Following on from my post at the beginning of January 2016, Central Asia: what lies ahead?, I'm going to dedicate the rest of this month to thinking about the situation in the region in the coming year. I plan to do this at both a macro (state, regional) level as well as considering the implications at a …
Tag: Politics
Central Asia: what lies ahead? (updated)
Happy new year! This is my fifth year of blogging on Central Asia, focussing on issues relating to higher education and social change. I open the year with an interesting analytical think piece from global intelligence agency Stratfor that attempts to surmise what the future might hold for the region. It's available on their website …
Inter-regional soft power: Kazakhstan and Tajikistan meet again
First, greetings from Canada and a note on the silence on the blog for the past few weeks. After a whirlwind summer taking in three continents and cramming in temporary farewells to family and friends, I have now moved to Toronto, Canada and have started my PhD in Higher Education and Comparative, International & Development Education at …
Continue reading Inter-regional soft power: Kazakhstan and Tajikistan meet again
Times are changing for university governance in Kazakhstan
The Kazakh government has decided to take a big step towards greater independence for Kazakh universities by reforming the top layer of institutional governance. 'Oversight councils', also commonly known as Councils or Senates, will be responsible for hiring and firing Rectors (Vice Chancellors/CEOs) and have monitoring oversight for university finance and strategy. (How those councils …
Continue reading Times are changing for university governance in Kazakhstan
High heels hit the headlines
My previous post High heels for higher learning seems to have captured the imagination of news agencies around the world. I've had pingbacks from France, China and Poland and the story was picked up by the Huffington Post, Global Voices Online as well as a number of syndicate agencies. Today, Spanish national newspaper El Pais has featured my post in …
Human Rights Watch on Khorog military clashes
A slightly delayed reposting of this press release from international organisation Human Rights Watch. The content is very measured but clear and has had good coverage (though still, the whole situation last week in Khorog has had no coverage in any of the main UK newspapers. I can understand why with the Olympics on our …
Continue reading Human Rights Watch on Khorog military clashes
Military conflict, potential humanitarian crisis in Tajikistan: PLEASE HELP RAISE AWARENESS
This is the text of a press release I have put together based on other excellent notes written by Tajik colleagues around the world. Please, please help us raise awareness in the international community about events taking place RIGHT NOW in Khorog, south-east Tajikistan. We are all absolutely clear that we want PEACE and we …
Kyrgyz students try to live on $100 a month – Washington Times
Kyrgyz students try to live on $100 a month - Washington Times. Re-post from Washington Times By T. Umaraliev - Special to The Washington Times BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan — Kyrgyzstan’s online forums have buzzed with angry discussions about Economics Minister Akylbek Japarov since he told parliament in April that $100 is enough to live on for a month. Now three university students …
Continue reading Kyrgyz students try to live on $100 a month – Washington Times
Former President calls for higher education reform in Kyrgyzstan
Another re-posting, this time from Central Asia Online (http://centralasiaonline.com/en_GB/articles/caii/newsbriefs/2012/05/01/newsbrief-04). If anyone out there knows Kyrgyz and would be prepared to summarise the interview for me, please get in touch! (The Russian version is the same as the English one). Otunbayeva calls for higher education reform Staff Report 2012-05-01 BISHKEK – Former Kyrgyz president Roza Otunbayeva …
Continue reading Former President calls for higher education reform in Kyrgyzstan
Tajikistan’s government: how much longer a master of the nation?
Recently, I wrote about the appointment of Nuriddin Saidov as the new Education Minister in Tajikistan. I wondered at the time whether there was anything underlying the move of President Rahmon's close relative Abdujabbor Rahmonov from the Ministry to Tajik State Pedagogical University. It seems I'm not the only one who's been thinking about this move, …
Continue reading Tajikistan’s government: how much longer a master of the nation?
Emma Sabzalieva 