DUSHANBE December 18, 2015, Asia-Plus — Construction of University of Central Asia (UCA)’s Khorog Campus is ahead of schedule and the campus will open in 2017, according to press release issued by UCA.
The second of three campuses being built across Central Asia, UCA’s Khorog Campus is located 2,200 meters above sea level.
Phase I of the international standard campus includes a three-storey academic building (housing a library, classrooms, computer lab, student space, administrative offices, with faculty offices and housing), student life and laboratory building and three-winged dormitory.
Student recruitment is underway. UCA is reportedly working with schools across the region to ensure that students in the provinces can attend and succeed at UCA and financial aid will be available.
At a total capital cost of $94.4 million, Phase I construction of the Khorog campus is being funded by a $64.4 million commitment from the Aga Khan Development Network, including $7.5 million from the Aga Khan Foundation, and a long-term soft loan of $30 million from the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the United States Government’s development finance institution.
The Khorog campus is one of three campuses being built by UCA across the region. When fully operational, UCA will have campuses in Khorog, Tajikistan; in Naryn, Kyrgyzstan and in Tekeli, Kazakhstan. The Naryn campus is scheduled to open in September 2016 and the Tekeli campus, currently in the detailed design stage, is anticipated to open in 2019.
UCA will offer Bachelor’s degrees in Earth and Environmental Sciences and Economics (Khorog); Computer Sciences and Communications and Media (Naryn, Kyrgyzstan); and Engineering Sciences and Business and Management (Tekeli, Kazakhstan).
The University of Central Asia (UCA) was founded in 2000 to offer an internationally recognised standard of higher education and prepare graduates to contribute leadership, ideas and innovation to the economies and communities of the region. The International Treaty and Charter establishing this private, secular University was signed by the Presidents of Tajikistan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Kazakhstan and His Highness the Aga Khan, ratified by the parliaments of the founding states and registered with the United Nations. UCA is the first internationally chartered university in the world. UCA’s mission is to foster the socio-economic development of Central Asia, particularly its mountain societies, while helping the peoples of the region preserve and draw upon their rich cultural heritages as assets for the future. UCA brings with it the commitment and partnership of the Aga Khan Development Network.
