UCA Contributes to Turkic Nations AI Summit in Bishkek

The University of Central Asia’s leadership and scholars were invited by the Ministry of Digital Development of the Kyrgyz Republic to attend the prestigious Turkic Nations Summit on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Bishkek.

Dr Ayman Aljarbouh, Chair of UCA’s Computer Science Department at the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS), contributed to discussions on the intersections of cultural heritage, education, and ethics in the AI era. He emphasised the new opportunities and responsibilities that AI brings, highlighting how it could serve as a tool to preserve cultural heritage while reshaping educational landscapes in Central Asia.

Dr Nivine Guler, Associate Professor of Computer Science at SAS, focused on Infrastructure and AI. Her session addressed the need to build a robust ecosystem for intelligent solutions, underscoring the importance of collaboration between academia, industry, and government to foster growth in this rapidly evolving sector.

Professor Christopher Gerry, Rector of UCA and Dean of the Graduate School of Development (GSD), attended alongside Mr Muzaffar Jorubov, Chief Operating Officer, and Ms Marzhan Aikimbaeva, Team Lead at the GSD’s Institute of Public Policy and Administration. Minister of Digital Development Nuria Kutnaeva personally thanked Professor Gerry for UCA’s support in ensuring the summit’s success, highlighting the university’s active role in driving digital transformation in the region. Recently, UCA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Digital Development, aimed at fostering joint initiatives in digital transformation and governance.

The summit was part of a larger initiative led by the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadyr Zhaparov, who has called for the organisation of a Digital Forum for member states of the Organisation of Turkic States. This upcoming forum is expected to further strengthen collaboration among the Turkic nations and create an open platform for discussing AI advancements and strategies for innovation.

The summit featured keynote speeches, panel discussions, and motivational talks, alongside an exhibition showcasing cutting-edge AI projects and digital technology innovations from various partners. It was attended by representatives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan, with Turkmenistan and Hungary participating as observer states.