UCA Launches ORCID Community Initiative for Academics from Kyrgyzstan

UCA’s Graduate School of Development (GSD) has been awarded a prestigious grant to establish the ORCID Community: KG Initiative, a transformative project designed to enhance the visibility and credibility of Kyrgyz academics on the global stage. By fostering the adoption of ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID) across 35 universities and reaching over 600 researchers, this initiative aims to build a unified research network within Kyrgyzstan.

The initiative offers both online and offline training, allowing wider participation and on-site mentoring for personalised guidance. By focusing on ORCID registration, researchers will streamline their publications, ensuring proper attribution and easier discovery of their work.

A major aspect of this project is its inclusivity, targeting 20 state and 15 non-state universities from all regions of the country. This effort will bridge the resource gap, as currently, only two out of 63 universities in Kyrgyzstan have access to leading databases like Scopus and Web of Science. With UCA’s mentorship, the initiative seeks to strengthen the country's research capacity and international presence.

The initiative is led by Dr Gulnara Dzhunushalieva, UCA’s Grant Principal Investigator. The project is funded by ORCID’s Global Participation Fund (GPF), part of the Global Participation Program (GPP). Since 2022, ORCID has distributed over $350,000 to support organisations in under-represented countries, particularly within the Global South. The grant UCA received falls under the Community Development and Outreach program, which supports local partners in building robust communities of practice that encourage ORCID adoption. This funding will enable UCA to provide essential outreach activities, training, and technical support, fostering the growth of ORCID consortia in Kyrgyzstan.

By strengthening the research infrastructure of Kyrgyz universities and improving access to global research networks, the ORCID Community: KG Initiative positions Kyrgyz academics for success in an increasingly competitive international research landscape.