OSCE Centre promotes improved transparency of higher education in Kyrgyzstan

BISHKEK, 11 December 2009 - An OSCE Centre-supported conference on improving transparency and quality of higher education was held in Bishkek today. 

The conference, organized with the support of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, focused on the country's priorities for enhancing the quality of education. Participants presented the results of a project by the Eurasia Foundation in Central Asia (EFCA) and non-governmental organization the "Education Network Association", which worked with 10 pilot universities in Kyrgyzstan to build the capacity of student bodies and involve them in assessing the quality of education and the level of corruption at their universities.

"Kyrgyzstan sees improving the quality of higher education as its priority goal. Increasing transparency and eliminating corruption are important components of achieving this goal. Student associations may play a positive role in building up the credibility of universities' decision-making processes," said Lilian Darii, the Deputy Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek.

Shamil Ibragimov, the Director of the Eurasia Foundation in Central Asia, added: "The project has facilitated dialogue between student bodies and administrators and elaborated quality indicators helpful for parents, teachers and university applicants"

Student organizations at pilot universities received substantial capacity assistance and conducted a number of activities, including a roundtable discussion on improving the quality of higher education in Naryn State University, the launch of a university newspaper at Arabaev Kyrgyz State University, and the establishment of a students' broadcasting centre at Kyrgyz Uzbek University.