KHOROG, September 30, 2010, Asia-Plus — On Tuesday September 28, the University of Central Asia (UCA) signed an agreement with the Mountain Partnership and the Mountain Forum, according to the UCA’s Khorog campus.
The agreement provides for establishment of the MP/MF regional center for Central Asia at UCA.
“Under this agreement, the Mountain Partnership and the Mountain Forum will work on creating a platform for exchange of information in remote mountain areas, help organize regional conferences on exchange of experience in the sphere of adaptation to climate change effects and participate in work of the Swiss National Center of Competence in Research North-South (NCCR N-S) on working out guidelines for Tajik and Kyrgyz shepherds,” the source said.
Besides, specialists from these organizations will take part in development of the UCA’s initiative to promote a regional monitoring system, the Central Asian Mountain Monitoring Network (COMMON), to capture biophysical, social, economic, and cultural data from existing and emerging sources to inform programs and policies in the region.
This regional center will become the second center set up by international research organizations at the University of Central Asia and the next step towards strengthening of status of UCA as regional center for researches and exchange of information in Central Asia, the source added.
Established in 2000 under an International Treaty signed between the Governments of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan, and His Highness the Aga Khan, ratified by the respective parliaments of the three countries and registered with the United Nations, the University of Central Asia is a unique three-country initiative designed to promote socio-economic development of the mountain communities in the region. Campuses are located in the mountain communities of Khorog (Tajikistan), Naryn (Kyrgyz Republic), and Tekeli (Kazakhstan). UCA’s mission is to promote the socioeconomic development of Central Asia’s mountain societies, while at the same time helping the diverse peoples of the region to preserve and draw upon their rich cultural traditions and heritages as assets for the future.
UCA is currently developing its campuses, academic and research programs and institutes, and has several programs underway. To foster interdisciplinary scientific research on issues that affect mountain communities within relevant academic areas, UCA will launch its first research center, tentatively named the Mountain Societies Research Center (MSRC). The MSRC will support the academic agenda by producing relevant and applied research and promoting collaborative research with regional and international partners. One initiative of the MSRC is to promote a regional monitoring system, the Central Asian Mountain Monitoring Network.
