Comparative and International Higher Education Policy Specialist; Focus on Central Asia
Would you prefer Miaow-derna or Pfiz-purr? Students in Kazakhstan are being incentivized to get their Covid vaccines. Vaccinated students will be able to get discounts on their tuition fees, priority for student housing, transport vouchers, and - the ultimate student incentive - free food. At some universities, students can also get free access to a …
Continue reading Vaccinated students rewarded with tuition discounts, free courses and more
Around the world, stories are emerging sharing the experiences of students, teachers and families as they adjust to the 'new normal' of distance learning while schools are shut and universities have switched to online delivery. Below is a recent article from Gazeta.uz reporting from Uzbekistan on university students' adaptation - it's in Russian but you …
Continue reading Adapting to online learning in Uzbekistan (Gazeta.uz)
In case you missed this story of hope and friendship that was published recently on the BBC, I'm reposting it here. Written by Abdujalil Abdurasulov, the story looks at how over 100 young adult Kyrgyz volunteers are reaching out to teens around the country to offer them companionship during Covid-19. It's a wonderful initiative and …
Continue reading Coronavirus: The strangers reaching out to Kyrgyzstan’s lonely teenagers (BBC)
This is an insightful article by Bishkek-based journalist Ayzirek Imanaliyeva published in Eurasianet on some of the challenges posed by Kyrgyzstan's necessitated shift to online learning in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. The article was published at https://eurasianet.org/kyrgyzstan-distance-learning-exposes-weaknesses-of-education-system. Bolsunai Turgunbayeva’s three school-age daughters take turns using her battered old smartphone. The device has become …
Continue reading Kyrgyzstan: Distance-learning exposes weaknesses of education system (Eurasianet)
Emma Sabzalieva 