DUSHANBE, February 18, 2016, Asia-Plus — The University of Central Asia (UCA) has launched its undergraduate admissions campaign to encourage qualified students from rural and urban schools across Central Asia to apply.
UCA, Central Asia’s first fully residential university, is committed to making world-class education highly affordable through generous scholarships and student soft loans.
The University’s first campus will open in September 2016 in Naryn, Kyrgyzstan.
According to UCA, undergraduate students will pursue a five-year degree, beginning with a one-year Preparatory Program to make them ready for the international level of academics offered at UCA. This will be followed by two years of general education through rigorous core curriculum modeled on North American liberal arts degree programs. The final two years will focus on undergraduate specializations in Computer Science, and Communications and Media.
The second campus scheduled to open in September 2017 in Khorog, Tajikistan will offer Economics, and Earth and Environmental Sciences.
Current recruitment is for students who will enroll for specializations offered both at the Naryn, and Khorog campuses. Students pursuing Tajikistan-based majors will relocate to Khorog in 2017. The Tekeli, Kazakhstan campus is anticipated to open in 2019 and will feature concentrations in Engineering Sciences, and Business and Management.
The three campuses are designed by award winning architect Arata Isosaki of Japan and located in stunning mountain natural environments.
UCA’s undergraduate program taught in English offers majors and minors that are closely aligned with Central Asian labor market needs. It has the smallest student to faculty ratio in the region (9 to 1), and brand new, modern facilities. Admission to the University is merit-based; no student will be denied admission because of financial hardship. UCA offers generous financial aid that includes merit-based scholarships, needs-based grants, and student loans on accessible terms.
According to Dr Bohdan Krawchenko, Director General and Dean of Graduate Studies at UCA, the UCA campuses will represent a unique academic community. The highly qualified faculty holding PhDs from distinguished universities will be an exceptional intellectual resource supported by strong partnerships with leading universities around the world which will enable UCA to deliver higher education at an internationally acceptable standard.
The admissions team will travel throughout Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan in February and March. Students and parents are encouraged to attend an information session in their vicinity, where UCA staff will provide detailed information and answer questions.
The University of Central Asia (UCA) was founded in 2000. The Presidents of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan, and His Highness the Aga Khan signed the International Treaty and Charter establishing this secular and private University; ratified by the respective parliaments, and registered with the United Nations. The Presidents are the Patrons of UCA and His Highness is the Chancellor.
UCA’s mission is to promote the social and economic development of Central Asia, particularly its mountain societies by offering an internationally recognized standard of higher education, and help the different peoples of the region to preserve and draw upon their rich cultural traditions and heritages as assets for the future. UCA brings with it the commitment and partnership of the Aga Khan Development Network.
