THE DIPLOMA IS DEAD. LONG LIVE THE DIPLOMA: LIFELONG LEARNING LEADS THE WAY IN CENTRAL ASIA Just twenty years ago, the educational trajectory of most people was fairly predictable: school, university, employment. A diploma served as a gateway into a profession, and a career was built within a single field — sometimes a single organisation. […]
SEEDS OF CHANG: KAZAKHSTAN’S BETON SMART FARMING Over the past decade, Kazakhstan has accelerated the modernisation of its agricultural sector and higher education system in response to climate change, water scarcity, and rapid technological change. Its agro-education system is emerging as one of Central Asia’s leading AgriTech and innovation drivers. By integrating artificial intelligence, digital […]
¿HABLAS KAZAKH?WHY ARE PEOPLE IN LATIN AMERICA BEGINNING TO LEARN THE LANGUAGES OF CENTRAL ASIA? Until recently, Central Asia remained one of the least familiar regions of the world for most people in Latin America. If the names Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, or Uzbekistan were known at all, they were usually associated with geography, sports, or occasional […]
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 heart of Central Asia, is emerging as one of the region’s most dynamic higher education markets. With a population of 7.4 million, a growing economy, and expanding international enrolment, […]
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 be. More than half of the world’s university students are already in Asia, and that share is set to grow as ageing industrialised democracies give way demographically to younger populations […]
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 sustainable development and the role of universities. The first was the GREEN.DIGITAL.SMART Forum 2026 in Dushanbe, organised by the International University of Tourism and Entrepreneurship of Tajikistan. The second was […]
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. The world’s leading universities are transforming into intellectual hubs where breakthrough technologies emerge, digital agendas are shaped, and the foundations of economic resilience are established. Kazakh National University named after […]
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, inspiring a lifelong commitment to education and child development. Her professional journey began at the Rostov College of Arts, where she trained as a violinist and music educator, before continuing […]
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 something that has stayed with me. “I stopped reading cover letters six months ago,” he said. “I can’t tell if I’m reading the applicant or ChatGPT.” He paused, then added […]
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 Astana, Kazakhstan’s brushed-up capital. His main concern focused on nothing less than how to invigorate the ancient Silk Roads, „in order to promote people-to-people friendship“. – After eleven years, 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 en las influencias culturales y económicas compartidas de la antigua Ruta de la Seda; esta ruta facilitó la diseminación global de tecnologías, bienes e ideas desde Asia Central -particularmente innovaciones […]
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 silks and spices along dusty mountain passes. Yet the Silk Road was never a single route. It was an extraordinary web of connections, stretching across continents and seas, linking civilisations […]
¿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 los vínculos económicos y culturales entre Asia Central y América Latina se fortalecen, la esfera del intercambio académico permanece en estado embrionario. No existen prácticamente programas estructurados a gran escala […]
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 who have long acted as our unofficial ambassadors. I am standing in the reception hall of the Uzbek embassy in a European capital. An inspiring speech is being delivered in […]
¡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. Pero existe otra diplomacia, universal, donde las palabras son reemplazadas por golpes de guante, pases de balón y levantamientos récord de pesas. Es el deporte. Hoy, en su escenario global, […]
A LAND OF CHANCES, BEAUTY, AND PROMISE A few months ago, I had the privilege of visiting Uzbekistan — a land where every day seemed to offer me another chance. Another chance to see, to taste, to learn, to be humbled. I boarded the sleek high-speed train from Tashkent to Samarkand, watching the landscape unfold […]
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 Francia después del Genocidio de 1915, hay una escena en la que uno de estos armenios decide mudarse de Francia a Venezuela porque el nombre de ese país le parece […]
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 with a fervour reminiscent of Soviet-era “gigantomania”. A new terminal, a new city, a new tech hub, a new railway – each presented as a leap into the future. Too […]
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 a unos 3.500 años. Hay muchas referencias al kurash a lo largo de la historia, incluidas las del antiguo filósofo griego Heródoto y Avicena, padre de la medicina moderna nacido […]
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 routes. Yet its most valuable resource, above all, is its people. Since the 1990s, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and their neighbours have undergone profound demographic shifts. Fertility rates, once among the […]
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 Juan Carlos. La otra, no de sangre, hija de un simple ferroviario soviético, pero también en aquellos años todavía toda una reina: Raísa Gorbachova. Ambas tenían una auténtica apostura real, […]
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 shaped civilizations, economies, and ecosystems for millennia. Nowhere is this more evident than in Central Asia, home to some of the world’s most formidable ranges—the Pamirs, Tian Shan, Hindu Kush, […]
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 comercio con el Nuevo Mundo, los emprendedores privados procedentes de la CEI también exploran el continente transoceánico. Podría pensarse, ¿qué tiene esto de sorprendente? Todo el siglo XX fue una […]
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 state identity. From the Soviet invasion in 1979 to the return of the Taliban in 2021, Afghanistan has repeatedly experienced ruptures that have reshaped not only its political system, but […]
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 centros de la nueva energía y recursos renovables. Si antes la energía “verde” se mencionaba en las declaraciones de todas las cumbres para complacer a potenciales inversores, mientras la realidad […]
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 geopolitical influence. Yet the most decisive resource of the region’s future is neither hydrocarbons nor transit corridors. It is water. Stripped of diplomatic language, the reality is stark: the region […]
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 una sacudida cultural: en la prestigiosa ceremonia de los Latin Grammy Awards, en la categoría “Mejor Remezcla”, el ganador no fue un productor mexicano ni un creador de ritmos brasileño. […]
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 to Market Economy witnessed a dramatic fall in infrastructure spending. Consequently, different republics progressed at different speeds, though with an increasing realization that such spending is necessary to develop their […]
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 LATINA Las relaciones entre los países de América Latina (LatAm) y la Unión Soviética, y posteriormente el espacio postsoviético, durante mucho tiempo fueron episódicas y se basaban principalmente en visitas […]
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 a deliberate project. Rather, it is viewed as a crisis or a chain of events that spiralled out of control. Yet, when the early years of independence across the post-Soviet […]
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 preguntamos en las calles de Astana o de otra ciudad de cualquier país euroasiático qué es lo que las personas saben de Argentina (uno de los ocho países más grandes […]
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 our domestic reforms, our regional engagement in Central Asia, and our partnerships with the European Union. As emphasised by President Kassym Jomart Tokayev at the National Kurultai–2026, sustainability forms the […]
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 un doble reflejo. Una evoca imágenes de vastas estepas, ciudades de caravanas y pastores nómadas; la otra, de selvas tropicales, edificios coloniales y montañas imponentes. Sin embargo, cuando trascendemos la […]
INTERSECTING INTELLIGENCE AND CREATIVITY IN THE AGE OF TECHNOLOGY “Technology does not create depth – it merely reveals the level of human thinking.” As sustainable development is increasingly shaped not only by environmental factors but also by intellectual and technological ones, a new type of leadership is emerging – leaders capable of rethinking the future […]
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 manera renovada. La pianista Gaiahne Aslanyan es una joven artista brillante y original, cuyo trabajo combina una alta maestría interpretativa y enfoques creativos innovadores. La cosmovisión artística de Gaiahne Aslanyan […]
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 and perhaps that espouses the common view that Central Asia has always been somewhat distant in global minds — geographically, politically, even psychologically. Yet distance has never guaranteed insulation. The […]
PALABRAS DE BIENVENIDA – EDICIÓN AMÉRICA LATINA Por una casualidad muy oportuna, les escribo desde las costas del Pacífico en Nicaragua, donde he venido unos días para descansar del frío y los días invernales previos a la Navidad en Londres. He estado viajando por el país tratando de apreciar brevemente su rica cultura, su patrimonio […]
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 creative work. What is your creative, life credo and motivation for your creativity? Kuralay Avutova: I have loved creativity since childhood: I sing, draw, and recently began sharing my thoughts […]
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 things about yourself and your creative work. What is your creative, life credo and motivation for your creativity? Daniyar Beisheev: My name is Daniyar, I am 50 years old, and […]
Naziken Alpamyskizy stands as a remarkable figure in Kazakh culture – a woman who skillfully united science and poetry, intellect and artistry. In 1960, she graduated with honors from the Faculty of Economics of Kazakh State University named after S. M. Kirov, and in 1964, she completed her postgraduate studies at Lomonosov Moscow State University. […]
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. His books – including Sin, The Cry of an Old Woman, A Broken Life, and The Long Echo – are known for their psychological depth, sharp observation, and deep respect […]
Anna Nikolaeva – a poet, musician, and a person of broad creative range, was born in Moscow, in the historic Arbat district. From an early age, she showed a natural inclination toward literature and music: she began writing poetry at the age of eight and took her first steps in music at a local music […]
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, in Almaty to a family of scholars, he lived a bright and meaningful life, leaving this world too soon at the age of 61. Named after his famous uncle, Ilyas […]
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 important things about yourself and your creative work. What is your creative and life credo and motivation for your creativity? Alesia Issa: I’m a Belarusian multidisciplinary artist based in China, […]
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 credo and motivation for your creativity? Diana Anpilohova: I believe that ideas are meant to either become reality or be gracefully let go. Clinging to a single idea can limit […]
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 your creative work. What is your creative, life credo and motivation for your creativity? Yegor Mytsyk: I am a professionally trained artist with over 15 years of experience in commercial […]
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 is your creative and life credo and motivation for your creativity? Elena Ananyeva: I am, Elena Ananyeva, the head of the association “Gloria”, the registered “Freundschaft-Brücke Gloria” e. V. /registrirte […]
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 yourself and your creative work. What is your creative, life credo and motivation for your creativity? Maria Zhumagulova: By profession, I am an art historian. I also identify as a […]
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 and your creative work. What is your creative, life credo and motivation for your creativity? Polina Lakhtina: I’ve always been an all-rounder. As a teenager I was interested in foreign […]
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 your creative work. What is your creative, life credo and motivation for your creativity? Rakhima Arli: I am ARTuR, an artist and poet. For me, creativity is not merely an […]
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 work. What is your creative and life credo and motivation for your creativity? Kseniya Mosaleva Gold: In the course of my career, I have produced around three thousand reports – […]
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, life credo and motivation for your creativity? Ali Artaman: I am an academic and adventure traveller. I promote wellness on the Silk Road, am inspired by the Caucasus and Tien […]
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 work. What is your creative, life credo and motivation for your creativity? Afina Abduldaeva: Born in 1944. Grew up in the difficult post-war years. Graduated from a seven-year school in […]
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 and your creative work. What is your creative and life credo and motivation for your creativity? Boris Guberman: I graduated from the Faculty of Journalism at the Azerbaijan State University. […]
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 and your creative work. What is your creative, life credo and motivation for your creativity? Bubuira Bektenova: I’m Bektenova Bubuira, a writer from Kyrgyzstan, from my childhood I dreamed of […]
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. What is your creative, life credo and motivation for your creativity? Dana Zheteyeva: I am an English teacher with MBAs in Marketing and Business Administration, and since 2010 I have […]
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 your creative work. What is your creative, life credo and motivation for your creativity? Elena Koroleva (ELEN KORO): Greetings to you, Elen Koro – a unique woman, the author of […]
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 and life credo and motivation for your creativity? Yelena Makarova: I am an author of books for children. My poems and fairy tales are constantly published in children newspapers in […]
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 creative and life credo and motivation for your creativity? Gennady Gorovoy: Hello to my new and old friends. My name is Gennady. I grew up by the principle “Live and […]
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 work. What is your creative, life credo and motivation for your creativity? Marina Vernalis: Marina Shkrobova-Vernalis combines pedagogy and art, diplomacy and a deep love for poetic Word. My credo […]
MARSEL SALIMOV: “TO SERVE THE PEOPLE — THIS, I BELIEVE, IS THE TRUE PURPOSE OF MY CREATIVE WORK” OCA Magazine: Please tell us the most important things about yourself and your creative work. What is your creative and life credo and motivation for your creativity? Marsel Salimov: I am by no means an important, remarkable, […]
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 credo and motivation for your creativity? Michael Ananov: I am an essayist, playwright, poet, literary scholar, and translator of poetry. I belong to the Pushkin Society of Russian-speaking Writers “Arion,” […]
COVER STORY : MARIIAM TOBOKELOVA “TRADITION IS NOT THE ASH WE PRESERVE, BUT THE FIRE WE PASS ON” OCA Magazine: Please tell us the most important things about yourself and your creative work. What is your creative and life credo and motivation for your creativity? Mariiam Tobokelova: My creative name is Mariiam Bektemir kyzy. I […]
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 your creative work. What is your creative, life credo and motivation for your creativity? Mikhail Kunitski: I write in Russian and Belarusian for children and adults but I will say… […]
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 work. What is your creative, life credo and motivation for your creativity? Nargisa Karasartova: My full name is Karasartova Nargisa Omurbekovna. I was born in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on August 29, […]
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 and life credo and motivation for your creativity? Natallia Thompson: I’d like to clarify that it’s not quite accurate to say I represent Belarus and the United Kingdom. I currently […]
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 work. What is your creative and life credo and motivation for your creativity? Nurlan Toxanov: I mainly write detective stories, sometimes with a mystical touch. For me, the detective is […]
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 your creative work. What is your creative and life credo and motivation for your creativity? Nurym Taibek: My creative mission has been to translate spiritually enlightening literature into Russian. My […]
SALTANAT KHAMZEYEVA: MY ADVICE TO THOSE JUST BEGINNING THEIR CREATIVE JOURNEY – CREATE! OCA Magazine: Please tell us the most important things about yourself and your creative work. What is your creative, life credo and motivation for your creativity? Saltanat Khamzeyeva: Khamzeeva Saltanat Malikovna – editor, writer, Custodian of the Eurasian Creative Organisation, and representative […]
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 your creative work. What is your creative, life credo and motivation for your creativity? Tatiana Edel: I am a Siberian woman with an open soul and a restless heart. The […]
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 for your creativity? Tatyana Chabrova: I am a university lecturer and have been published since 1990. I participate in competitions, and my work has been included in textbooks and didactic […]
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 and generations. Actress, writer, teacher, and public figure Zamira Beshimova is one of them. For over twenty-two years, she has worked in film and theatre, taught children acting at the […]
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 tell us the most important things about yourself and your creative work. What is your creative, life credo and motivation for your creativity? Zina Karaeva: I have been an English […]
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 creative work. What is your creative, life credo and motivation for your creativity? Warren Wills: Most important thing about the work I’m doing at the moment is that music is […]
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 your creative, life credo and motivation for your creativity? Edgar Anpilogov: When you combine academic education with active, creative involvement in historical and cultural projects, meaningful civic engagement, and responsible […]
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 yourself and your creative work. What is your creative, life credo and motivation for your creativity? Nurlan Munbaev: Expert on the Caspian and Aral Seas, international accreditation expert of the […]
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 your creativity? Oleg Nesterkov: My public activities are connected with the promotion of Russian culture in the Republic of Belarus. I serve as an advisor on organisational and administrative matters […]
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 about yourself and your creative work. What is your creative and life credo and motivation for your creativity? Sultan Raev: I consider myself a creative person – a writer and […]
“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 Stage, presenting The Black Cloak, based on Georgy Khugaev’s play and directed by Askhat Mayemirov. The performance became one of the standout events of the autumn theatre season, reminding us […]
SILK ROAD MEDIA — MEDIA PARTNER OF THE FORUM CENTRAL ASIA OIL & GAS FORUM 2025: A Business Platform for Strengthening Regional Cooperation As partnership among Turkic states actively strengthens, direct business communication is more important than ever. That is why the key sector event — the Central Asia Oil & Gas Forum — will […]
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 repeated. The Arts Stage theatre presents the play “The Black Cloak”, based on the parable of the same name by renowned Ossetian playwright Georgy Khugaev. The production combines the mystical spirit of […]
“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 “The Black Cloak”, where legendary animals come to life on the British stage, revealing the secrets of human nature. Expect incredible acting transformations, a story filled with passion and pain […]
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 families is finding an educational environment that honours their international perspective while preparing children for an increasingly connected world. The Tashkent International School (TIS) emerged from this need in 1994, […]
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 number of BA candidates in the country by some 400,000. In Kazakhstan, hardly a week goes by without an announcement from the Ministry of Education ballyhooing the opening of another […]
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 London. This is an annual gathering of ministers, deputy ministers and other high-level education officials from more than 100 countries. According to the Turkmen Ministry of Education, a Turkmen […]
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 pivotal element in educational reform, social transformation, and soft power projection. At the heart of this process lies not only the revival of genres once confined to folklore, but also […]
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 the United Kingdom and Kazakhstan. As the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, it connects people and institutions, promotes mutual understanding, and contributes to Kazakhstan’s aspirations. Its […]
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 annually), a shortage of instructors with practical business experience (25% compared to 60% in OECD countries), language barriers (92nd globally in English proficiency), and regional disparities (60% of universities concentrated […]
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 juncture in its educational progress. Central Asia, which includes countries like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, is seeing its education systems adapt to historical influences and contemporary needs. This […]
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 woman has always been held in high esteem. She could write poetry, engage in philosophical discussions, teach or heal – and be a true cornerstone for her family and society. […]
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. Dastan Bekeshev, Member of the Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament) and Deputy Chairman of the Budget Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic, spoke with OCA Magazine about the main challenges and achievements on […]
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 radical nor rapid — yet it is precisely this gradual approach that has allowed Moldova to shape a model combining Soviet-era legacies, European benchmarks, and distinct national features. However, despite […]
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 GDP, raise labour productivity, turn knowledge into money and elevate the economy to a new level. One might think, what could be simpler? After all, science and innovation are indeed […]
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 education systems reveal striking parallels in challenges, reform efforts, and aspirations. As both regions strive toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 – a quality education for all – they are […]
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 world. As the country opens its doors to greater international engagement, the need for high-quality Uzbek language education has never been more pressing. Meeting this need is Methodica, a pioneering […]
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 represents a more than 100% increase from 2023. More valuable metrics for the economy, however, are the financial contribution that travel and tourism (T&T) make to gross domestic product (GDP); […]
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 a major agro-industrial hub. This transformation necessitates the development of a new generation of professionals who are knowledgeable in advanced technologies, scientific innovation, and international standards. Within this context, Saken […]
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 challenges and prospects of the educational services market that are most significant in your segment? What practices do you use to overcome these challenges? Zhanseit Tuimbayev: Al-Farabi Kazakh National University […]
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 Central Asia and the Caucasus. As nations across Central Asia seek to modernise and diversify their economies, education lies at the heart of these ambitions — not only as a […]
