KHOROG, August 30, 2011, Asia-Plus – The School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPCE), which is the University of Central Asia (UCA)’s first operational academic program, has marked its fifth.
On UCA’s website, the School is described as Central Asia’s first provider of post-secondary, 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 of Professional and Continuing Education (SPCE) With learning facilities in Tajikistan (Khorog and Dushanbe), Kyrgyzstan (Naryn and Bishkek) and Kazakhstan (Tekeli and Taldykorgan), the School is designed to serve the immediate needs of the communities where the campuses are being built and fulfils UCA’s approach to reach the broadest spectrum of learners possible.
SPCE has reportedly engaged 30,000 course participants and offers certificate programs in English for Business (London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Examinations Board), Accounting (Certified Accountant Practitioner and Certification for International Professional Accountants), information technology (Microsoft IT Academy), International Computer Driving License (ICDL), Mountain Tour Operator, Local Economic and Community Development among others.
It also provides an apprenticeship-based Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) program in a number of construction trades. In addition, SPCE offers a variety of short-term and community-based training courses in tourism, entrepreneurship, and IT. The School is also a leading provider of educational literature having published more than 150 textbooks in support of its programs.
To ensure that its programs reach a diversity of communities, an outreach program was set up in remote villages without direct access to SPCE facilities. Through the English in the Villages, Math in the Villages, and IT in the Villages programs, SPCE Outreach helps address issues of outdated curriculum and teaching methods in the public school system that are particularly acute in village communities.
All certificate programs are internationally benchmarked – its academic quality and integrity are assured through a system of external examiners. Instructors are recruited locally and undergo training to acquire international certification. SPCE’s focus on quality of education is recognized as a best practice model; the School is assisting continuing education institutions throughout Central Asia, Egypt, Pakistan by sharing curricula and textbooks, training trainers, and providing independent quality assurance assessments through an “SPCE Certified” process.
Alumni report a high degree of satisfaction with the School’s programs: 97 percent are satisfied with their experience and would recommend SPCE to others; 86 percent find their courses to be “highly” or “mostly” relevant. More importantly, a majority of alumni attribute SPCE programs as a factor that enabled them to improve their economic situation by finding new employment, receiving higher income, establishing or expanding existing businesses.
