SMALL NATION, BIG AMBITION: KYRGYZSTAN’S HIGHER EDUCATION PROSPECTS IN A GLOBAL DIGITAL ERA A SMALL COUNTRY WITH A LARGEEDUCATIONAL AMBITION Kyrgyzstan, a mountainous republic at
THE NUMBERS DON’T LIE: IS ASIA WINNING THE EDUCATION RACE? Is this the Asian century in higher education? On the numbers alone, it may well
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AFTER THE END OF THE FAMILIAR WORLD: WHAT UNIVERSITIES MUST LEARN AGAIN In the spring of 2026, I attended two international conferences on
A NEW-GENERATION UNIVERSITY:THE TRANSFORMATION OF SCIENCE AT KAZNU In today’s era of global change, universities are no longer merely institutions for the transmission of knowledge.
HELPING EVERY CHILD THRIVE: MONTESSORI, INCLUSION AND THE SCHOOL OF THE FUTURE Teaching and medicine have been part of Lidia Belozerova-Solonovich’s family heritage for generations,
OCA#59 EDUCATION WELCOME WORD Dear Reader, I was talking recently with a hiring manager at one of Astana’s energy companies in March who told me
CARDS REMIXED FOR THE NEW ‘GREAT GAME’ THE SILK ROAD’S NEW REALITY In 2013, China’s newly nominated President Xi Jinping gave a much-heeded speech in
LA IMPORTANCIA DE LA RUTA DE LA SEDA PARA LA FUNDACIÓN DE AMÉRICA LATINA Un vínculo histórico intrigante entre Asia Central y América Latina radica
THE SILK ROAD VIRTUAL MUSEUMBRINGS GLOBAL HISTORY ONLINE When we think of the Silk Road, we often picture camel caravans crossing deserts or traders carrying
¿POR QUÉ LOS ESTUDIANTES YPROFESORES DE ASIA CENTRAL YAMÉRICA LATINA NO HACEN VIAJES DE INTERCAMBIO DE ESTUDIOSENTRE SUS RESPECTIVOS PAÍSES YQUÉ PIERDE EL MUNDO? Mientras
WHY UZBEKISTAN IS LOSING ITS PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD Nostalgia can become a source of strength, but it is time to stop pushing away those
¡EL DEPORTE ES VIDA! En la política y economía mundiales, las misiones diplomáticas construyen puentes. En la cultura, lo hacen los músicos y los escritores.
A LAND OF CHANCES, BEAUTY, AND PROMISE A few months ago, I had the privilege of visiting Uzbekistan — a land where every day seemed
LOS ARMENIOS EN LOS PAÍSESDE AMÉRICA LATINA En la película Mama de Henri Verneuil, que cuenta la historia de los armenios que encontraron refugio en
BIG PROJECTS, BIG FAILURES POST-SOVIET MEGAPROJECTS ARE NOW MONUMENTS TO AMBITION RATHER THAN DEVELOPMENT Over the past three decades, the post-Soviet space has embraced megaprojects
KURASH: EL DEPORTE CENTROASIÁNICOQUE AVANZA EN PANAMÉRICA HISTORIA DEL KURASHEl kurash es un estilo de lucha con chaqueta procedente de Uzbekistán, cuyas raíces se remontan
DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE AND SUSTAINABLEDEVELOPMENT IN CENTRAL ASIA Central Asia is often defined by its oilfields, mountain ranges, and the revival of the Silk Road trade
JUGADA DE DAMAS Una vez acompañé a dos reinas a la vez. Al mismo tiempo. Una, natural, de sangre: Sofía, la esposa del rey español
MOUNTAIN CROSSROADS: WHY CENTRAL ASIA’S PEAKS DEMAND A NEW VISION Mountains are not passive backdrops to human history; they are dynamic, living systems that have
LOS “UNICORNIOS” EUROASIÁTICOS EN AMÉRICA LATINA: CÓMO ARSEN TOMSKIY Y OLEG TINKOV CONQUISTAN UN NUEVO CONTINENTE Mientras las grandes corporaciones y los Estados aumentan su
AFGHANISTAN’S NORTHERN QUESTION:ETHNICITY, LANGUAGE, AND POWER ATTHE HEART OF ASIA Afghanistan’s modern political history cannot be understood without examining the intersection of war, ethnicity, and
NEW POWER: ENERGÍA Y SOSTENIBILIDAD Los países de América Latina y Asia Central están transformando rápidamente su papel, pasando de proveedores de materias primas a
THE CRITICAL ELEMENT: WATER, NOT MINERALS, WILL DEFINE CENTRAL ASIA’S FUTURE In Central Asia, much of the conversation still revolves around oil, logistics, borders, and
IMANBEK: CÓMO UN MECÁNICO KAZAJO GANÓ EL LATIN GRAMMY Y BORRÓ FRONTERAS EN LA MÚSICA En noviembre de 2020, el mundo de la música experimentó
ONE BELT, ONE ROAD, BUT DIFFERENTAPPROACHES TO INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING PERSIST IN FORMER SOVIET REPUBLICS Of course, the transition of the Former Soviet Republics from Communism
TÉ, TECNOLOGÍAS DE LA INFORMACIÓN Y ENERGÍA: EL DESARROLLO EXPLOSIVO DE LOS VÍNCULOS ECONÓMICOS ENTRE LOS PAÍSES DE ASIA CENTRAL Y LA CEI CON AMÉRICA
THIRTY FIVE YEARS ON: DOES THE FOUNDING FATHERS’ MODEL OF THE POST-SOVIET STATES STILL WORK? The collapse of the Soviet Union is rarely seen as
ARGENTINA: UNA NUEVA OPORTUNIDAD Tanto en Kazajstán como en el resto de los países de Asia Central no se sabe mucho sobre Argentina. Seguramente si
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IS A NATIONAL STRATEGIC CHOICE Sustainable development in Kazakhstan is not an abstract policy aspiration. It is a deliberate strategic choice that shapes
A TRAVÉS DE ESTEPAS Y MARES: UN ENCUENTRO ENTRE ASIA CENTRAL Y AMÉRICA LATINA Colocar Asia Central y América Latina en la misma frase es
INTERSECTING INTELLIGENCE AND CREATIVITY IN THE AGE OF TECHNOLOGY “Technology does not create depth – it merely reveals the level of human thinking.” As sustainable
La aparición de nuevos nombres en los escenarios de la música clásica contemporánea siempre infunde esperanza de que el arte continúe viviendo y sonando de
When war broke out in the Middle East at the beginning of March, I was in Astana. I felt somewhat distant from the news headlines
PALABRAS DE BIENVENIDA – EDICIÓN AMÉRICA LATINA Por una casualidad muy oportuna, les escribo desde las costas del Pacífico en Nicaragua, donde he venido unos
KURALAY AVUTOVA: CREATIVITY IS NOT ONLY ABOUT SELF-EXPRESSION, BUT ALSO ABOUT RESPONSIBILITY OCA Magazine: Please tell us the most important things about yourself and your
DANIYAR BEISHEEV: BOLD DECISIONS AND A CLEAN SHEET OF PAPER ON WHICH YOU CAN WRITE YOUR NAME OCA Magazine: Please tell us the most important
Naziken Alpamyskizy stands as a remarkable figure in Kazakh culture – a woman who skillfully united science and poetry, intellect and artistry. In 1960, she
Dulat Issabekov was an outstanding Kazakh writer, playwright, and public figure whose work became an integral part of the cultural and literary heritage of Kazakhstan.
Anna Nikolaeva – a poet, musician, and a person of broad creative range, was born in Moscow, in the historic Arbat district. From an early
Ilyas Suleimanov will forever be remembered by his friends and colleagues as a man of rare talent, intellect, and dignity. Born on June 25, 1964,
ALESIA ISSA: “I PAINT FROM LIFE, BUT WHAT EMERGES IS A LANGUAGE OF SYMBOLS, OF FORMS THAT REMEMBER.” OCA Magazine: Please tell us the most
DIANA ANPILOHOVA: “UNIQUENESS CANNOT BESELF-CONTAINED…” OCA Magazine: Please tell us the most important things about yourself and your creative work. What is your creative, life
YEGOR MYTSYK: “I WOULD OFFER THIS ADVICE: BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND YOUR ART” OCA Magazine: Please tell us the most important things about yourself and
ELENA ANANYEVA: “WE CANNOT HIDE OUR HEADSIN THE SAND.” CA Magazine: Please tell us the most important things about yourself and your creative work. What
MARIA ZHUMAGULOVA: “WE BELIEVE THAT SUCH A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT ALLOWS FOR ACHIEVING THE BEST RESULTS” OCA Magazine: Please tell us the most important things about
POLINA LAKHTINA: “DON’T LISTEN TO NAYSAYERS ON YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS, SIMPLY AVOID THEM!” OCA Magazine: Please tell us the most important things about yourself
RAKHIMA ARLI: “ART PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WORLD…” OCA Magazine: Please tell us the most important things about yourself and
KSENIYA MOSALEVA GOLD: “THE WORLD IS CHANGING,AND WE MUST REMAIN FLEXIBLE” OCA Magazine: Please tell us the most important things about yourself and your creative
ALI ARTAMAN: THE SILK ROAD ADVENTURER CA Magazine: Please tell us the most important things about yourself and your creative work. What is your creative,
AFINA ABDULDAEVA: “I UNDERSTAND THAT EVERY PERSON IS A UNIQUE PERSONAILITY” OCA Magazine: Please tell us the most important things about yourself and your creative
BORIS GUBERMAN: “CREATIVITY IS THE HIGHESTEXPRESSION OF ART, REGARDLESS OF THE FORM IT TAKES” OCA Magazine: Please tell us the most important things about yourself
BUBUIRA BEKTENOVA: “CREATIVE PEOPLE ARE KNOWNAS CONDUCTORS TO THE WORLD THEY SPEAK OF HUMANISM” OCA Magazine: Please tell us the most important things about yourself
DANA ZHETEYEVA: “CREATIVITY GROWS WHEN YOU STAY CURIOUS AND OPEN” OCA Magazine: Please tell us the most important things about yourself and your creative work.
ELENA KOROLEVA (ELEN KORO): “I TAKE GREAT PLEASURE IN RAISING THE YOUNGER GENERATION” OCA Magazine: Please tell us the most important things about yourself and
YELENA MAKAROVA: “HONESTY, DECENCY, AND HUMANITY ARE NECESSARY FOR EACH PERSONAS UNIQUE QUALITIES!” tant things about yourself and your creative work. What is your creative
GENNADY GOROVOY: “I BELIEVE IN YOUR TALENTS!” OCA Magazine: Please tell us the most important things about yourself and your creative work. What is your
MARINA VERNALIS (SHKROBOVA): “ART SETS THE PATTERNS TO WHICH WE STRIVE” OCA Magazine: Please tell us the most important things about yourself and your creative
MARSEL SALIMOV: “TO SERVE THE PEOPLE — THIS, I BELIEVE, IS THE TRUE PURPOSE OF MY CREATIVE WORK” OCA Magazine: Please tell us the most
MICHAEL ANANOV: “ARTISTS WORK TIRELESSLY TO DISCOVER A RECIPE FOR HARMINOUS COEXISTENCE” ant things about yourself and your creative work. What is your creative, life
COVER STORY : MARIIAM TOBOKELOVA “TRADITION IS NOT THE ASH WE PRESERVE, BUT THE FIRE WE PASS ON” OCA Magazine: Please tell us the most
MIKHAIL KUNITSKI: KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE MAKE YOU FREE AND OPEN TO THE WORLD OCA Magazine: Please tell us the most important things about yourself and
NARGISA KARASARTOVA: SO, I WOULD WISH ALL CREATIVEPEOPLE FLEXIBILITY,CONSITENCY, AND PURPOSEFULLNESS OCA Magazine: Please tell us the most important things about yourself and your creative
NATALLIA THOMPSON: LIFE IS CREATIVITY, A CONTINOUSINTERACTION WITH THE WORLD AND WITH PEOPLE tant things about yourself and your creative work. What is your creative
NURLAN TOXANOV: EVERY WRITER IS UNIQUE, SHAPEDBY THEIR OWN INNER WORLD OCA Magazine: Please tell us the most important things about yourself and your creative
NURYM TAIBEK: LOVE FOR ALL, HATRED FOR NONE”— MY MISSION AND CREATIVE PATH OCA Magazine: Please tell us the most important things about yourself and
SALTANAT KHAMZEYEVA: MY ADVICE TO THOSE JUST BEGINNING THEIR CREATIVE JOURNEY – CREATE! OCA Magazine: Please tell us the most important things about yourself and
TATIANA EDEL: MY CREDO: TO SEEK TRUTH, GIVE HOPE AND KEEP FAITH ALIVE OCA Magazine: Please tell us the most important things about yourself and
TATYANA CHABROVA: WARMTH AND KINDNESS, SUPPORTING MY TALENTED STUDENTS tant things about yourself and your creative work. What is your creative, life credo and motivation
THE ART OF BEING GENUINE: THE JOURNEY OF ZAMIRA BESHIMOVA In the world of art, there are figures whose creativity becomes a bridge between cultures
ZINA KARAEVA: MY CREATIVE CREDO IS TO WORK HARD AND MY LIFE CREDO IS TO HELP THE PEOPLE IF THEY NEED IT OCA Magazine: Please
WARREN WILLS: A TRUE ARTIST NEEDS TO CREATETHE CONDITIONS OF TOTAL FREEDOM OCA Magazine: Please tell us the most important things about yourself and your
EDGAR ANPILOGOV: REMEMBER: TRUE INSPIRATION LIES WITHIN YOU OCA Magazine: Please tell us the most important things about yourself and your creative work. What is
NURLAN MUNBAEV: I WISH YOU THE COURAGE TOBE YOURSELF, THE PATIENCE TO FINDYOUR OWN VOICE… OCA Magazine: Please tell us the most important things about
OLEG NESTERKOV: TO REMAIN TRUE TO ONE’SCREATIVE PATH tant things about yourself and your creative work. What is your creative, life credo and motivation for
SULTAN RAEV: I BELIEVE KYRGRZ LITERATUREIS A SIGNIFICANT BUT STILLUNDERREPRESENTED PART OF THE WORLD’S CULTURAL HERITAGE OCA Magazine: Please tell us the most important things
“The Black Cloak” at the Shaw Theatre: a parable about humanity beyond allegory On 13 November, London’s Shaw Theatre welcomed the Kazakh company The Arts
SILK ROAD MEDIA — MEDIA PARTNER OF THE FORUM CENTRAL ASIA OIL & GAS FORUM 2025: A Business Platform for Strengthening Regional Cooperation As partnership
Only One Night in London: a truly special event of the theatrical season, presented in a unique cast and stage version that will not be
“THE BLACK CLOAK”: A CAPTIVATING PERFORMANCE ABOUT LOYALTY, BETRAYAL AND ETERNAL VALUES The Arts Stage Theatre invites you to the unique premiere of the play
When diplomatic families, international professionals, and global businesses relocate to Tashkent, they discover a city rich in history and opportunity. Among the considerations for these
The two largest Central Asian countries have embarked on a higher education spree. In Uzbekistan since 2020 almost 100 new universities have opened, swelling the
As part of the development of international cooperation in the field of higher education, Turkmenistan participated in the Education World Forum on May 18-21, 2025
In recent years, Central Asia has experienced not merely a surge of interest in music, but a cultural renaissance in which music itself becomes a
BRIDGING CULTURES, BUILDING FUTURES: THE BRITISH COUNCILIN KAZAKHSTAN For over three decades, the British Council has played a key role in strengthening the relationship between
CHALLENGES OF BUSINESS EDUCATIONIN UZBEKISTAN: A SYSTEMIC ANALYSISAND MODERNIZATION STRATEGIES There are many challenges in business education within Uzbekistan, including outdated curricula (only 15% updated
Challenges and Opportunities in Establishing International Partnerships AmongCentral Asia’s Educational Institutions Central Asia, an area abundant in history and cultural variety, stands at a critical
EDUCATING ONE HALF OF THE NATIONTHE ECONOMIC CASE FOR WOMEN’S ACCESS TO UNIVERSITIES In the classical culture of the East, the image of an educated
Since gaining independence, the countries of the post-Soviet space have focused significant attention on finding and building an optimal strategy for developing their education systems.
The path taken by the Republic of Moldova in developing its education system differs significantly from that of other post-Soviet countries. Here, reforms were neither
In recent years, there has been increasing discussion about the development of an innovation-based economy, about how to increase the share of high-tech products in
Education remains a cornerstone of national development, social equity, and economic growth. While East Africa and Central Asia are separated by geography and history, their
In recent years, Uzbekistan has become an increasingly important cultural and economic crossroads in Central Asia, attracting diplomats, international organizations, and businesses from around the
Uzbekistan’s tourism targets are well known: President Mirziyyev has repeatedly stated that he aims to attract 15 million international arrivals a year by 2030, which
TRANSFORMING SAKEN SEIFULLIN KATRU: FROM A RESEARCH UNIVERSITY TO A WORLD-CLASS INSTITUTION IN AGRICULTURE Kazakhstan, a country with deep agricultural roots, is rapidly emerging as
PREPARING STUDENTS TO LEAD IN A DIGITAL FUTURE Interview: Zhanseit Tuimebayev, Chairman of the Board-Rector of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University OCA: What are the main
I’m delighted to introduce another brimming issue of OCA Magazine, where we continue our commitment to exploring the dynamic and critical role of education in
WELCOME WORD Donald Trump’s inauguration as the United States’ 47th president has done little, so far, to reduce the global volatility we see both politically
WITH A PEN AND A SCALPEL IN HAND The best investment you can make is in yourself. It cannot be lost, and even in our
THE SHIFT OF THE INVESTMENT LANDSCAPE IN CENTRAL ASIAN AND CIS COUNTRIES: CURRENT TRENDS AND FUTURE OUTLOOK Things are moving fast in Central Asia and