. Students, staff, and faculty alike show excitement for the future of the school and enthusiasm about the many new projects that are underway to enhance the AUCA experience. In this issue we’ll examine a number of those projects, some of which you’ve probably already heard about and others which have been mostly off the radar until now.

After you’ve finished reading, we would also like to hear what readers see for ‘The Future of AUCA’ from your own perspective. Connect with us on Facebook at ‘American University of Central Asia’ or on Instagram and Twitter at ‘MyAUCA’ to let us know what you expect and hope for the future of the university.

Thank you for reading, thank you for connecting, and thank you as always for being part of the AUCA community. It is the Friends, Staff, Alumni, and Students of the school that make the American University of Central Asia such a special place – and I look forward to exploring together with all of you The Future of AUCA. Stephen Lioy Editor-in-Chief AUCA Magazine

AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

Published by American University of Central Asia | Bishkek | Kyrgyz Republic

Editor’s Note

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Giving Books to Rural Libraries

yrgyzstan’s literacy rate stands at an impressive 99% according to official United Nations data, but for many rural libraries in the country access to modern reading materials for youth is difficult due to lack of funding.

Annually since 2004, the American University of Central Asia has engaged with regional libraries across the Kyrgyz Republic to help support reading opportunities for youth by holding a “Giving Books to Rural Libraries” event to provide interesting, funny, or treasured cultural works to small libraries across the country.

While 2013 saw donations offered to libraries throughout Chuy Oblast, in 2014 the American University of Central Asia partnered with the Osh Regional Library to reach schoolchildren in the south of the country. The nearly 4,000 items donated in 2014 ranged from books formerly used by AUCA’s Academic Departments to English- and other-language grammar textbooks and children’s books.

According to Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Culture, Information, and Tourism there are nearly 1100 libraries across the country, of which 926 are located in rural areas. AUCA is proud to support literacy in these regions. While the campaign has closed for 2014 we encourage all of our Alumni, Students, and Friends of the University to participate in the 2015 book collection campaign to support the provision of reading materials for the youth of rural Kyrgyzstan.

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AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

Aaron Chalmers

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tudents of AUCA’s New Generation Academy (NGA) were able to interact with Sadyk Sher-Niyaz, the director of the recently released Kurmanjan Datka, after a special screening of the film on the 27th of September. AUCA’s Aaron Chalmers was lucky enough to sit down with Sadyk after the commotion and photo-ops died down for an unexpected interview. Their 3-hour discussion ranged from his film and other historical epics, the state of the Kyrgyz film industry, and ended with him quizzing Aaron about the formula for the radius of a circle…here are just a few highlights.

Mr. Sher-Niyaz told us about the specially trained tiger from Moscow, and how “If it got hungry, it would eat me first, because...” trailing off as he gestured to his ample stomach. The shoot schedule however was nothing if not tight, “we finished shooting the movie in 2 years, but only had 2 months a year to film in the mountains because of lighting,” he told us.

Sadyk delved into his struggles with English as well, sharing a story in which he had a meeting with film festival officials in Montreal. They wondered why he was so angry with them; but to himself he was simply beginning his sentences with a forceful, “fact!” A word, unfortunately, easily misheard.

Regardless, Kurmanjan Datka still received standing ovations and additional screenings at the Montreal World Film Festival; he hopes that the film’s festival and critical success will snowball into a wide release in U.S. cinemas.

When asked about his future film ideas, he told us “every director has 5 or 6 scripts in his head,” and that he wanted to focus on “historical epics, especially about Kyrgyzstan.” All of us here at AUCA wish Sadyk Sher-Niyaz future success, and extend our thanks to him for his time and the special attention paid to our NGA students.

Image courtesy of Sadyk Sher-Niyaz

AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

Published by American University of Central Asia | Bishkek | Kyrgyz Republic

Special screening of Kurmanjan Datka for AUCA with director Sadyk Sher-Niyaz

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AUCA Updates

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AUCA’s Tian Shan Policy Center Supports the Inauguration of the Bir Duino Kyrgyzstan Human Daniele Rumolo Rights Film Festival in Bishkek

n October 7th the Tian Shan Policy Center (TSPC) of the American University of Central Asia attended the inauguration of the eighth edition of the Bir Duino Kyrgyzstan Human Rights Film Festival, the largest human rights event of its kind in the country. In accordance with its leading role on human rights research in Central Asia, the TSPC delivered a presentation on the topic of this year’s festival: the fundamental importance of the respect, protection, and fulfillment of the right to development.

Daniele Rumolo, Human Rights Program Manager for the TSPC, spoke before an audience composed of Kyrgyz government authorities, representatives of civil society, international organizations, and embassies. The TSPC presentation stressed that in order to achieve the goal of sustainable development, it is paramount to adopt a human rights-based approach in the design and implementation of projects. Additionally, Daniele highlighted the fact that the Kyrgyz Republic is in the process of undergoing reviews of its human rights records by a number of human rights treaty bodies such as the Universal Periodic Review; 8

AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

the Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights; the Convention on the Rights of the Child; and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. The outcomes of these reviews will pose a number of challenges to Kyrgyz government and civil society that can only be adequately and efficiently addressed through a coordinated rights-based approach. The TSPC concluded its address by offering its full support to Kyrgyz authorities and national and international organizations to ensure that future policies, legislative acts, projects, and activities will be developed in accordance with human rights principles and obligations.

Over the course of the five-day film festival from the 7th to 11th of October, thirty films were shown in the Kyrgyz, Russian, and English languages. With half of these films made by Kyrgyz filmmakers and the rest by international experts, the Bir Duino Film Festival offered an opportunity to analyze issues that included the right to development, migration, business and human rights, environmental risks, and youth in prison. Details of the 2014 program and additional information for next year’s festival can be found at the Bir Duino website: www.birduino.kg.

AUCA Updates

CASI Holds First Annual Workshop, “Intersections of History and Literature in Central Asia”

was notable for the high quality of its submissions and for the diversity of themes participants explored.

Topics ranged from examinations of literature in post-Soviet Kazakhstan to studies of literary movements and figures in the Soviet contexts of Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan as well as those among the Uyghur populations of the Soviet Union and China. Other papers examined literary efforts to establish Bukhara as the center of the Islamic world and explored the differences in and among Kazakh zar zaman poets, a literary movement whose apocalyptic and religious themes the Kazakh writer Mukhtar Auezov first began to explore in the Soviet era.

to in-depth analyses, critiques, and discussions. Boram Shin, a scholar of Uzbek history and literature from Cambridge, wrote in an email after the workshop that “it gave me time to really think about how to improve my current project and explore different approaches to expand it. I was also delighted to meet colleagues who have so many brilliant ideas which I believe will materialize into several panels, conferences, special editions, if not books.” Diana Kudaibergenova, also a scholar from Cambridge, has recently submitted a six-page description of the workshop for publication on the blog of the Central Eurasian Studies Society; it includes detailed outlines of every

“It gave me time to really think about how to improve my current project and explore different approaches to expand it. I was also delighted to meet colleagues who have so many brilliant ideas which I believe will materialize into several panels, conferences, special editions, if not books.”

Participants in the workshop made favorable note of the efforts put into organizing the event and in using a format that allowed for true, interactive discussions. Rather than have participants present papers, the workshop mandated that all submissions be provided a month in advance so that the workshop could be wholly devoted

paper as well as photos from the event. Ms. Kudaibergenova noted in her own thank you email to CASI that “I must admit it was one of the best workshops I’ve been to in the last couple of years in terms of the level of preparation, the intellectual and methodological strength of the papers, and the overall organic relatedness of the selected essays.”

AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

Published by American University of Central Asia | Bishkek | Kyrgyz Republic

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ith the support of a generous grant from USAID, the Central Asian Studies Institute (CASI) held its first annual workshop on history and literature from August 29-31 on the AUCA campus in Bishkek. The purpose of the threeday workshop was less to develop a narrow, focused theme than to gather a core group of scholars committed to exploring the intersection of history and literature in the Central Asian past. It is CASI’s intent to make this workshop an annual event, providing a forum for an enduring and ongoing examination of the ways in which literature illuminates history and also of the varied ways in which histories and past contexts mark literatures, literary movements, and novels.

The workshop attracted scholars from a variety of prestigious universities in Europe and the United States such as Harvard, Princeton, and Cambridge. The first two days of the event were devoted to in-depth examinations of submitted papers. The final day involved a broader dialogue and planning session on the organization of future workshops; the goal was to design topics that might help shape and bring into focus emergent themes in the study of history and literature in Central Asia, a broad field of inquiry whose contours are still largely undefined. The workshop

Christopher Baker

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AUCA Updates

Almaz Sazbakov

Director of Investment Promotion Agencies, On the Future of AUCA and the Kyrgyz Republic

“The strategic location of the Kyrgyz Republic between China and Russia makes our country unique. Our market is expanding. We have the factors for success in attracting investments: availability of funds, openness to regional and international markets, democracy, a good investment climate, and a liberal and open society where doing business is quite comfortable.�

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hile addressing current students at the American University of Central Asia on October 7th, alumnus Almaz Sazbakov (Business Administration 2002) presented a lecture on the state of the investment economy in Kyrgyzstan and tips on how students can prepare for success in their careers once they graduate. After this presentation he also 10

AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

took time out of his schedule as the Director of Investment Promotion Agencies Under the Ministry of Economy to delve further into questions of investment in Kyrgyzstan, the importance of the AUCA culture for students and society as a whole, and what he would like to see for the University as AUCA moves towards its own future.

According to Director Sazbakov, the Kyrgyz Republic is facing a shortage

of skilled workers in all sectors and needs universities like AUCA to continue to produce educated and well-prepared students to contribute to every aspect of the growth of the country. While there is no guaranteed path for any individual student’s success, a curriculum such as that of the American University of Central Asia allows students to study to their own strengths as they choose their courses while still ensuring that they are exposed to a wide variety of topics to produce graduates that are not only welllearned in their chosen field but also able to incorporate lessons from a varied background into their work after graduation. This is good news for students as well as the country itself, of course, and when discussing the future of Kyrgyzstan and the economy thereof Mr. Sazbakov describes a very optimistic outlook: “The strategic location of the Kyrgyz Republic between China and Russia makes our country unique. Our market is expanding.

We have the factors for success in attracting investments: availability of funds, openness to regional and international markets, democracy, a good investment climate, and a liberal and open society where doing business is quite comfortable.”

This bodes particularly well for an institution like AUCA, as he goes on to say, which promotes ideas of openness, democracy, critical thinking, and advancement of public dialogue.

For students who want to pursue opportunities in governance, it is particularly important to combine this strong academic background with practical experience from internships and working. The impetus is on students to be proactive during their college career to pursue the opportunities available to them, whether through student groups like AIESEC or the many internship programs (both in Kyrgyzstan and abroad) that AUCA offers with partner schools and organizations.

Equally important, however, is

that the University itself should be working towards closer ties with the private sector and those in governance to continue to create additional possibilities for students to succeed.

Reflecting on his own student days, Almaz Sazbakov described a special culture among the students of AUCA that expressed itself often in small ways during his time at the University. Some of these were simple, events like ‘Movie Night’ where students gathered regularly to socialize in an environment that was open to and welcoming of all. Others, like annual collection drives to gather donations and deliver them to orphanages, were important not only because of the items donated but also for the look on a child’s face after knowing that someone had made time to spend with them. As an alumnus of AUCA, Almaz says

that he is happy to provide help for current students when he has the chance, and suggests that other alumni would be very willing to do the same.

Looking towards the future of the country, Director Sazbakov says that the investment climate in Kyrgyzstan is welcoming and presents numerous opportunities for new graduates both in governance and the private sector.

Several of his coworkers in the Ministry of Economy are, in fact, recent graduates of the American University of Central Asia. It is hard to say exactly what changes the future will bring, but the time ahead looks positive for the Kyrgyz Republic, the American University of Central Asia, and current students looking for an opportunity to contribute to the growth and development of both of the former.

AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

Published by American University of Central Asia | Bishkek | Kyrgyz Republic

AUCA Updates

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The Future of AUCA

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the future of auca

n the last issue of AUCA Magazine we discussed the impressive architectural innovations on the new campus, projects like a groundbreaking new geothermal system to reduce power consumption and modular classrooms that can be adapted to the sizes and spaces necessary for any given gathering of students. We’ve also described before the many creative spaces to be found on the next AUCA campus, Mass Media and Journalism labs to spark creative exchange between members of the student body and a number of exhibition and performances venues to showcase the final products of those creative sessions.

Less discussed but no less interesting, however, are the many behind-the-scenes and programming changes that are on the way.

Additional majors and minors for AUCA students to choose from, a remarkable new cashless payment processing system that will obviate the need for students and faculty to carry money on school grounds, and projects like an experimental farm that will give students hands-on experience in their disciplines without having to leave campus.

The variety of new opportunities that will be available to students of the American University of Central Asia once we move to our new campus would itself be enough to fill an entire issue of the AUCA Magazine, but for now we focus on three

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AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

particular innovations. Well behind the veil of what most student and alumni ever see of the inner workings of the University, a new SAP computer program is being designed to dramatically enhance the way we analyze information and the strength of decisions made on the basis of that information. At the forefront of student learning, on the other hand, is the Environmental Management for Sustainable Development program that is currently in its second year and will continue to grow as the University does. Finally we discuss an opportunity for every friend, student, and alumnus of American University of Central Asia to become a lasting part of the new campus itself through the ‘AUCA Bricks’ program.

Throughout the following pages, you’ll also find photograpic interpretations from a number of current students. These ideas of ‘The Future of AUCA’, based own their experiences in the university, are varied in concept and execution but largely express one unifying theme: The Future of AUCA looks bright, with many changes on the way.

Be sure to connect with American University of Central Asia online and via our monthly ‘AUCA At A Glance’ newsletter to read more about these developments as they progress, and look for more information in the next issue of AUCA Magazine.

photo by Anastasiia Shevtsova

The Future of AUCA

“Salamatsyzdarby?!

Maanaiynyz kandai?”

For Professor Gülmira Düisheeva, hearing these phrases from an Austrian or Frenchman is just as common as from Kyrgyz schoolchildren.

A professor of the Kyrgyz language at AUCA, Gülmira Düisheeva is also the author of the leading textbook for instruction in the language.

Originally published in 2011, Kylym Karytkan Til (or Centuries-Old Language) was designed and recently refined based on the experiences of professor Düisheeva while teaching Kyrgyz classes to students at the American University of Central Asia.

Having recently updated the beginner’s edition of the book, she is now preparing the series’ next level based on the working methodology that she has found most effective in her classes.

Gülmira told us more about the Kylym Karytkan Til series in an interview with AUCA Magazine: Any university must always improve its base of knowledge and add new ways of teaching to its repertoire. Therefore, I’m pleased to introduce Kylym Karytkan Til (Centuries-Old Language). This book is intended for students in universities, technical colleges, lyceums, secondary-professional

schools, senior high schools, and any other students who would like to study the Kyrgyz language.

Kyrgyz language is a state language of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Historical conditions largely saw the Kyrgyz language disregarded, and as a result the Kyrgyz language faces a number of difficulties at the moment. Over the course of 23 years of independence, Kyrgyz has slowly returned to active use today. Rapid changes in society demand new teaching methods of the language, and show the necessity of developing new and modern textbooks that can meet the requirements of our time.

The beginners’ textbook Kylym Karytkan Til is for schools with a non-Kyrgyz language of instruction. This book was produced as a result of hard work and a great many hours spent in classrooms with the aim of making a contribution to improvement of the Kyrgyz language; something that has long been needed in the local linguistic sphere. This work is going to be useful not only for AUCA, but for any students who would like to learn Kyrgyz.

Our work for the Kyrgyz language does not stop with this publication: the textbook for the next level is ready and I hope our job will continue further as well. While working on the current textbooks, we took into consideration the requests and recommendations of AUCA’s Continuing Education Center and students. Special attention was paid to the great cultural and social-political changes that have happened in our society in the last 20 years. At the moment, further materials in line with the modern area studies are being collected and processed, tasks and exercises for text materials are being designed, and the essential lexical

requirements are also under review.

One of the most distinctive features of this book is differentiation of the material by its importance and presentation of grammar on the “from the simple to the complex” principal.

Pictures, diagrams, schemes, and symbols all serve to aid the teaching process, diversify forms of instruction, and expand accessibility to students of visual-oriented learning styles.

Beyond simply improving skills of independent work this textbook familiarizes students with the traditions, customs, lifestyle, culture, and richness of the unique language of the Kyrgyz nation.

In August 2012, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Mr. Almazbek Atambayev offered our book as a gift to all teachers working at Russian-speaking schools in Bishkek at an annual conference for pedagogues. Such approbation gives grounds to assert the efficacy of the material being studied.

Comments from teachers in the schools of Bishkek were published in the newspaper Kutbilim thanking the President of Kyrgyz Republic for the gift and expressing a wish that all students and teachers of Russian-speaking schools could be provided with this book.

This textbook presents a modern methodology of Kyrgyz language teaching. The two editions currently in publication (A1 and A2 levels) have made an indisputable contribution to improving the Kyrgyz language and enlarging the prevalence of its usage. More work yet exists in the sphere: preparation of audio-video materials, good tutorial books, methodic guides for teachers, and other resources to continue expanding the strength of Kyrgyz language instruction within the Kyrgyz Republic.

AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

Published by American University of Central Asia | Bishkek | Kyrgyz Republic

Professor Gülmira Düisheeva at the Forefront of Kyrgyz Language Instruction

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The Future of AUCA

Environmental Management and Sustainable Development Program Offers New Opportunities to AUCA Students Zheenbek Kulenbekov

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f the many new opportunities that will be available to the AUCA community once we move into our new campus home, one of the most noteworthy from an academic programming perspective is the expanded list of science courses that will be available to students upon completion of the Kumtor Laboratory. This state of the art science lab will support new graduate and undergraduate degrees in Environmental Science, as well as complementing current degree programs such as Environmental Management for Sustainable Development. Opened to students in 2013, this degree course guides students through the scientific and social perspectives so relevant to Central Asia’s modern development in part by providing those students access to the region’s leading thinkers in this field.

There is nothing more fundamental to the well-being of humans than furthering our understanding of the environment — how it works, how it influences our lives, and how it is affected by human activities. The study of Environmental Management for Sustainable Development (EM for SD) at the American University of Central Asia is an interdisciplinary undertaking designed to emphasize this integrative nature of the study of the environment. It takes a global perspective on current environmental issues, problems and solutions, but with a Central Asian focus. The program streams are flexible, allowing students to pursue a wide range of interests from the laboratory sciences;

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AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

to fieldwork and applied sciences; to applications in humanities, law, and business.

Programs and Specializations The Environmental Management for Sustainable Development program at AUCA offer a choice of degree paths: Specialist, Major, or Minor. In this program, students engage with the interdisciplinary sciences required to understand the complexities of the environment. Students can focus on biogeochemical relationships in natural and managed ecosystems or they can learn to apply their knowledge to the chemical, physical, and biotechnical remediation of environmental problems. This program leads to the Honors Bachelor of Science degree, but social and policy perspectives are also part of the course of study because those who will develop our scientific knowledge and technological capacities must have a basic understanding of environmental management and the human-environment relationship.

Alternatively, students can choose to focus on society and public policy for the environment; resource management, environmental assessment; and the social, economic, and policy aspects of environmental change. This program leads to an Honors Bachelor of Arts degree, but some basic science is required because those who will set environmental policy and lead society through our current environmental challenges must have some foundation in natural science.

Why at AUCA? The American University of Central Asia’s Environmental Management for Sustainable Development faculty members are award-winning researchers and teachers who encourage students to become involved in basic inquiry and critical thinking, cross-disciplinary cooperation, and the application of concepts to real-life problems so that they develop the environmental problem-solving skills required for the most dynamic areas of today’s job market.

While a number of environmental initiatives exist on AUCA’s current campus, more are being developed on the new campus: eco-friendly roofs, a solar power installation, wind energy, biking initiatives, and a groundbreaking geothermal heating and cooling system that will reduce energy needs by an estimated 87%.

Hands-On Experience Experiential learning, research opportunities, practical placements,

The Future of AUCA

Closer to home, the Green Team group offers the chance for students to undertake practical, campus-based environmental projects such as the Clean Development Initiatives through the university’s work-study program.

Career Prospects Environmental engineers develop technical solutions for efficient and

sustainable resources management and for the sustainable design of living spaces for humans.

The planning, implementation, and operation of the necessary facilities (particularly in the area of drinking water supply and the management of waste and waste water) are all classic tasks. Further fields of activity are the sustainable management of bodies of water, the ground and air, and the sanitation of polluted environmental compartments.

Another major important task is the planning of infrastructure systems such as the analysis, evaluation, and reduction of risks for humans and the environment.

Environmental engineers can be active in the planning, construction, and operation of environmentally technological facilities, in environmental organizations, in administration (e.g. governmental surveillance and control authorities as well as in the management of municipal public utilities and waste management), in international development cooperation, or in consulting. Furthermore, the course of study prepares students for research and/or doctoral studies.

AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

Published by American University of Central Asia | Bishkek | Kyrgyz Republic

and opportunities for fieldwork are integral to the Environmental Management for Sustainable Development Program at AUCA. In their second year, students may apply for the International Environmental Sustainability course in Bard College (USA), Norwegian Life Science University (Norway), or Central European University (Hungary). In the third year Environmental Sustainability

Practicum, students may complete oncampus environmental projects of their own design. The unique Environmental Internship offers qualified third and fourth-year students the opportunity to undertake a project under the supervision of an environmental professional from industry, government (at the municipal, provincial, or federal levels), or the non-profit sector. The program also offers many additional opportunities for fieldwork, independent research, and applied learning, for example, students recently had the chance to visit the sites of the Komtor Mine and NABU Wild Animal Rehabilition Center - both of which work in areas where Environmental Management for Sustainable Management students might be expected to put their degree into action after graduation.

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The Future of AUCA

New Enterprise Resource Planning System Leading the Way Among Central Asian Universities

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long with the construction of a new campus that will allow the American University of Central Asia to expand the educational programs and extracurricular opportunities available to students, the University is also working to streamline the data management systems that keep the school running efficiently.

Not only is an update in the works for the AUCA website to improve the online experience for current and future students and others interested in learning more about the activities of the American University of Central Asia, but behind the scenes a project is also in the works that will change the way the University utilizes information.

The new ‘Enterprise Resource Planning’ system, designed to bring together information from all

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AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

Photo by Zhamilya Sagyndykova

departments of the University into a single unified database, is the first of its kind among universities in Central Asia.

Within our current data management system, information collected by one department is difficult for other groups to access. For example, when a potential new student applies to AUCA their information is collected by the Admissions Office into their own database, but when that student is accepted this information must be manually reentered into a separate system for the Registrar’s Office to add them to its list of currently enrolled students at the University. When the Financial Aid Office prepares a scholarship package for them, this establishes a new record. With the new system being designed for the American University of Central

Asia, however, every department on campus will have access to one central database that makes the entire process easier and more streamlined for students and allows the staff and faculty of the university to understand at a glance the needs and demands of the AUCA student body.

The American University of Central Asia is implementing this ERP software under the direction of German firm ‘Systems, Applications, and Products’ (SAP), the world’s largest supplier of such software and the company that has implemented similar programs for such technology leaders as IBM and Microsoft. According to Dr. Karim Zerhouni, Chief Information Officer and Project Director for AUCA’s Enterprise Resource Planning project:

The Future of AUCA

“The SAP system will allow near real time data analytics and will provide an accurate picture of the state of the university as a whole, but also of each department with unprecedented levels of granularity. To achieve this, we had to streamline all our business processes to be able to successfully implement SAP and then trained our people to understand the business transformation effected by SAP. As a consequence, students will not need for example to go to each service to verify that they do not owe any money, and get annoyed by not finding why they cant get their transcript. Due to the systems integration that comes with SAP, holds and stops will be clearly identified on the student’s login page and the recommended action to remediate the situation will be clearly shown.”

“The SAP system will allow near real time data analytics and will provide an accurate picture of the state of the university as a whole, but also of each department with unprecedented levels of granularity. To achieve this, we had to streamline all our business processes to be able to successfully implement SAP and then trained our people to understand the business transformation effected by SAP. As a consequence, students will not need for example to go to each service to verify that they do not owe any money, and get annoyed by not finding why they cant get their transcript. Due to

the systems integration that comes with SAP, holds and stops will be clearly identified on the student’s login page and the recommended action to remediate the situation will be clearly shown.”

At the individual level, the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system will allow students and advisors planning out registration for a new semester to understand at a glance what progress students have made towards their degree requirements, and which courses they need to take on their paths towards earning a diploma. At the institutional level, the new ERP

database will allow comparison of analytical information such as how standardized test scores for incoming freshmen correlate to graduation rates or what sort of relationship exists between awards of financial aid and the GPA of students at the university. With such information in one central database and the expanded breadth of analysis and decision-making that this offers, this system will provide new opportunities to expand the American University of Central Asia to match the potential that our new campus promises.

AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

Published by American University of Central Asia | Bishkek | Kyrgyz Republic

Photo by Yuri Kim

17

University Update

Building an Ongoing Relationship With AUCA, Brick by Brick.

Aaron Chalmers

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AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

The Future of AUCA

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hether you attend the American University of Central Asia as a student, work here as staff, or have friends and family who are part of AUCA you probably know of our embracing attitude towards outside-the-classroom involvement with both the university and its community. This abiding commitment to inclusion is why we are offering the chance for those who share the AUCA mission to become one of the founders of our new campus through the AUCA Bricks campaign.

“A first step in an ongoing relationship with AUCA.” Surrounding the main entrance of the American University of Central Asia’s new campus will be an ‘AUCA Foundation Wall’ composed of inscribed bricks donated by benefactors of the University. The wall will serve as a visual showcase of AUCA’s community of supporters and feature messages that speak to the AUCA mission, signify what AUCA means to contributors, and emphasize the difference the University makes in their lives.

Aisulu Sulaimanova tells us that the inspiration behind the AUCA Bricks was “never a goal to raise a huge amount of money, but rather to make sure an opportunity is available for everyone to show support. A sort of first step in an ongoing relationship with AUCA.” Since the campaign began a year ago, over 70 donors have sponsored bricks bearing their personal inscriptions. This critical mass of givers has donated in order to become founding members of AUCA’s new home, and those benefactors include alumni as well as faculty, students, and friends of the university. As our new campus is approaching completion, we are making another concerted push to make sure that all potential supporters of AUCA have the chance to be involved in this special AUCA Bricks campaign.

This new campus is not only our new home, but also the first private building project in Central Asia to be environmentally sustainable. It is both a momentous occasion for AUCA and a landmark moment for the entire

“We want to make the opportunity available to anybody who wants to support – the minimum donation is only $50.”

Funding for the new campus is sourced entirely from donors and partner organizations; student tuition is not being utilized in any way. While the proceeds from the AUCA Bricks drive will not push us leaps and bounds towards our fundraising goals, Director of Development

region. If you want to be part of the foundation for this movement, please contact the AUCA Development Office at develop@mail.auca.kg for more information. Bricks in the Foundation Wall are available in two sizes, with large bricks featuring 5 lines of personal inscription and 2 lines of text on small bricks.

Azamat Akeleev Vyacheslav Akimenko Asel Akmatova Rinat Aksianov Meerim Amanova Qurban Ali Amiri Kumar Bekbolotov Zarina Chekirbaeva Aaron Choi Aijan Chynybaeva Elina Dale Eliza Damirberk kyzy

Alina Djamankulova Jenny Jie Cholponbek Jumashukurov Shairbek Juraev Roslanbek Kabanov Elina Karakulova Stanislav Karpovich Maksat Korooluev Emil Medetov Albina Mels Natalia Milekhina Alexey Mun

Kamila Muslimova Sayora Mussakhunova Semetei Omurgazy Uulu Nurbek Omurov Mamatkalil Razaev Maria Sapozhnikova Almaz Sartbaev Jyldyz Sattarova Aziz Soltobaev Rahimbek Tekeshev Kemel Toktomushev Meder Toktosunov

Erol Torun Felix Tsoy Agyn Tumenbaev Melis Turgunbaev Sanjar Tursaliev Venera Urbaeva Seyitbek Usmanov Natalya Yassinskaya Nelli Yen

Amina Hirani Eugene Huskey Salkyn Ibraimova Songbae Lee Ton De Liefde Clint Lofflin Steven Lustig Anton Malkowski

Robert W. McGrail Larry Memmot Achim Merlo Henry Myerberg Thomas Olsen Martin Ossewaarde William Ryerson Kai Schlenther

Nikolay Shulgin Sven Stafford Lance Tillman Bermet Tursunkulova Andrew Wachtel Azamat Zhumashev

Friends of AUCA Emil Akhmatbekov Jonathan Becker Nazgul Cholponbaeva Rodger Dillon Seth Fearey Tatiana C. Gfoeller Larry Held Emita Hill

AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

Published by American University of Central Asia | Bishkek | Kyrgyz Republic

auca alumni

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AUCA Interviews

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UCA Magazine continues a series of interviews with famous and influential people of the Kyrgyz Republic. This issue’s guest is young and promising entrepreneur and public figure Salkynbek Tashbaev. However hard we tried to know our subject more as an individual, our talk remains focused on politics, economics, and the painful spots of society.

AUCA Magazine (AM): Salkynbek, we know you are making donations to young people and particularly to AUCA. Tell us, what motivates you?

Salkynbek Tashbaev (ST): I see no point in not aiding if you are able to do it. Life is like a boomerang: today you helped someone, tomorrow life will help you.

AM: Tell us about yourself. Who are your parents?

ST: I grew up in a family of pedagogues. Education was always first place. At the moment, my father is headmaster of one of the schools of Osh City. My mother is a PhD of Science, and she teaches in Osh State University.

AM: You’ve studied not only in Kyrgyzstan, is that right?

ST: I got my first education in my home city. I am alumnus of Osh Technological University, where my major was Power Engineering.

I also studied Finance and got my Master’s degree at the same university. After that I earned my second Master’s degree in the Academy of State Management under the President of Kyrgyz Republic. I also participated to several study abroad programs in India, Japan, and Sweden.

AM: What are you doing now?

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AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

AUCA Interviews -

Salkynbek Tashbaev:

“Life is like a boomerang” Dinara Orozbaeva

ST: I have a business and I provide consulting services for various companies.

AM: Brain drain – is it a problem for Kyrgyzstan?

ST: Brain drain appears when a country, for instance Kyrgyzstan, can’t achieve positive social and political changes. There is no stability. I think this is a real problem for us.

AM: Can you make an appraisal of the modern situation of the country: in your opinion, what big changes are happening?

ST: Since Kyrgyzstan became independent, a major part of the political elite has degraded and lost its image. Unfortunately, corruption has penetrated to every cell of our society, infected and paralyzed the system of state management. It seems that the system of administration and its staff consist of a conglomeration of socialists, capitalists, and populists. Unfortunately, the anti-corruption drive promoted by authorities doesn’t give the common people the promised results. The struggle with corruption has in certain cases turned into a method of

AUCA Interviews

AM: What you think of the development of tourism in Kyrgyzstan?

ST: Our country has enormous potential in the development of tourism. We have lakes, mountains, we always have snow, amazingly beautiful nature, centuries-old history, and interesting traditions. If we undertake this sector thoroughly, we’ll be able to be competitive with neighboring countries.

Special attention must be paid to the quality of service, as we are very poor in this area.

AM: What you think of statement: “Politics is for young people”?

Did our youth ripen to rule the Administration?

play any certain part in politics.

Because there are a lot of politicians who are in politics their whole life and the people don’t get any benefits from them, and there are young men who have made many useful things to improve our society in a short time.

AM: Our society believes that if you are young, it means you don’t have experience and so you are empty-headed and untrustworthy.

It is very sad when older veterans of politics don’t give way to young people.

ST: Our young people ripened long ago, but they work in the leading companies of the world and don’t live in Kyrgyzstan.

AM: There is talk that the division between north and south is worsening every year. What do you think, how real is this confrontation? If it is possible, how can we avoid it?

ST: Despite some differences in mentality, values, and traditions; the terms north and south should be clearly geographical terms for us. All this talk about confrontation of north and south is made by politicians who try to gain more political points in their arena. Common people will never be oriented to confrontation, because they don’t need it. There must not be any notions like “northerner” or “southerner”, we have to impart a meaning of “Kyrgyzstani citizen”. All of us are citizens of one country, and it

does not matter what region we are from.

AM: What plans do you have for the future?

ST: My wife bore me a daughter.

Looking at her, I think about what country she will live in. In what country will live thousands of such little Kyrgyzstanis? Thinking about the future, I want to aim all my efforts and activities for the benefit of our country.

AM: What about your dreams?

ST: Sure, I have dreams, but I prefer to remain silent about them; otherwise they will not come true.

AM: What are your hobbies?

ST: I like reading and numismatics, and I play football.

AM: What you want to wish to Kyrgyzstan and Kyrgyzstanis?

ST: Kyrgyzstan must become more energetic and organized. I wish for Kyrgyzstan a reformerleader who will devote his/ her life to state and nation.

Kyrgyzstan needs one leader who must appear and settle the current poor situation in the country. This leader must have systematic thinking skills, and he/she must divine risks and paths of development. I recall the quotation of one French philosopher-enlightener, Voltaire: “One man can change the fortune of a whole state.” We can use as proof of these words the examples of Nelson Mandela, Roosevelt, Lech Walesa, Lee Kuan Yew, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Genghis Khan… The latter just appeared, united all tribes in the steppe, and conquered the world. I think every country and society sooner or later will need such leaders.

We are on this path.

AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

Published by American University of Central Asia | Bishkek | Kyrgyz Republic

elimination of or getting even with disliked ones and dissenters, into an implementation of personal ambitions… In a few words, “this formidable war against corrupt actors” like in all the independent years of Kyrgyzstan has quickly turned into a powerful legal instrument to struggle with opponents. At the moment Kyrgyzstan has a lack of political, ideological, moral conditions, and opportunities for a successful anti-corruption fight. Absence of judicial impartiality is an aggravating circumstance in the current situation.

In the course of this theme, after political changes in the country, after overturns in Kyrgyzstan, the expected changes didn’t come true for Kyrgyz law-enforcement authorities. They became more committed to politics and turned into political weapons…

ST: I always thought that age doesn’t

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AUCA at the First World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan

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Stephen Lioy and Begimai Sataeva

he American University of Central Asia is dedicated not only to preparing scholars for leadership roles postgraduation, but also to itself leading the way in community involvement and in engaging with projects important to both locally in Bishkek and more broadly in the Kyrgyz Republic and Central Asia. AUCA is committed to engaging not only in the lives of its students, but in all aspects of the life of Kyrgyzstan and to this end a wide segment of the university population contributed to preparations for the World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan.

Developed as a means to promote and preserve the ethnic heritage of the world’s nomadic cultures as well as to popularize the Kyrgyzstan brand and promote the nation’s image abroad, the World Nomad Games were held in the town of Cholpon-Ata from September 9th-14th. With official estimates by the Department of Tourism putting the total

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AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

attendance for the games at around 45,000 visitors (10% of which were foreign tourists), the Nomad Games not only raised international awareness of Kyrgyzstan and its culture but also brought in an estimated $9.9 million of income for the country.

From helping translate documents in the weeks leading up to the World Nomad Games and organizing a Flash Mob to

Games.

As many of our newest students can testify, the most involved of all the AUCA contributions to the World Nomad Games was the organization of a Flash Mob at Ala-Too Square in the center of Bishkek for Kyrgyzstan’s Independence Day on the last day of August. Just steps from the AUCA campus, Ala-Too is the heart of Independence Day celebrations in the city and thus the most visible venue for students and staff to draw the attention of local youth and the general public to the event. This Flash Mob was a major undertaking, organized in cooperation with the Office of the President, World Nomad Games Secretariat, and Mayor’s Office of Bishkek. Coordinated by AUCA’s Director of Development Aisulu Sulaimanova, the Flash Mob involved nearly 400 incoming freshmen and New Generation Academy students from the American University of Central Asia, 50 students from the State Academy of Management under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, and 30-40 additional volunteers such as government officials and AUCA staff.

Talant Sultanov, V.P. of Finance at AUCA, describes the impetus behind the University’s involvement with the World Nomad Games: “AUCA has always been actively involved with the community, and this is a very important national event hosted by Kyrgyzstan. With the Flash Mob we wanted to show our commitment to cultural exchange and friendship with different countries beyond just politics. On a different level, the Nomad Games is a big opportunity.

So, the Flash Mob is a good chance to popularize the Nomad Games among the youth.”

The Flash Mob served as

help promote the event, through to taking part in the organization as it happened and publishing in local and international media after it closed, AUCA Students and Staff were involved throughout every stage of the First World Nomad

AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

Published by American University of Central Asia | Bishkek | Kyrgyz Republic

“AUCA has always been actively involved with the community, and this is a very important national event hosted by Kyrgyzstan.

With the Flash Mob we wanted to show our commitment to cultural exchange and friendship with different countries beyond just politics. On a different level, the Nomad Games is a big opportunity. So, the Flash Mob is a good chance to popularize the Nomad Games among the youth.”

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an opportunity to showcase the dances of nomadic groups that were themselves the inspiration for the World Nomad Games, and thanks to the assistance of the Antares Creative Group the video recording of the Flash Mob highlighted both the unique cultures of these nomadic groups and the dedicated preparation of all the students who participated in the dance. According to an AUCA journalist present at the opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games, the video presentation there was received with ‘thunderous applause’ by the crowd of athletes, spectators, and journalists in Cholpon-Ata on the first day of the festival. It also served, according to AUCA sophomore and head of student volunteers Nurlan Asakeev, for all the new AUCA students that took part in the dance as a social focal point and bonding experience to bring them together during AUCA’s Orientation Week.

The Nomad Games themselves were a busy six 24

AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

days of competition and culture featuring over 350 sportsmen from 18 different countries competing in events like Wrestling, Kok Boru, and Horse Racing as well as demonstrations of folk games such as Eagle Hunting and Bride Chase. Some competitions, like Kok Boru and Ordo, are common sites across Central Asia and familiar to most.

Others such as Toguz Korgool and Horse Wrestling are equally important to many of the nations represented by participants in the World Nomad Games but seemed to less well known amongst spectators. Overall, the Kyrgyzstan delegation dominated the competitions. Of a total medal count of 109 awarded in the sports competitions, athletes from the host country took home a staggering 55 – just over half! At the closing ceremony of the World Nomad Games, the two Kyrgyz teams representing the country in the sport of Kok Boru took the stage to claim their awards (and significant financial rewards – 3 million som and 1 million som)

for first and second place. Not only Kyrgyz sportsmen but also local spectators were rightfully proud of their representatives in the athletic competitions.

Away from the main events, up in the mountains at jailoo Kyrchyn, a different sort of spectacle was on offer for visitors.

Over 150 yurts were erected in the pasture for the three-day Ethno Town presentation, serving as a backdrop to theatrical performances like the “Show of Nomads” and the “Nomad Folk” folklore festival. Akyn musicians, hunters with trained Golden Eagles, and skilled horseman stunt teams fought in another type of competition – one for the attention and amazement of visitors. Transformed from pristine pasture to booming temporary town and back to barren in the course of just a few days, the Ethno Town was perhaps itself an analogy for the constant transitions of the peripatetic lifestyle the World Nomad Games were organized to celebrate.

AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

Published by American University of Central Asia | Bishkek | Kyrgyz Republic

AUCA staff attended the World Nomad Games as members of the international press corps to prepare stories for publication on major media outlets like BBC Travel and the Matador Network.

For student journalist Begimai Sataeva, writing for AUCA and New Faces, it was one of her first major assignments as a professional reporter. She shares her experiences with us what it was like to report live from the Games and the academic and professional path that took her there:

As a senior student in the Journalism and Mass Communications department, I understand the importance of both professional education and practical work. This year I applied for and was accepted at a job as a part-time journalist in the P.R. Office of the American University of Central Asia - my first place of work with a fixed salary, permanent team, and set schedule. These months of practical experience have educated me more than whole semesters of classroom work and again reminds me of the importance of education, discipline, and intellectual ethics.

During the first month of this job I went to the World Nomad Games as a professional reporter, trying to find an interesting angle to write a story. I knew that a lot of media professionals from all over the world would be searching for an interesting point of view, and I also knew that I had only a few hours to do my job. With an 8 a.m. class at AUCA on the morning after the opening ceremony and hundreds of other journalists filing stories from the event, I actually wrote my article in the taxi on the way back to Bishkek.

I decided to build my story based on foreign journalists’ impressions. They notice everything (it is their profession to do so) and they also don’t know a lot about Kyrgyz traditions and nomads’ games and stunts, so they are the most objective audience. I knew that if I asked local journalists and the Kyrgyz audience they would not tell me their true impressions because they knew how much effort was applied to hold these games. The opinions of foreign journalists seemed to me the most objective and interesting. This was my personal professional initiation, the first story I published in several news agencies: on the website of the American University of Central Asia and both the print and online

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platforms of local newspaper “New Faces�.

The Nomad Games journalistic experience was unforgettable. I have never felt so much responsibility. Before I considered journalism as a game, it seemed to me funny to talk to people, collect interviews, and shoot videos. On this trip I applied all my previous knowledge. I knew that the place in the newspaper was booked, that the news agency has a special audience and expects special standards that could not be changed. My preparation process was quite good: I charged all my devices and made preliminary research. I was confident that I would find something interesting and unique directly at the site of the games. There were thousands of people, and every person could be the hero of the story. I found the angle of my story in the bus, before we even got to the Hippodrome.

Several open-minded and cheerful journalists from the USA, Denmark, Turkey, Russia, and other countries all working for British and Australian news outlets were in one bus with me. During our four hour trip I learned a lot about them and they made me feel very comfortable and free, so I decided to make their impressions the focal point of my reporting.

Working at AUCA, I have made some mistakes. My boss, mentor, and friend Dinara Orozbaeva (Director of Public 26

AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

life also surprised me. I tried to write something and technically I knew the structure needed for a feature story, but I could not imagine what to write about so I failed it. It hurt me personally, because I am a student of one of the most prestigious universities in Kyrgyzstan.

My favorite part of journalism is visual communications; this course at AUCA is unique in Kyrgyzstan.

I combined visual messages in order to manage the social project “Visual Effect”, painting 3D crosswalks in the city to decrease road crashes. This project was very popular, and almost all local and numerous international media outlets published stories about it. The story appeared in Chinese, Russian, and British (Reuters news agency) media.

These mistakes and victories have inspired me to continue my professional education in media studies. Right now I am searching

for a university at which to complete my Master’s degree to build on the experience I have, and a clear understanding of what I want and how I will manage it. I am going to be a journalist and combine that background with my academic knowledge in order to cover investigative issues deeper than most journalists do.

Most journalists in Kyrgyzstan write about politics today and financial issues tomorrow, but I want to study more deeply and focus on one specific topic.

Another consideration is to be an AUCA professor. Many students come back to AUCA in the role of teacher. In the future I want to be one of them in order to be able to share my ideas and knowledge.

I believe I’ll have a successful, interesting, and adventurous career path.

AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

Published by American University of Central Asia | Bishkek | Kyrgyz Republic

Relations) allows me to study my profession deeply, to make mistakes, and to continue to define my career path. A feeling of anxiety about my future career has followed me all my life. Today I am free. These experiences, knowledge, people, and their belief in me have made me a self-confident person, unafraid to make mistakes.

My biggest mistake as a journalist was during my second year of studies, when I found an announcement that the NGO ‘Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia’ invited journalists on a press tour to Naryn city in the southeast of Kyrgyzstan. I applied immediately and didn’t think about the consequences, didn’t feel any responsibility because I knew that I wouldn’t publish it.

Naryn was absolutely shocking for me. It was very cold in the middle of July, there was almost no infrastructure, but the nature was amazing and people’s passion for

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Student Profiles

N

o matter how many innovative programs or award-winning faculty a university can boast of, no academic institution can hope to flourish without an intellectually strong and engaged student body. Students at AUCA come from a wide range of backgrounds and bring to the university a diverse set of perspectives and interests that continue to impress. No matter whether you encounter them as they embark on a trip to the Model U.N. in Rome or just after they’ve returned from anthropological research in Mongolia, our students are full of

interesting stories and a drive to learn about the world and experience it firsthand that speaks well to the liberal arts tradition in which the American University of Central Asia was founded. These students are paragons of critical inquiry and inquisitive learning, and though the four students you’ll be introduced to here are at different stages of their educational journeys they represent what we hope for in all of our students: broad interests, inquiring minds, and a determination to pursue their goals and in doing so to change the face of the world around them.

AUCA’s New Generation Academy: Preparing Students for the Future

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Daria Chebakova and Asel Amatova

hough the most visible aspect of the work of the American University of Central Asia is in preparing undergraduate students to serve as enlightened and impassioned leaders in their communities, this is not the only group of students at the University. In addition to our Graduate Studies and Continuing Education offerings, the New Generation Academy (NGA) program aims to prepare its students to continue their education at the university level after one year of preparatory study.

Beyond just the instruction students receive in Kyrgyz, Russian, and Academic English the New Generation Academy offers courses in Math that serve to improve their critical thinking skills and prepare them for the rigors of Universitylevel classes. NGA scholars also have opportunities to be involved in the extracurricular activities of the university, with access to student clubs and to a special Guest Lecture Series that introduces them to

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AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

community leaders in academia and beyond to assist them in developing an understanding of the real-world applications of the concepts they learn about during their studies.

Of the 123 students who graduated in May of 2014 from the New Generation Academy, 70 were Kyrgyzstani students from all across the country that attended NGA on full scholarships funded by the Mina Group. These grants cover the costs of students’ accommodation, board, and tuition. In total 93% of NGA students sponsored by Mina have matriculated to study at the University level, with 49 enrolling at AUCA and 15 of those continuing as Mina Fellows with scholarships that provide for the aforementioned necessities as well as a monthly stipend.

Two of these NGA-turned-AUCA students, Daria Chebakova and Asel Amatova, sat down with AUCA Magazine to talk about what the NGA experience was like for them and how they’ve adapted now to life as freshmen students at the University.

Daria Chebakova, Bishkek Daria is currently a Mina Fellow at AUCA. Also a professional dancer, Daria has performed with the ‘Mirrors’ student musical group both during her time as an NGA student and now as a freshman at the university.

In my first day at the New Generation Academy, meeting with future group mates and teachers, the only thing that I did was watch the people around me and notice the features of the program. Other students, like myself, looked at everything with great interest and absorbed all the information like sponges. For us everything was new, interesting, and frightening. We didn’t know each other but all of us tried to act together as a uniform team. In a conference hall on campus we heard about our study program, got acquainted with our new teachers, and were shown the university at which we would spend a year.

Even before I really understood the spirit of AUCA,

I felt that it was something special that captures you and doesn’t let go. While sitting in that conference hall on the first day of NGA, I understood that I had arrived to another world and a totally new atmosphere.

The program cardinally differed from my previous school: all the teachers were so positive and the office staff were always ready to help. When I went home after our first meeting, the smile didn’t leave my face. This day was so bright and saturated with excitement that I will never forget it! I met wonderful people, learned a lot of interesting information, and was perfectly ready to study all year.

Entering the NGA I was very excited but, at the same time, I worried that while classmates from my school days in Bishkek were studying in their first years of university I would waste a year doing the same thing that I had already done at school.

The majority of my friends and schoolmates constantly told me that this program wouldn’t give me anything, and I would only waste

my time. The program was quite new, frighteningly unclear but interesting, and I didn’t know much about it. I did not listen to anybody and followed my own way, knowing that in NGA I was starting something new and novel.

My year in New Generation Academy passed so quickly it was almost imperceptible, but left behind many pleasant memories.

This program helped many of us (including myself), to learn about ourselves, to improve our knowledge, make a lot of friends, and prepare us to enter University. I am grateful to all who stand behind the creation of the NGA program, and to the NGA teachers and students for this magic year.

Now as a freshman, I’ve learned to balance both studies and student life. Dancing with “Mirrors”, we practice everyday until nine o’clock to prepare for AUCA Initiation on November 12th. This is hard combined with studies, but after my year at NGA I feel ready to do both.

Published by American University of Central Asia | Bishkek | Kyrgyz Republic

Student Profiles

AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

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Student Profiles

Asel Amatova, Osh Asel is currently studying at AUCA as a recipient of the U.S.-Central Asia Education Foundation scholarship, one of the most competitive programs in the region. Of the fifteen students who were awarded scholarships through US CAEF in 2014, one-third of these are NGA graduates who are currently studying at AUCA. This scholarship program, exclusively supporting students who will study Business Administration or Economics, awards grants equal to the full four-year cost of undergraduate study.

In 2010 I lost my very close friend – my mother. Osh is a very bright city with a lot of cordial people, but after a bloody 2010 an atmosphere of loneliness and the pain of loss overtook that welcoming place. NGA (New Generation Academy) was my first independent step for getting out from this cage to the knowledge which I craved.

Over 2500 pupils studied in my state school so our class was full of students more than 30 people. The quality of education in school was excellent but in English, Biology, Geography, Sociology, and Chemistry I decided to go to additional classes to improve my knowledge. Lack of money was a stumbling block on my way to learning the English language especially, and because of this I couldn’t go to expensive courses. But I found free classes and won one of the ACCESS program scholarships [Editor’s Note: a microscholarship program providing English-language instruction to economically disadvantaged sectors of the country]. From that dim time I started to think about my future plans and the goals that I would try to achieve. With that I began to think that I should get out 30

AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

from this place and try to be an extremely independent person in everything - including emotionally. I don’t like to keep close relationships so during my classes I had few friends with different interests. While friends are very important, I think it is better to be lonely than to have friends with absolutely different visions and hobbies. I got excellent marks in school but I couldn’t find anything useful for my future goals, I didn’t take delight in study, school, or friends among whom there was nothing new.

Only the most talented students were chosen to enter the New Generation Academy (NGA) among the many applicants from different and remote parts of Kyrgyzstan, but I was one of 70 students who received a scholarship. Moving from Osh to Bishkek was very hard because my father and I were afraid of everything. I was far from my home, and far from my family.

There were also a lot of other students, and I felt fearful of the competition as these 70 people would vie for 15 scholarships to continue to study at AUCA after one year in the New Generation Academy. Even though there was competition among us, I found a lot of friends from different nationalities with the same hobbies as myself. One year at NGA overshadowed all my previous gloomy days at school and the program became a second home for me: my fellow students became like brothers and sisters. In Osh I used to be a lonely person, but as I got used to NGA I felt cheerful and

happy with every new day. An atmosphere of study, new friends, competition, and new life enveloped me.

First I couldn’t find a common language with my roommates because we came from many different regions but with time we began to understand each other like sisters.

During my studies at NGA there were diversity weeks: holidays together with students from Afghanistan, South Korea, Tajikistan, and China. The NGA Dormitory was our home, a friendly atmosphere and fortress to which we could return. During the first three months of study we built really friendly relationships, and by the start of winter break we didn’t want to leave our friends and rooms.

I returned to my hometown but from the beginning of my break I missed my friends, so all during the holiday we chatted with each other. At the end of the year, graduation day became for me a starting point for adult life and further studies at AUCA. All of my fellow NGA students already knew each other at the beginning of Orientation, so it was easy to communicate with old friends and make new ones with other incoming freshmen during this week before classes actually started for our first year as college students but we still miss our old NGA classes and inside jokes.

I won one of the scholarships from US CAEF program and am now a freshman student at the University. During our orientation week I decided that the NGA program prepared us well. I already understand the grading system for my courses, how to write different kinds of essays, and other reflections of what I experienced at NGA. There are a lot of homework assignments for my classes now, but I knew that would be a condition of my studies!

Student Profiles

Reporting on NewEurasia

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urzhan Kadyrkulova, a senior student in the Journalism and Mass Communications department at AUCA, combines her student responsibilities with work as a journalist for NewEurasia Citizen Media. Like many students at the American University of Central Asia, Nurzhan balances her classroom learning with practical experience in the field she plans to enter after graduation. In between reporting on the changing face of literature in Central Asia and preparing for classes, Nurzhan made time to describe for AUCA Magazine the challenges and rewards of her responsibilities.

When you love what you do, everything helps you to achieve your goals. Balancing the demands of university as well as work in the international media is not a big deal because I enjoy every second of my activities. For me, as a journalist, the chance to immediately apply all my knowledge in practice is incredibly lucky. My fourth year of study at the American University of Central Asia and second year of work at NewEurasia Citizen Media have taught me not to waste time and to use any opportunity for selffulfillment.

My work at NewEurasia as a contributing blogger and journalist from Kyrgyzstan mostly includes writing about the history, culture, and arts of the Kyrgyz Republic. It means that I cover all the cultural events, interesting art exhibitions, and meaningful historical events in the country and present them to the diverse international

community of NewEurasia readers. Besides that, I also work as one of the coordinators of the ‘Novellasia’ project, implemented

by NewEurasia with the support of the Hivos foundation. Novellasia was a contest of novellas and short stories by writers from Central Asian countries. My responsibilities include conducting interviews with the participants and winners, preparing materials about those writers and their works, organizing a schedule of publications for their works on the NewEurasia website, and more. Truly, it has been very challenging to combine my usual duties of writing about the history and culture of Kyrgyzstan with this additional work. What I learned is that the more responsibilities I have, the more I try to meet the expectations of those people who trusted me. I find those secret forces and resources in myself that help me to overcome all difficulties.

Being a journalist means being curious about everything around me, and studying at AUCA has taught me to be an active part of society and curious about life. This is important because after school nothing comes to us until we are self-sufficient enough to present ourselves to the real world so it is better to get acquainted with “adult life” before we actually get there.

My experience has shown me how to manage several responsibilities together and how to make my efforts as productive as possible. AUCA is a good platform to prepare for such an unpleasant but mandatory thing as self-dependence. Here I realized that I don’t even have one stable group with whom I take all the classes of my specialty together

(as in other Kyrgyz universities).

I’ve had to learn to be dependent only on myself. In fact AUCA is a unique school, where each student is given the freedom to implement his or her goals. This flexible system, where students choose courses based on their individual interests and have the opportunity to set out a unique schedule, also contributes to students’ successful development.

I have had difficult situations when in a very short term I needed to do a bunch of homework, but at the same time needed to write articles in two languages as soon as possible for work. Moreover, all this needs to be combined with housework, friends, and leisure time. But in the end this comes down to learning good time management skills. Therefore it has been important for me to be part of AUCA community and to learn all these things before I finish my studies. Thanks to my experiences at the University I am prepared for the difficulties of adulthood much better than I was before.

AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

Published by American University of Central Asia | Bishkek | Kyrgyz Republic

Nurzhan Kadyrkulova

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Student Profiles

Saibhan Nadirov: Life Lessons From a Semester Abroad

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aibhan Nadirov, a third-year student in AUCA’s Software Engineering Department, returns to us in Bishkek this year after a semester spend studying abroad at Koç University in Istanbul. Having lived in Bishkek all his life, this semester in Turkey was Saibhan’s first time living out of the country and by all accounts an exciting experience in learning both inside the classroom and out. Whether learning how to (sort-of) cook for himself or studying programming under leaders in the field, Saibhan’s description of his time at Koç are overwhelmingly positive and carry much of the wit and intelligence that are certain to lead him to success at AUCA and beyond.

AUCA Magazine (AM): Saibhan, how did you end up in Software Engineering at AUCA? Saibhan Nadirov (SN): My brother graduated from AUCA, so I knew everything about the school and what it could give me without any doubts. He was also in the SFW department, and I myself was (and still am) interested in mobile technologies and wanted to know how these things are done. I did not like actual programming much, but I still thought SFW would be most suitable for me.

AM: What made you decide to study abroad, and why at Koç University?

SN: I received an email from the International Student Office of AUCA calling for applications to study abroad in Turkey, and I thought that I had to try. At the moment of applying I did not know much about Koç. I just googled for 32

AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

some ratings and watched some videos, then thought “Man, that’s fancy!” and decided to apply. Later on when I got to Koç and saw all those things like parking for helicopters and students coming to classes in Ferraris and Maseratis I was like “Man, that’s too fancy!” and I got really excited to spend half a year of my life there.

AM: What was studying like in Istanbul?

SN: Only one of my courses at Koc was in Computer Science.

It was called “Mobile Device Programming” aka “Programming for iPhone and iPad”. The instructor was a seriously funny guy. As I found out he was some kind of famous programmer in Istanbul and had a huge portfolio of developed applications on AppStore, so he was a “big deal”.

It was cool to get a teacher who is not only knowledgeable in theory but can teach you a bunch of hints on the practical side. He also taught us about marketing tools (like App Store Optimization) and how to sell our own applications more successfully. One remarkable thing is that I was the only international student, and actually I got enrolled into this class only because I was an international

student. A lot of people (about 80) wanted to take this course but there were only 30 seats available, but thanks to the International Office of Koç Uni asking the faculty of Computer Science to enroll me I got into this course. It was kind of awkward to be the only one non-Turkish student in the class.

The funny thing is that the first weeks every time I entered the class, the instructor’s face was like “@#$%&!, man!” because when I was in class he had to always speak English instead of giving a short lecture in English and then leading a practical part in Turkish (like they had done before, as I was told). Overall this course made me a better specialist and i am so happy and thankful to Koc to give me a chance to enroll into it.

AM: Aside from the classroom aspect, what was the most important thing you learned about yourself and the world while you were at Koç?

SN: I had a lot of life lessons there. I met a lot of people with different stories and gained priceless life experience. Ten million people from all over the world visit Istanbul every year, so there are tourists everywhere and all the time. It is so cool to meet so many different people and learn about different cultures.

I’ve studied Arabic for many years and there are many Arabic-speaking tourists in Istanbul so I had a nice chance to practice the language with them.

Personally, I became more ambitious and more focused on my aims and goals. I come from the kind of family where all the kitchen work is mostly done by females. But when I moved to Koç i had to cook myself because buying food all the time was expensive. So, a couple of times a week I made some snacks for myself. It seemed that I really could cook. (Awfully also counts ok? If it is chewable it can be lunch!)

AM: Would you recommend other AUCA students to study abroad?

What about at Koç, specifically?

SN: Absolutely, every one should at least try to go abroad to study.

Koç is a prestigious university; I think it is the most elite university (aside from Bard) that AUCA students can go to as exchange students. You will have the chance to take courses from world-renowned professors, to make friends from all over the world, and to have access to any facility 24 hours a day: laboratories, basketball court, soccer field, American football field, tennis court, hockey field, two swimming pools, two gyms, libraries and

many more.

AM: What plans do you have after you graduate AUCA? SN: Of course I want to study abroad, specifically I want to try to apply to Koç for a Master’s of Science in Computer Science. No surprise, right? All international graduate students at Koç study for free, but to apply there (or any other highly ranked university in the world) you need to have high test scores, so I already need to start getting ready.

AUCA has exchange agreements with 14 universities in 11 countries, including Koç University in Turkey.

Students who are interested in studying abroad should contact AUCA International Student Coordinator Iliyas Mamadiyarov in Room 110 of the main campus building.

AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

Published by American University of Central Asia | Bishkek | Kyrgyz Republic

Student Profiles

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Alumni Spotlight

Jenny Jenish Kyzy (Ensi Tszie), Sociology, 2011 Graduate student at Columbia University School of Social Work; New York City, USA What courses, faculty/staff, or student life experiences at AUCA helped you form or change your perspective in life?

One such course was “Critical thinking”. I was born in China, and as with most traditional Asian cultures the educational system there discouraged students to ask questions and challenge authority.

This course provided me a new lens through which to re-think our societal issues. I’ve started to look differently at social issues such as gender, poverty, pressure, and social injustice. As for my student life experiences, Unity Fund and the AUCA community supported me in my passions for change. It gave me a platform and encouraged us to work on causes that we care about. It also helped develop my cross-cultural competency and leadership skills.

If you were to go back to AUCA to start fresh, what would you do differently?

Personally for me, I would minor in ICP because I am from a multicultural background. That would give me a greater space to make contributions in facilitating communication with people from different countries. But I should note that the sociology program gave me a deeper knowledge about the human condition, and I can use that knowledge to make a difference in the projects I am involved in. I would also have started learning the Russian language earlier because Russian is dominant in the post-Soviet area and I could make more of an 34

AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

impact by using the language that the majority of people use.

Do you have any effective study tips for current AUCA students?

Be proactive! Think about your future career from the first day at AUCA. Explore, create, and be open-minded to people from different cultures and to the western education style.

Participate in student groups and

community activities. I found out about my leadership skills by engaging in those student activities. Besides those, don’t hesitate to ask questions of and debate with people surrounding you. I realized that by asking and engaging people in discussion you could sharpen your vision and deepen your understanding of a certain issue that you are interested in.

Alumni Spotlight

I call it the 3 C’s: culturalcompetency, creativity, and communication skills. In a globalized era, it is important that college graduates be able to accept others without bias or judgment, to create and re-create our way of life because innovation leads to success, and to be able to communicate their ideas. Those who have these skills will have competitive advantages over others who do not.

Any ideas on how to engage our alumni in the life of our Alma Mater?

I would like to see a mature alumni network consisting of a professional group of people who could share their learning and work experiences, no matter whether in Kyrgyzstan or abroad. Besides the network among alumni, I hope we can build a mentorship program to connect alumni with our current students as well. I would also like to see our alumni contribute to the fundraising initiatives of our current undergraduate students that strive to develop their own local social projects. This would be like an “AUCA Alumni Fund” program encouraging leadership training for current students. I also like the Alumni Ambassador program and think that we could engage more alumni by being active on social media.

What were your first impressions after your arrival to the U.S. or NYC? I was excited to see the diversity of this immigrant nation.

Talking to people from all the countries of the world – cool! I also enjoy practicing their American accented English. The first time I was at Times Square and walking down Broadway, I recalled the song “Empire State of Mind”: “In New York, concrete jungle

where dreams are made up, / there’s nothing you can’t do, now you’re in New York!”

What were your assumptions/ expectations about America and U.S. colleges before your arrival?

As a social work student, I was interested in the U.S. welfare system. Before I used to think that America is a super ideal country in terms of human rights and equality, but I was surprised to see the apparent inequality issues in terms of wealth distribution, access to resources, and racism. But I appreciate that there are more and more people who are standing up to advocate for marginalized communities and who are eager to bring change. American society is absolutely a great place to witness the challenges and developments toward democracy and liberty!

Your plans after you finish your studies / job contract in the U.S.?

I am interested in youth resource management and crisis intervention. I want to work in that area using my professional background by initiating peace building and cultural tolerance educational programs. Now I’m studying the concept of “social investment.” Most developing countries heavily rely on foreign grants to implement their projects.

We need to change our mindset and re-discover the potential of our local community by promoting corporate social responsibility (CSR) and other resources. Local communities can support and invest in youth development and should keep this investment in a sustainable long-term mode.

Your favorite thing about Kyrgyzstan or Central Asia?

People, culture, and beautiful Issyk-Kul! And I also love Kyrgyz songs. I usually play Kyrgyz music here in New York, and it makes me feel like I’m at home.

Your special interests or talents or motto in life?

I am multilingual– Chinese, English, Kyrgyz, and Russian! I love learning languages because it helps me make friends anywhere!

I also love traveling. I realize the most important aspect is not our destination, but the journey we experience.

My favorite quotes that inspire me are: “Don’t worry about what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” ~ Howard Thurman

“...Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by. And that has made all the difference.” (Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken; 1916:68).

AUCA Alumni Ambassadors AUCA alumni reside in many countries around the globe.

To help you connect with one another we recruit Alumni Ambassadors in each area of the world where AUCA alumni live. The Alumni Ambassador is an important volunteer position tasked with facilitating a mutually beneficial and enduring relationship between alumni and the university.

This Ambassador is a contact person in the city or country who helps to organize small reunions, events, and activities in their local area to bring together alumni in the region. Alumni who are interested in joining the Ambassador program should contact Diana Tsoi in the Alumni Relations Office.

AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

Published by American University of Central Asia | Bishkek | Kyrgyz Republic

What would you look for if you were in the position to hire new AUCA graduates?

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Alumni Spotlight

Nikita Ryjih, Software Engineering, 2009 New York Film Academy, 2012 Juilliard School of Music, 2013-present What courses, faculty/staff, or student life experiences at AUCA helped you form or change your perspective in life?

AUCA supported my music endeavors, and it helped me stage my first musical “Tango of Dreams”. It is a big family where we supported each other.

I am not involved in software engineering right now, but wherever the journey of my life will lead me music will probably be my biggest guide.

If you were to go back to AUCA to start fresh, what would you do differently?

expectations about America and U.S. colleges before your arrival?

I became an Alumni Ambassador for the AUCA NY Chapter because I think that’s a good way to engage our alumni.

But our Alma Mater should be giving us more ways to be connected to AUCA, and tell us how we can help. Helping with job placement and career advising even to alumni outside of Kyrgyzstan would be great!

I would also like to thank all the AUCA presidents (John Clark, David Huwiler, Ellen Hurwitz, and current President Andrew Wachtel) for sending alumni their messages. It inspires us to work harder to help AUCA with all its projects.

Plenty of them: mountains, food, Issyk-kul, sun, air, people…

Your first impressions after your arrival to the U.S. or NYC?

Your special interests or talents or motto in life?

I would look at their critical thinking abilities, passion for what they do, and whether they have a broad perspective for life.

NYC – this is what I wanted and came for: to be in a big, dynamic city because I thrive in new and challenging environments!

I am a composer, a filmmaker, and an entrepreneur.

I try to embrace as much as possible in my life. If you are interested in my music, visit my website: www.pianist77.com.

Any ideas on how to engage our

What were your assumptions/

During my second year I devoted too much of my time to music, and my academic life suffered from that. I failed a course in Math Analysis II. If I were to go back to AUCA, I would definitely get an “A” in that course.

Do you have any effective study tips for current AUCA students?

Be proactive! You have bigger opportunities in our Alma Mater than you think you do.

What would you look for if you were in the position to hire new AUCA graduates?

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alumni in the life of our Alma Mater?

AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

The first time I was in the U.S., I was fourteen years old. I don’t remember my assumptions about America from those times, but overall it was a positive experience.

Your plans after you finish your studies / job contract in the U.S.?

Go BIG or go home!

Your favorite thing about Kyrgyzstan or Central Asia?

Alumni Spotlight

Aidai Tursunbekova, Business Administration, 2009 Korea University Business School, Global MBA, 2011-2012 NYU Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, 2013-present

the important parts and save your time for extracurricular activities.

What would you look for if you were in the position to hire new AUCA graduates?

Most Business Administration (BA) courses at AUCA had room for improvement.

Our local professors had to teach in English and had hard time communicating their ideas to us.

It does not mean our Western professors were great only because English is their native language, they were mediocre too. But our extracurricular activities were a savior. Thanks to SIFE I gained some practical experience and developed networking skills.

I would look for whether they have practical experience.

Some AUCA alumni think very highly of themselves and they want to get a high position with a big salary right after they graduate, but that is the wrong approach. Build your resume when you are still in college by doing internships, because gaining only theoretical knowledge won’t get you your dream job.

If you were to go back to AUCA to start fresh, what would you do differently?

Any ideas on how to engage our alumni in the life of our Alma Mater?

I would change my major from Business Administration to Economics because I believe it is more useful.

Organizing alumni reunions in major cities will help to build alumni networking groups.

Do you have any effective study tips for current AUCA students?

Learn to manage your time and don’t procrastinate. If you do your homework on time, you will have plenty of time for fun too.

Another thing that could save you a lot of time is reading summaries and skipping reading the whole text (when reading assignments range from 50-100 pages). Read

Your first impressions after your arrival to the U.S. or NYC? I felt myself small in NYC, like a small fish in big pond. I just arrived here three weeks ago. I didn’t know anybody, but it is good that AUCA alumni decided to meet here. Now I have people who can help with tips for surviving in this city.

What were your assumptions/ expectations about America and U.S. colleges before your arrival?

Fortunately I have many American friends who have oriented me before coming to U.S., so I knew what to expect.

Your plans after you finish your studies / job contract in the U.S.?

My dream job is working at the United Nations here in NYC.

Your favorite thing about Kyrgyzstan or Central Asia?

Life is simple in Kyrgyzstan.

That’s what I like about my country.

Your special interests or talents or motto in life?

My interests are studying anthropology, culture, and history because that helps me to relate to other people and meet new people. I’ve lived in Turkey, South Korea, and London and can easily adapt to new environments.

My motto in life is “Don’t give up, try again!” Only on my second attempt was I offered a scholarship to study at NYU. I worked hard, gained practical experience, and only then did I succeed.

AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

Published by American University of Central Asia | Bishkek | Kyrgyz Republic

What courses, faculty/staff, or student life experiences at AUCA helped you form or change your perspective in life?

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МИР НОВЫХ ВОЗМОЖНОСТЕЙ С КАРТАМИ ДЕМИР БАНКА Сегодня банковская карта стала привычным и незаменимым атрибутом в жизни каждого человека. Это очень удобный и безопасный платежный инструмент, и если Вы заботитесь об экономии и безопасности своих финансовых средств, то рекомендуем обратиться в Демир Банк. Здесь вы сможете легко получить банковскую платежную карту VISA, являющуюся международным финансовым инструментом. Специалисты нашего банка подберут Вам именно ту карту, которая сможет максимально удовлетворить Ваши потребности и стать для Вас незаменимым платежным инструментом. С помощью платежных карт Демир Банка Вы сможете использовать денежные средства на счете в более чем 200 странах, а также оплачивать покупки в магазинах по всему миру без дополнительных комиссий. Это очень удобно, ведь необходимые финансовые средства всегда будут при Вас, при этом, не занимая много места. Особенно, комфортность платежных карт Демир Банка почувствуют те, кто часто бывает за рубежом. Платежные карты нашего банка имеют ряд преимуществ, доступных лишь обладателям этих карт. Международные карты VISA позволяют их владельцам легко, удобно и безопасно совершать покупки, оплачивать услуги и путешествовать по миру. Помимо этого карты VISA активно используются в сети Интернет. Карты дают возможность воспользоваться большим спектром дополнительных услуг и отвечают всем необходимым требованиям безопасности.

ПОЧУВСТВУЙТЕ ПРЕИМУЩЕСТВА КАРТ ДЕМИР БАНКА В Демир Банке Вам предложат платежные карты VISA: Electron в качестве дебетной карты и Card Plus Classiс, Card Plus Gold, Card Plus Platinum - в качестве кредитной. Дебетная карта VISA Electron – это весьма удобный платежный инструмент, подходящий абсолютно всем. Дебетная карта VISA ELECTRON используется для оплаты товаров и услуг, получения наличных денег в банкоматах. Карты Visa Electron выпускаются также каждому сотруднику компании в рамках «Зарплатного проекта» от Демир Банка по умолчанию и абсолютно бесплатно, куда впоследствии и перечисляется заработная плата. Кроме дебетной карты в Демир Банке Вы сможете приобрести кредитную карту. Кредитные карты Демир Банка (Card Plus Classic, Card Plus Gold, Card Plus Platinum) являются поистине универсальным платежным инструментом. Кредитные карты Демир Банка обладают рядом привилегий, способных сделать вашу жизнь проще. На сегодняшний день Демир Банк - это единственный банк, который предлагает кредитные карты с заемными средствами (кредитным лимитом). Обладание кредитной картой придает не только статус и уверенность, но и предоставляет клиентам ряд дополнительных преимуществ.

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AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

Еще одно значительное преимущество карт Демир Банка - возможность оплачивать за товары и услуги во многих торговых и сервисных точках со скидками и бонусами. С картами Демир Банка легко можете оплачивать за товары и услуги в магазинах, кинотеатрах, салонах красоты, кафе, развлекательных центрах и т. п., при этом получая скидки в размере от 3% до 100% и бонусы от 0,5% до 5%. Получайте скидки с удовольствием при оплате нашими картами в более 120 торговых и сервисных точках по всему Кыргызстану. Платежные карты Демир Банка рады экономить Ваш бюджет! Полный список торговых и сервисных точек, предоставляющих скидки и бонусы, размещен на сайте Демир Банка www.demirbank.kg. Карты от Демир банка - это очень удобно, поскольку необходимые денежные средства всегда будут при Вас, не занимая много места, а быстрота при оплате картой без сдачи и мелочи позволит экономить время на кассах в магазинах.

Published by American University of Central Asia | Bishkek | Kyrgyz Republic

ВСЕГДА ПРИЯТНО ПОЛУЧАТЬ СКИДКИ И БОНУСЫ!

Демир Банк - банк для Вашей жизни. Здесь приобретая, Вы только приумножаете!

AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014

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AUCA Magazine | Fall 2014