The rise of generative artificial intelligence in education has revived an old spectre: plagiarism. Written assignments displaying unexpected fluency, correct answers produced in seconds, and outputs that are difficult to trace have led many educators to question once again whether they are assessing genuine learning or merely the efficient use of a tool. Yet remaining […]
Higher education was once built around libraries, dependent on lecture halls filled with the lecturer’s voice, and handwritten notes, and the slow discipline of understanding. Today, when almost everything has shifted online, students increasingly move between screens, prompts, instant summaries, and AI-generated responses, reflecting not merely a technological transition, but a deeper transformation in how […]
During a recent visit to a book fair, some unusual covers caught my eye — familiar authors, but unfamiliar editions. They turned out to be reprints of landmark Qazaq scientific texts written in «tote jazu» (the «new spelling» devised by A. Baitursynuly based on Arabic script) in the early twentieth century. Baitursynuly understood that the […]
A unique educational project came to fruition in 2012 through collaboration between a UK school and sport governing bodies. Sports participation improves physical and mental health and develops social and teamwork skills. But can sport act as a catalyst for educational advancement in a different way — one that does not require direct involvement as […]
KAZAKHSTAN’S EDUCATION SYSTEMAT A DIGITAL TURNING POINT Kazakhstan’s education system is undergoing one of the most significant transformations in Central Asia. The key drivers of this process are digitalization, demographic pressure, and the country’s evolving geoeconomic position. Kazakhstan aims to establish itself as a regional hub for training digital talent. However, this transition remains uneven, […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
¿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 […]
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 […]
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); […]
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 […]
LIKE A MOVIE.A NEW MODEL OF DESTINATION MARKETING Today, tourism and migration have become part of modern life. And since the laws of economics dictate that where there are people, there are finances and other resources, the ability of a city, region or even an entire country to attract and retain tourists, investors, businesses, workers, […]
A SWORD IN A STONE: THE FUTURE OF MUSEUMS Museums are an important point of attraction for many people for many reasons over the years. We used to visit them as a part of a touristic program as well as see them as an educational or entertainment venue in our everyday life. And the concept […]
IMPROVING EDUCATIONAL NEEDS FOR AUTISM IN KAZAKHSTAN The number of identified cases of autism in children in Kazakhstan has increased fivefold over the past 7 years. In the Republic of Kazakhstan according to information of the Ministry of Education (until June, 2022 of the Ministry of Education and Science) there are more than 8,000 children […]
FUND HONOURS SHARAF RASHIDOV’S LIFE On March 27, 2017, the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev initiated the celebration of the 100th birth anniversary of the outstanding Uzbek statesman, writer and poet Sharaf Rashidov, and on January 13, 2022, he signed a decree on naming Samarkand State University after Sharaf Rashidov. Sharaf Rashidov International Public Fund […]
TRENDS IN RECRUITMENTIN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS SINCE 2020:INSIGHTS AND POSSIBLE CAUSES Recruitment in international schools has witnessed significant shifts and trends since 2020. The global pandemic, coupled with evolving educational practices, has brought about notable changes in the hiring landscape of these institutions. In this article, we will explore the key trends that have emerged and […]
PLAYING FOR A BETTER CENTRAL ASIA: INTRODUCING VOICES OF CENTRAL ASIA Do you know what lies beyond the mainstream media’s headlines when it comes to Central Asia? Are you curious to learn more about the human rights issues in this region? If so, you should try out a new free game app, Voices of Central […]
THE FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN CENTRAL ASIA After World War II, a massive expansion of higher education took place. What had traditionally been a privilege for a small percentage of the population gradually became an expectation for the majority, and by now almost two thirds of working-age Americans have some education beyond a high […]
BELARUS’ EDUCATION POLICY FORGES A NEW PATH In the Republic of Belarus, education is the basis of statehood; it ensures the reproduction of personnel and forms high quality of human capital. Belarus has managed to develop the best traditions of the Soviet education system, while also balancing healthy conservatism and innovation. The country adopted the […]
PARTNERSHIP FOR A NEW UZBEKISTAN The British Council has been supporting systemic education reform and cultural relations between Uzbekistan and the United Kingdom for the last quarter of a century since the signing of a formal bilateral agreement with the Government of Uzbekistan in October 1996. A key focus of the reforms over the past […]
EDUCATION IN THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC Education is one of Kyrgyzstan’s priority areas that will be a key factor in determining the development of the country. According to the UN Sustainable Development Goal until 2030, the provision of quality education is one of the most important components of development. Education in the Kyrgyz Republic is aimed […]
PRIMUS INTER PARES. KAZAKH ABLAI KHAN UNIVERSITY OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND WORLD LANGUAGES IS THE FLAGSHIP OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION INTERVIEW WITH SALIMA KUNANBAYEVA For 80 years, the Ablai Khan Kazakh University of International Relations and World Languages (KazUIRaWL), which has vast experience and a rich history, remains a leader in higher education, offering innovative […]
QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF PRESCHOOL EDUCATION IN RUSSIA Disclaimer: this article is based on the author’s personal experience of 10 years working in the educational system of Russia and represents the personal opinion. The question of assessing the quality of education itself is not new. However, in the period “before FES” (Federal Education Standart), almost all […]
The qualification of the teaching community The responsible work to strengthen the independence of Kazakhstan and to develop high spirituality and citizenship in the country is through education. The problem of organizing such a large-scale work is first of all closely related to the comprehensive retraining of teachers. The experience until today shows that the […]
Implementing the European standard in foreign language teaching through cooperative and collaborative learning The main purpose of learning a foreign language in higher education in the current conditions of development of higher education, is the development of communicative competence of students, as a result of which the future specialist should master communicative language competencies for […]
Why Kazakhstan needs radical reform to modernize its education system and how it should be done Since its foundation in 1991, KIMEP University has provided its students with a world-class, Western-style education, unparalleled leadership training, and exceptional professional development and orientation. Many of the over 14,000 graduates have become prominent leaders and have made important […]
ORIENTAL STUDIES IN UZBEKISTAN: HISTORY AND MODERNITY The contribution to the development of education and science must always be timely and relevant with the standards accepted in the world. These two directions are fundamental in the all-round development of the country. Over the years of independence Uzbekistan has made significant progress in this regard. However, […]
Education system in the Republic of Belarus Higher educational institutions of the Mogilev region Education is a strategic State asset. The Republic of Belarus belongs to the group of countries with a high level of Human Development Index. The adult population literacy rate in Belarus has never been low, reaching 99.7% today. Upon indications of […]
The Kazakh National Agrarian Research University as a research university, has achieved success and recognition at the national level and aims to be recognized by the international scientific and educational community. The university cooperates with 137 leading universities and scientific centers of the world and is a member of 16 international associations and organizations for […]
Mobilizing knowledge management for dealing with climate change and Sustainable Development Goals The world’s communities face among many challenges related to climate change and rising economic and social problems, from unbearable hot weather in many parts of Europe and forest fires in many parts of Eurasia and Canada to damages to agricultural crops in many […]
HOW DO UNIVERSITIES CREATE SOCIAL IMPACT? THREE EXAMPLES FROM CENTRAL ASIA – THE HERITAGE ALLIANCE OF THE NEW SILK ROAD, CONSORTIUM OF GENDER SCHOLARS AND THE INTEGRITY PROJECT The 2021 European University Association report “University Without Walls” reminds us that the role of universities is changing. Universities do not operate as single entities but increasingly […]
“Science and Industrial Policy Options for Resource Rich Eurasia’’ The Silk Road which historically signifies this region in particular has lent itself to defining and placing Eurasia and Central Asia as a place for mobility where goods passed through from the East to the West and vice-versa. However, Eurasia as a producer of ideas, peoples […]
Tirana : European Capital of Youth 2022 aims to empower the future of education in Albania. Even as far back as 2017 UNICEF were celebrating the successes of a developing Albanian education system. “What is of importance for the country to celebrate is that not only Albanian children do better in academic achievement, but that […]
As many parents believe that watching cartoons is either harmful or not of much use, nowadays, it has become fashionable not to show them to children. This opinion, however, does not hold true; good animation can contribute to the formation of a child’s personality, because high-quality cartoons, as with books and movies, help to develop […]
