The University of Central Asia’s School of Professional and Continuing Education (UCA SPCE) hosted an international conference, Continuing Education for the Sustainable Development of Mountain Communities to commemorate its 10th anniversary at the Ismaili Center, Dushanbe on 24 November.
According to the UCA SPCE, the conference was attended by Mr. Akbar Ali Pesnani, Diplomatic Representative of Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN); Dr Bohdan Krawchenko, Director General of UCA; Mrs. Gulnara Dzhunushaliyeva, Director of SPCE; Ms. Patricia Bowron, Executive Director of International and Regional Development, College of the Rockies; Damira Omuraliyeva, Rector of Naryn State University; Staff of SPCE from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and accompanied by the national and international experts; representatives of universities, in the region; heads of local vocational schools; adult centers and colleges; consultancy and civil society institutions.
“AKDN values the work of SPCE in strengthening professional skills and socio-economic development in the region. SPCE programs have yielded good results and we look forward to continuing success and leveraging the great potential of UCA,” remarked Pesnani.
The conference reportedly discussed issues of continuing education as a factor for personal and professional development, while at the same time presenting national and international practices and opportunities for the implementation of ‘lifelong learning’ in the changing socio-cultural and economic space of Central Asia. A discussion forum on promoting a network of training institutions and universities, educational and research centers of continuing education was also discussed among the participants.
Plenary sessions focused on the consideration of new trends and perspectives in the field of adult learning from international experience and the broadening of cooperation between teachers, researchers and organizers of education systems in the fields of vocational training and continuing education.
UCA SPCE was established in 2006 in Khorog and its Learning Center in Dushanbe opened in 2008. To date, SPCE has enrolled over 30,000 learners in Khorog and 19,000 learners in Dushanbe. Through partnerships with Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) and government agencies, UCA SPCE delivers courses in Afghanistan through three Satellite Learning Centers in Shighnan, Darwaz and Ishkashim districts and a Continuing Education Unit at Badakhshan University in Faizabad city. The School also introduced its academic and quality assurance system at Learning Centers of Aga Khan Education Services in Ishkashim and Zebak. In total, UCA SPCE has reached 11,000 learners in Afghanistan.
