UCA’s Workshop on Human-Centered Design Marks Key Milestone in Naryn Urban Resilience Programme
The University of Central Asia’s Civil Society Initiative (CSI), Graduate School of Development, hosted a workshop on Human-Centered Design for 100 representatives from local state agencies, academia, and public organizations of Naryn under the Naryn Urban Resilience Programme (NURP). The primary goal of the workshop was to exchange data, knowledge, and practices on the latest challenges and trends faced by communities in Naryn city.
The event featured presentations based on ten research projects, covering a wide range of pertinent topics, carried out by faculty of Naryn State University (NSU), under NURP’s Small Research Grant component. The research projects included the following projects:
- Study of Water Quality in the Naryn River. Examining wastewater and how seasonal anthropogenic changes affect water quality.
- Assessment of Energy Efficiency in Residential Buildings by evaluating heating efficiency.
- Public Interest in Establishing a Learning Center.
- Assessing the research literacy of NSU students-to find relevant information and publish in scholarly journals.
- Assessment of Health and Physical Development of 1st grade students.
- Evaluation of Guest House Services in Naryn City: Current status, challenges, and prospects for improvement.
A significant outcome of the workshop was the collaboration among local state authorities, CSOs, and the community to discuss possible future interventions and potential research topics. These discussions aimed to better understand local issues and provide practical recommendations for stakeholders. The findings have the potential to inform decision-making processes and enable the implementation of strategies and initiatives to foster community resilience in Naryn city.
Kydyralieva Gulzat, Academic Library Director at NSU, has presented the library’s research results to 30 academic representatives from across Kyrgyzstan at an annual event "Digital Technologies for Libraries."
Isakbaeva Zyinat, Lecturer at the Department of Kyrgyz Language and Literature, NSU, shares: “The training was highly practical. We will share and transfer the workshop learnings to our students. By linking mathematical concepts to culturally significant structures, we are able to maintain students’ interest in the subject.”
As part of NURP, UCA and NSU have also established a Center for Collaborative Research to ensure continuous research.
