5 November 2008 – AKIpress
His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) will arrive in Kyrgyzstan today. The three-day visit at the invitation of the Kyrgyz Government is concluding leg of the Aga Khan’s ten-day Golden Jubilee tour of Central Asia, which also included Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.
The Aga Khan is scheduled to meet with Kyrgyzstan’s Prime Minister Igor Chudinov, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ednan Karabaev and the Speaker of the Parliament Aitibai Tagaev amongst other officials. The discussions are expected to cover current and future initiatives of the AKDN, partnering with the government and civil society institutions in the areas of economic development, public private partnership, and the strengthening of institutional and human resource capacity. The issues of regional development and stability will be covered at the meetings as well.
In the town of Naryn, on November 6, the Aga Khan, Chancellor of the University of Central Asia (UCA) and Prime Minister Igor Chudinov will review progress on construction and facilities development of the UCA main campus that has been designed by the internationally acclaimed Japanese architect, Arata Isozaki.
His Highness and the Prime Minister will also view progress on the construction of the new ‘Town Campus’ of UCA’s School of Professional and Continuing Education, (SPCE), and the newly completed town park that UCA has developed as a gift to the people of Naryn. SPCE offers programmes that lead to professional and vocational qualifications that have engaged since its launch in October 2006 over 2,000 students. SPCE Naryn hosts Kyrgyzstan’s first Microsoft IT Academy. The new ‘Town Campus’ premises will allow an expansion of programmes.
Established in 2000 under an international treaty signed between the governments of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and the Aga Khan, ratified by the respective parliaments of the three countries and registered with the United Nations, the University of Central Asia is a unique three-country initiative designed to strengthen the region’s educational system. In addition to the School of Professional and Continuing Education in Naryn, the University’s Aga Khan Humanities Project offers courses and programmes in 9 universities and lyceums that engage 31 instructions and 2,572 students.
The AKDN has been active in Kyrgyzstan for over a decade with financial institutions helping to build the nation’s economic infrastructure and education, health and livelihood programmes empowering mountain communities to overcome challenges of poverty, isolation and vulnerability. The Network engagement has ranged from early childhood development to micro-crediting, from supporting tradition-bearers in music and oral recitation to disaster relief (as following the recent tragic earthquake in the Alay district of Osh Oblast).
His Highness the Aga Khan completed his 50th year as the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims on 11th July 2007. The Aga Khan leads a community of 15 million Ismaili Muslims living in some 25 countries around the world and is a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family). In the Ismaili tradition, the Imam’s Jubilee celebrations offer occasions to launch new social, cultural and economic development projects. In keeping with the ethics of the faith, these projects aspire to improve the quality of life for the most vulnerable in society. During the Jubilee year, the Aga Khan will travel to a number of countries to meet with members of the Ismaili community, visit projects of the AKDN and announce the creation of new development institutions and projects and the significant expansion of existing ones.
His Highness the Aga Khan is founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a group of private, non-denominational development agencies working to empower communities and individuals to improve living conditions and opportunities, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East. The Network’s nine development agencies focus on social, cultural and economic development for all citizens, regardless of gender, origin or religion. The AKDN’s underlying ethic is compassion for the vulnerable in society. Its annual budget for social development is in excess of US$500 million.
The University of Central Asia was founded in 2000 by the governments of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, and His Highness the Aga Khan. The International Treaty and Charter establishing this secular and private University was signed by His Highness the Aga Khan and the Presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, ratified by the respective parliaments and registered with the United Nations. Established in 2006, the School of Professional and Continuing Education is the University’s first operational academic programme. The School is Central Asia’s first provider of formal, university-based, non-degree educational programmes. It emphasizes tertiary short-cycle education (TSCE), which gives students intense training, usually in one year or less, that results in a widely accepted qualification to perform industry-specific tasks.AKIpress
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