KHOROG, July 10, 2009, Asia-Plus — The Apprenticeship Council for Coordination of Joint Actions on the Vocational Technical Education Development Programs has been set up at the Khorog Campus of the School of Continuing and Professional Education (SCPE) of the University of Central Asia (UCA).
Head of the Khorog Campus of UCA’s SCPE, Dilovar Butabekov, said in an interview with Asia-Plus that the Council was set up on July 9 on an initiative of representatives from the Khorog construction organizations, cooperating with SCPE on development of the vocational technical education in the region, and the GBAO agency for employment, migration and social protection.
“The council is dedicated to promote raising quality of training of specialists in the framework of the vocational technical education programs and placing apprentices graduating the SCPE vocational technical programs in jobs with construction organizations,” Butabekov said/
According to him, the vocational technical programs are developed by the SCPE specialists and designed for one year. The programs are implemented under the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on vocational technical education development cooperation singed between UCA and Tajikistan’s Ministry of Education and Ministry of Labor and Social Protection.
UCA’s School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPCE) is Central Asia’s first provider of formal, university-based, non-degree educational programs, offering vocational, professional development and personal improvement opportunities to youth and adults.
Established in 2006, SPCE is UCA’s first operational academic program, and has the mission of fostering economic development. It does this by responding to trends and needs in the local economies of the communities in which it operates and offering courses that improve employment and income generating opportunities for youth and adults, and professional development opportunities for mid-career professionals. By building vocational skills and professional competencies, SPCE will encourage entrepreneurship in the region and stimulate economic development.
UCA was founded in 2000 by the governments of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, and His Highness the Aga Khan. It is the world’s first internationally chartered institution of higher education. The International Treaty and Charter establishing this secular and private University was signed by His Highness the Aga Khan and the Presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, ratified by the respective parliaments and registered with the United Nations. The Presidents are the Patrons and His Highness the Aga Khan is the Founding Patron and Chancellor of UCA. UCA is a private, independent, self-governing institution which will be governed by an independent Board of Trustees and led by a Rector. It will have three campuses of equal size and stature in each of the founding countries.
