The University of Central Asia (UCA) hosted its graduation ceremony on June 16, 2023, at its Naryn and Khorog campuses. The event brought together approximately 500 guests, including family members of the graduates, faculty, donors, volunteers, the diplomatic corps, and other dignitaries. The ceremony was also broadcasted live to several thousand viewers worldwide, including UCA's partners, alumni, and friends. This year, UCA announced the graduation of 75 students. At the Naryn campus, 42 students received their degrees in Computer Science, and Communications and Media, while the Khorog campus celebrated the graduation of 33 students majoring in Earth and Environmental Sciences, and Global Economics. Nearly three-quarters of the graduates hail from small towns and villages, and more than half of them are women. With English as the medium of instruction, UCA has prepared its graduates to secure admissions to prestigious master's programs at leading universities globally. Currently, the Naryn campus is home to 195 students, including 78 from Kyrgyzstan, with 20 of them from Naryn Oblast. Princess Zahra Aga Khan, a member of UCA's Board of Trustees, attended the ceremony in Naryn and addressed the guests. She recognised the contributions made by those who have supported the success and achievements of the graduates, as well as the overall progress of UCA. Princess Zahra's address included a message from His Highness the Aga Khan, Chancellor and Founder of the University. It emphasised that the graduates have received an education that has prepared them to tackle the challenges faced by Central Asia and the world, such as globalization, new forms of artificial intelligence and climate change. "You have been trained in computer science, environmental science, economics and communications - each a field of vital importance. You have discovered what it means to live in a diverse community. Above all, you have learned that challenges are not to be feared but to be embraced." As a Chief Guest, Minister of Education and Science Kanybek Imanaliev represented the Kyrgyz Republic at the ceremony. Minister Imanaliev congratulated the graduates on their successful completion of studies and extended his best wishes for their academic and professional endeavors. He also commended UCA for its transformative efforts in Naryn, turning it into a vibrant university town, and highlighted UCA's collaboration with Naryn State University. During the ceremony, Minister Imanaliev presented Princess Zara Aga Khan with the Medal "For Cooperation" from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic, acknowledging her significant contributions to education and international cooperation. Additionally, a Certificate of Appreciation for cooperation was bestowed upon UCA, accepted by Dr. Shamsh Kassim-Lakha, Chairman of UCA's Board of Trustees. Anita Zaidi, President of the Gender Equality Division at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, made a keynote address. She urged the graduates to serve Central Asia as they embark on their professional journeys, emphasising the importance of giving back to their communities. Dr. Shamsh Kassim-Lakha, Chairman of UCA's Board of Trustees, delivered a welcome address and expressed deep appreciation on behalf of the Chancellor and the Board of Trustees to the patrons of the University, including the President of the Kyrgyz Republic for their valuable support of UCA. Brief Information on UCA: A private, not-for-profit, secular university, UCA was founded in 2000 through an International Treaty signed by the Presidents of Tajikistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Kazakhstan, and His Highness the Aga Khan, ratified by their respective parliaments and registered with the United Nations. The mission of UCA is to promote the social and economic development of Central Asia, particularly its mountain communities, by offering an internationally recognised standard of higher education and enabling the peoples of the region to preserve their rich cultural heritage as assets for the future.

Source: Kyrgyz National News Agency