OSCE Academy supports establishment of Central Asian Applied Research Network

VIENNA/BISHKEK, 15 September 2005 - The establishment of a Central Asian Applied Research Network (CAARN) was the focus of a regional meeting today in Bishkek organized by the OSCE Academy and the Eurasia Foundation, with the support of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek.

Representatives of Central Asian universities and research institutions, governments, the private sector and project donors discussed the status of applied research in higher education in the region and developing stronger ties between the academic institutions and the private sector, as well as regional and local governments, in economics, business and social sciences.

A recent assessment report for Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, presented by the Moscow-based Economics Education and Research Consortium, showed that the academic commitment to quality enhancement and research determines the nature of local demand for applied policy analysis and forms the basis for the design of the project's implementation modalities.

CAARN was launched as a result of discussions at the March 2004 Third Preparatory Seminar of the OSCE 12th Economic Forum in Bishkek, and aims to build professional skills for sustainable economic development and help reduce the risks of social and political tension in this region of the OSCE.