DUSHANBE, August 14, 2012, Asia-Plus – A newsletter of the University of Central Asia (UCA) published on August 13 notes that the University of Central Asia (UCA)’s School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPCE) in Khorog graduated 215 learners at its seventh graduation ceremony on July 14, 2012.
The ceremony was attended by representatives of Tajikistan’s Central and Regional Governments, Embassies of Afghanistan and Unites States, senior representatives of GIZ and USAID, local leadership and friends of the graduates.
More than 200 SPCE learners were awarded certificates in Accounting, Cashier/Bookkeeping, English for Business Level 2 and 3A, Conversational English, English for Academic Purposes, Training for Guides. Records of Achievement were also awarded in Project Appraisal, Conversational Russian, Conversational German, Conversational French and Dari Advanced Level courses. 6 secondary students were awarded Letters of Appreciation for participating in SPCE Olympiad and the Mathematics and English in the Villages’ programs.
This year SPCE again recognized learners from Afghanistan who studied at SPCE Khorog under the “Cross Border Vocational Education in Badakhshan” (CVEB) Phase II program, a joint initiative of UCA and the United States Agency for International Development. Twenty-two Afghan graduates received certificates for completing basic-level courses in IT, Conversational English, and Cashier/Bookkeeping. As part of the CVEB II program, 60 students from Badakhshan Province in Afghanistan were awarded scholarships to study at SPCE Khorog. Courses were delivered in the Dari language, including the original curriculum and learning materials in Dari. The advanced level training programs students of CVEB II are expected to graduate in the late December 2012, when SPCE will conduct its winter Graduation.
The School of Professional and Continuing Education is Central Asia’s first provider of post-secondary, professional short-cycle education giving young people and adults professional and vocational qualifications in a flexible learning format that improve employment and income generating opportunities. The School has learning facilities in Khorog and Dushanbe, Tajikistan; Naryn and Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic; Tekeli and Taldykorgan, Kazakhstan.
The University of Central Asia (UCA) was founded in 2000. The Presidents of Tajikistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, 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. UCA brings with it the commitment and partnership of the broader Aga Khan Development Network.