UCA enters into a strategic partnership with Kyrgyzstan’s National Broadcasting Corporation

The University of Central Asia (UCA) has signed a landmark agreement with Kyrgyzstan’s National Television and Radio Broadcasting Corporation (NTRC) to advance Education and Media Excellence in Kyrgyzstan.  

The Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) was signed by Professor Christopher Gerry, Rector of UCA, and Mr Bolotbek Tillebaev, Director General of NTRC, during a ceremony held in Bishkek on 18 December 2024. The event was also attended by Mr Malik Kotadia, UCA’s Director of Advancement and Public Affairs and the senior leadership of NTRC, including their head of corporate affairs and international cooperation.

The MoU lays the foundation for a range of collaborative efforts designed to strengthen ties between the two institutions. Of special focus will be collaborative media productions on topics of mutual interest such as Sustainable Mountain Development, a subject of increasing importance to Kyrgyzstan and the region. Those media stories will be an opportunity to highlight how UCA’s path-breaking research on climate change and environmental sustainability is directly improving the quality of lives of remote communities in Kyrgyzstan and the region. During 2025, UCA will be observing its Silver Jubilee, and a major thrust of that celebration will be a series of conferences across Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia on sustainable development.  

The MoU with NTRC will also facilitate students of UCA’s undergraduate programme majoring in Communications and Media to intern at NTRC offering them hands-on experience in media production, journalism, broadcasting, and related disciplines.

The Memorandum also envisions joint public events on a range of pertinent topics such as cultural heritage, digital literacy, and societal challenges. Both Rector Gerry and Director General Tillebaev expressed their commitment to actively advancing this partnership. They agreed to regularly review progress in implementing the MoC to ensure its success.

Director General Tillebaev shared his enthusiasm, stating, “I was delighted to visit UCA’s campus in Naryn earlier this year and engage with its faculty and students. I look forward to our growing partnership, which will provide UCA students with internship opportunities at NTRC, paving the way for their future employment with us and establishing the next generation of media and communications professionals in Kyrgyzstan.”

“UCA looks forward to an enhanced collaboration with NTRC and will encourage its faculty and students to actively participate in the initiatives under this agreement,” - said Professor Gerry during the ceremony.