OSCE Academy gears up for fifth round of post-graduate students
The 25-30 students, a few of whom may come from OSCE states outside the region, will also learn about conflict prevention, human rights and sustainable development.
"After the break-up of the Soviet Union, education systems in Central Asian states have suffered," says Emil Juraev, Deputy Director at the OSCE Centre in Bishkek. "This is especially true for Kyrgyz institutes offering post-graduate classes in political studies."
A number of factors have contributed to this, including a near absence of the subject in Soviet times, and - after the country's independence - the emigration and laying off of professors, and a decrease in demand for higher-level education due to economic hardship.
The OSCE therefore founded the OSCE Academy in December 2002, which, despite challenges, has become an independent public foundation. It is currently receiving applications for its 14-month master programme in political science until 15 April 2007.
The OSCE covers most of the school's essential operating costs and is represented on its board of trustees.
Diversity and a broad outlook
"The OSCE Academy has become a unique regional centre for post-graduate education, capacity-building, research and regional dialogue," says Dr. Tim Epkenhans, Director of the Academy. Students from every participating Central Asian country, including Afghanistan, are currently enrolled in the master programme.
For Kyrgyz Professor Aleksandr Knyazev, who teaches contemporary history and Central Asian politics, this diversity is one of the reasons he accepted a position at the Academy. "I also like the fact that the students are a bit more mature - they already have some work experience, goals and a broader outlook.
"And teaching them is a bigger challenge, because they ask for more."
Making progress
One of his students is Mingul Saeitazieva, who comes from a small Kyrgyz town bordering Uzbekistan in the remote southern region of Batken. "Growing up in Kadamjai, I became aware of problems caused by the borders left by the Soviet Union," she says.
"I've worked with mercy corps to help build trust between communities on both sides of the border and would like to write my thesis on inter-ethnic and cross-border conflict resolution."
"Through my studies at the OSCE Academy, I have developed a new perspective and gained new tools to deal with the subjects I already know and the new ones I am learning here - such as political theory and international relations."
Dr. Connor Dilleen, an Australian visiting fellow teaching international relations, is happy with the progress his students have made: "In the beginning, they would summarize what they've read. Now they add their own thoughts and develop their own point of view."
Boosting co-operation and opportunities
The OSCE Academy, often in co-operation with other bodies such as the Raoul Wallenberg Institute, also offers training courses for non-governmental and international organizations. Regular topics include human rights, conflict prevention, journalism and media development.
"We have also held courses for local people wishing to work for the OSCE abroad, trying to address the problem that few Central Asians are employed by the Organization outside their own countries," says Dr. Epkenhans.
To help boost students' opportunities, the Academy offers means of gaining practical experience. "The master programme includes a two- to three-month internship period to help students develop contacts with future employers," Dr. Epkenhans explains.
"Our former students are now working in Kyrgyzstan and abroad with organizations such as the World Bank, the United Nations and the Stockholm International Peace Research, to name only a few.
"And occasionally, a student will continue his or her career with an internship at the OSCE in Bishkek or at the Secretariat in Vienna," he adds.