On September 2, 2024, the University of Central Asia's School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) welcomed the Class of 2029 with its traditional bell-ringing ceremony, held simultaneously at its residential campuses in Khorog, Tajikistan, and Naryn, Kyrgyzstan. This cherished tradition at UCA signifies the start of a new chapter for the incoming students, with the bell’s sound symbolising the pursuit of knowledge and the shared journey ahead.
This year, UCA welcomed 91 new students who will pursue undergraduate degrees in Computer Science, Communications and Media, Global Economics, and Earth and Environmental Sciences.
Dr Shamsh Kassim-Lakha, Chairman of UCA’s Board of Trustees, delivered a virtual address and warmly welcomed the new and returning students. In his speech, he underlined the vision of His Highness the Aga Khan, the Chancellor of UCA and the Founding Patrons of UCA, the Presidents of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and the Republic of Tajikistan, for UCA to become a research university, and encouraged UCA students and faculty to “show curiosity and contribute to the creation of new knowledge”.
Professor Christopher Gerry, Rector of UCA called on students to think of their education as an “ongoing conversation between peers and classmates, juniors and seniors, students and teachers, and between university and community” which will shape the rest of their lives. Professor Gerry thanked UCA faculty and staff for their “continued commitment to teaching, research, and service and for helping make UCA a place where innovation and discovery can thrive”.
Dr Maxim Khomyakov, Dean of UCA’s School of Arts and Sciences requested students to be “open, critical and collaborative” in their learning journey, reminding them that knowledge is “a product of collective endeavor”. The Associate Deans, Dr Kholiknazar Kuchakshoev and Dr Elmira Kuchumkulova, joined the celebration, formally introducing the members of the Class of 2029.
The ceremony was graced by several government dignitaries, including Mr Shabdan Abdrayim uulu, Deputy Governor of Naryn Oblast, who formally welcomed attendees at UCA’s Naryn Campus. He expressed his appreciation for UCA’s efforts in providing quality education to the youth of Naryn and the broader region, as well as for the substantial investments contributing to local prosperity. Other notable guests at Naryn Campus included Mr Kanbolot Tutuev, Mayor of Naryn, and Mr Avtandil Moldosaliev, Speaker of the Naryn Town Council. H.E. Timothy Marschall Jones, British Ambassador to the Republic of Tajikistan, who was on an official trip to Khorog, addressed the guests at the ceremony at Khorog Campus.
The ceremony also featured inspiring speeches from the Presidents of the UCA Student Associations Nabila Nabil at Naryn Campus and Anoyatsho Mirzojonov at Khorog Campus. They encouraged the incoming class to fully engage in campus life and embrace UCA’s values. They also highlighted the importance of building strong connections with peers, faculty, and the broader community of campus towns, and urged students to contribute to the vibrant, inclusive spirit that defines UCA.
As part of the ceremony, the Class of 2029 added their signatures to the Legacy Book, continuing a tradition that connects them with previous cohorts. They also wrote letters to their future selves, which will be sealed in a Time Capsule to be opened during their graduation.
