DUSHANBE, September 28, 2009, Asia-Plus — The University of Central Asia (UCA) and the University of Exeter signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on September 24, 2009 to develop the academic capacity of Central Asians under UCA’s Central Asian Faculty Development Programme (CAFDP) and to advance collaborative research between the two institutions, press release issued by UCA said.
The agreement signed by Mr. David Allen, Deputy Chief Executive, University of Exeter and UCA Director, Dr. Bohdan Krawchenko provides full scholarships in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Politics, Sociology, Philosophy, History, Archaeology, Law, Arab and Islamic Studies and Theology). The Memorandum also establishes a Research Fellowship for University of Exeter faculty at UCA.
The CAFDP was created to ensure that scholars from Central Asia with top international academic credentials are strongly represented in the University’s faculty. This program will support students at the University of Exeter for Master of Philosophy (MPhil)/Doctoral (PhD) studies. Students will be admitted to the MPhil degree but will be eligible for and expected to upgrade to PhD during their second year at the University of Exeter.
The University of Exeter is a top 10 UK university which combines world leading research with very high levels of student satisfaction. Exeter is ranked 9th out of more than 100 UK universities in the (London) Times league table. The University scores highly for degree completion rates. Exeter has been shortlisted for the Sunday Times University of the Year Award more times than any other university and has won three Queen’s Anniversary Prizes for its research. It has research strength in depth across all of its disciplines.
The University of Central Asia was founded by the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and the Aga Khan, to foster economic and social development throughout mountain zones of Central Asia. It is the world’s first internationally chartered institution of higher education. UCA is a secular and private, with an independent Board of Trustees. UCA is constructing campuses in Tekeli, Kazakhstan, Naryn, Kyrgyzstan, and Khorog, Tajikistan.
