University of Central Asia
The University of Central Asia (UCA) (Russian: Университет Центральной Азии) is a secular, non-profit, research university in Central Asia. It was founded by an international charter between the governments of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan in partnership with the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in 2000. UCA's first undergraduate campus opened in 2016 in Naryn,[2] Kyrgyzstan, and was followed by a second campus in Khorog, Tajikistan (2017).[3] The University has three schools: School of Arts and Sciences (SAS), Graduate School of Development (GSD) and School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPCE). The School of Arts and Sciences offers four undergraduate programmes on two campuses located in Naryn, Kyrgyzstan and Khorog Tajikistan. The Tekeli campus in Kazakhstan is currently in the planning phase.
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Motto in English | Journey Begins Here | |||
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Type | Private, non-profit, undergraduate, graduate, research institution | |||
Established | 2000 | |||
Accreditation | "№ VU200000554 (Kyrgyzstan)" (PDF). | |||
Affiliation | Secular | |||
Chairman | Shamsh Kassim-Lakha | |||
Chancellor | His Highness the Aga Khan | |||
Rector | Syed Sohail Hussain Naqvi | |||
Dean | Prof. Maxim Khomyakov (School of Arts and Sciences)[1] Dean Dr. Bohdan Krawchenko (Graduate School of Development) | |||
Total staff | 844 (2021) | |||
Students | 346 (2021) | |||
Postgraduates | 56 (2021) | |||
Address | 138 Toktogul Street , , 42°52′29″N 74°36′44″E | |||
Campus | Multiple rural sites: Naryn, Khorog, Tekeli | |||
Language | English | |||
SPCE Learning Centres | Bishkek, Naryn (Kyrgyzstan) Almaty, Tekeli (Kazakhstan) Khorog, Dushanbe, Bokhtar (Tajikistan) Darwaz, Ishkashim, Shugnan, Faizabad (Afghanistan) | |||
Colours | ||||
Website | www.ucentralasia.org |
School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPCE)
The School of Professional and Continuing Education was launched in 2006.[4] on 15 February 2020, the SPCE held its first graduation ceremony of 160 students at its learning centre in Bokhtar, Tajikistan.[5] SPCE has 14 learning centres with 150,000 alumni across Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.[6] SPCE offers vocational and professional development programmes to various age groups.
Undergraduate School of Arts and Sciences (SAS)
UCA has a five-year undergraduate programme, including a one-year preparatory programme including cross-disciplinary, liberal arts and prerequisite courses, followed by a choice of six specialisations or majors.[7] The programme also includes a mandatory Co-operative Education programme, where students receive paid internships.[8] Students attend the campus based on what major they choose and will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree.
UCA has signed academic partnerships/memorandum of understandings with international institutions:
- Seneca College, Canada (Preparatory Programme),[9]
- University of Technology Sydney, Australia (Communications and Media, BA),[10][11][12]
- University of Toronto, Canada (Computer Science, BSc),[13]
- University of British Columbia, Canada (Earth and Environmental Sciences, BSc),[14][15][16]
- Stockholm School of Economics/Riga, Latvia (Economics, BA),[17]
- National Research University – Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia (Economics, BA),[18][19]
- University of Victoria, Canada (Cooperative Education Programme)[20]
- University of Alberta, Canada: Central Asian Faculty Development Programme[21]
- University of Cambridge, United Kingdom: Central Asian Faculty Development Programme[21]
Undergraduate Programmes
Naryn Campus | Computer Science (BSc) | Communications and Media (BA) |
Khorog Campus | Earth & Environmental Sciences (BSc) | Global Economics (BA) |
Tekeli Campus | Engineering Sciences (BSc) | Business & Management (BA) |
The Graduate School of Development (GSD)
The Graduate School of Development has five divisions:
- Institute of Public Policy and Administration
- Mountain Societies Research Institute
- Cultural Heritage and Humanities Unit
- Civil Society Initiative, and
- The Aga Khan Humanities Project
UCA Campuses

UCA's undergraduate programmes are located at its residential campuses in Naryn, Kyrgyzstan (opened in September 2016), and Khorog, Tajikistan (2017). The Tekeli campus in Kazakhstan is currently in the planning phase. The campuses are of equal size and stature with modern classrooms, libraries, laboratories, secure, modular dormitories and athletic facilities open to the public, including football pitches and tennis courts.[22]
Campus in Kyrgyzstan is situated in Naryn Town 314 km (195 miles) from Bishkek and is spread over 9 hectares for Phase 1. The campus in Naryn is the first phase of a larger vision for the 252-hectare site. Phase one includes a 13,927-square-metre space for 150 students When the final phase is complete, it will accommodate 1,200 students and span 125,000 square metres.[23]

Campus in Tajikistan is located in Khorog, GBAO near the border with Afghanistan in the southwestern Pamirs range at an elevation of 2,200 m (7,200 feet) and on the Gunt River where it flows into the Pyandzh.[24]
Campus in Kazakhstan will be built in Tekeli, and is in planning stage.
All three campuses were designed by Arata Isozaki, Aoki & Associates (IAA)[25]
Board of Trustees
- Shamsh Kassim-Lakha (Chairman)
- Princess Zahra Aga Khan
- Prince Rahim Aga Khan
- Lutfiya Abdulkholiqzoda
- Senator Byrganym Aitimova
- Dr Shenggen Fan
- Professor Hans Hurni
- Mr Naguib Kheraj
- Dr Sharofat Mamadambarova
- Dr Nurlan Omurov
- Professor Andrew Petter
- Syed Sohail Hussain Naqvi (Rector of UCA)[26]
See also
References
- "New Dean at UCA's School of Arts and Sciences – University of Central Asia". ucentralasia.org. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
- "University of Central Asia opens its first campus as part of broad commitment to fostering social and economic development | Aga Khan Development Network". www.akdn.org. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
- "President Rahmon inaugurates University of Central Asia's Khorog campus". akipress.com. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
- "School of Professional and Continuing Education". University of Central Asia. University of Central Asia. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- TCA. "Tajikistan: UCA's SPCE Bokhtar holds milestone first graduation for 160 students". www.timesca.com. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
- "School of Professional and Continuing Education – University of Central Asia". ucentralasia.org. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
- "Undergraduate Programme". University of Central Asia. UCA. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
- "Co-operative Education Programme". University of Central Asia. UCA. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
- "Canada's Seneca College and the University of Central Asia sign milestone partnership agreement". senecacollege.ca. Seneca College. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
- "University of Technology Sydney and University of Central Asia collaborate on communications and media". akdn.org. Aga Khan Development Network. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
- "СИДНЕЙСКИЙ ТЕХНОЛОГИЧЕСКИЙ УНИВЕРСИТЕТ И УНИВЕРСИТЕТ ЦЕНТРАЛЬНОЙ АЗИИ НАЛАДИЛИ СОТРУДНИЧЕСТВО В СФЕРЕ "КОММУНИКАЦИЙ И СМИ"". Donors.kg. Координационный совет партнеров по развитию в КР.
- "University of Technology Sydney and University of Central Asia collaborate on Communications and Media". TimesCA. Times of Central Asia. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
- "UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO AND THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ASIA SIGN AN ACADEMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT ON EDUCATION AND RESEARCH COLLABORATION". Donors.kg. Development Partners' Coordination Council. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
- "Университет Британской Колумбии и Университет Центральной Азии сотрудничают в области наук о Земле и окружающей среде". Ekois.net. Ekois. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
- "University of British Columbia and University of Central Asia Collaborate on Earth and Environmental Sciences". Paderborn. PaderbornerSJ. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
- "UCA, UBC collaborate on earth and environmental sciences". News.tj. Asia Plus. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
- "Economics, BA". University of Central Asia. UCA. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
- "Российская Высшая школа экономики окажет содействие в подготовке кадров для Центральной Азии". evrazia-rual.ru. Commonwealth of Eurasia People. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
- "University of Central Asia and Higher School of Economics Sign Partnership Agreement in Moscow". hse.ru. Higher School of Economics. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
- "UVic global partnerships". Uvic. University of Victoria. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
- "Central Asian Faculty Development Programme (CAFDP) – University of Central Asia". www.ucentralasia.org. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
- "University of Central Asia opens its first campus as part of broad commitment to fostering social and economic development". Aga Khan Development Network. AKDN. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
- Futurarc, Admin. "University of Central Asia Naryn Campus". FuturArc. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
- "Khorugh | Tajikistan". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
- "Aecom, Gensler collaborate on campus in Kyrgyzstan mountains". Global Construction Review. 2016-10-20. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
- "Board of Trustees". University of Central Asia. University of Central Asia. Retrieved 9 September 2019.