UCA and Naryn State University Open a Research and Partnership Centre in Naryn

The Civil Society Initiative (CSI) of the University of Central Asia’s (UCA) Graduate School of Development, in collaboration with Naryn State University (NSU), inaugurated the Research and Partnership Centre in Naryn on 23 September. The opening ceremony was attended by dignitaries, including NSU leaders led by Acting Rector Esenbay Sargashkaev, Director of UCA’s Civil Society Initiative Dr Aizharkyn Kozhobekova, and senior officers of the Naryn Urban Resilience Programme.

The Centre will serve as a collaborative hub, bringing together researchers, local communities, and educational institutions to address the challenges faced by the Naryn community effectively. By focusing on the area’s needs and vulnerabilities, the Centre aims to generate innovative solutions through joint research efforts and knowledge sharing. Additionally, the Centre will promote the integration of educational and formal and informal social institutions, fostering a holistic approach to community resilience.

As part of this initiative, NSU faculty members have produced ten research projects, which were compiled and printed as the Research Brief. The reports cover a wide range of pertinent topics, including:

• Writing the story of Tash Rabat with mathematical approaches and formulas to increase interest in mathematics.
• Study of water quality in the Naryn River, examining wastewater and the impact of seasonal anthropogenic changes on water quality.
• Assessment of energy efficiency in residential buildings, with a focus on heating efficiency.
• Public interest in establishing a learning centre in Ak-Korgon District.
• Research literacy of NSU graduate students, assessing their ability to find, utilise, and publish relevant information in scholarly journals.
• Assessment of health and physical development, focusing on 1st-grade students at Secondary School No. 8 named after A. Buylash uulu in Naryn city.
• Evaluation of guest house services in Naryn city: current status, problems, and prospects for improvement.

To commemorate the opening of the Centre, CSI will host a series of lectures, training sessions, and round-table discussions from 23 to 25 September 2024 for NSU management and faculty. These events will cover various topics, including fundraising for research, strategy development, data processing, academic publishing, and climate, health, and SDGs in Kyrgyzstan.

This initiative is part of the Naryn Urban Resilience Programme, a five-year effort aimed at increasing sustainability and enhancing the resilience of Naryn.