June 2015—Many university students in the Kyrgyz Republic are unclear about their future career and have limited vision of where they want to work after graduation. In today’s ever-changing global economy, the need to adapt and to follow the latest trends in one’s profession is crucial.
Last year, the staff of Google United Kingdom helped to answer that need by conducting workshops at a Kyrgyz career center for students and alumni about Google’s projects and internship opportunities. Workshop participants learned how to be competitive in the global job market and how to write solid resumes. Students also took part in simulation games on developing new Google products.
Company representatives made a commitment to regularly visit the Kyrgyz Republic with such trainings, empowering more students and making a lasting impact in the region. About 150 students attended sessions over the course of two days.
Career orientation activities help students identify their strengths and areas for improvement, find their career paths, and develop job-seeking skills. In 2006, the American University of Central Asia (AUCA), located in the city of Bishkek, created a career center to help students identify and fulfill their career goals. The center focuses on undergraduate students by organizing career fairs, employer presentations, company tours and workshops on techniques for finding a job.
Around the same time, AUCA also created a continuing education center that offers professional and personal development for career advancement to a more diverse audience: from university professors and graduate students to office workers and retired military personnel. The center offers language programs and trainings on a variety of topics such as business management, computer literacy, marketing, public speaking and conflict resolution.
Since 2013, USAID has supported both centers through a collaboration with the university’s faculty, students and alumni as well as with employers. The support is part of USAID’s AUCA Moving Forward project, which is designed to foster faculty development, a more diverse student body, and greater use of university resources for the wider community.
The centers have hosted 32 guest speakers, with over 1,500 attendees since July 2014. Over 70 local and international organizations have used the services of the continuing education center, including the Ministries of Finance, Education and Foreign Affairs; the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic; and Coca-Cola Bishkek Bottlers.
One of the most successful initiatives of the continuing education center is the Teaching Excellence project that helped university faculty improve their knowledge in such areas as interactive teaching methods, syllabus development, student-centered education, independent study, and time management. More than 700 faculty members from Bishkek and regional universities received training from the project between October 2013 and March 2015.
“We engaged in different exercises that were extremely useful for understanding how to create class settings where students work on problem-solving assignments and the teacher becomes a facilitator of the process,” said Shahrizada Eshankulova, a professor at the Kyrgyz National University.
Both centers are designed to strengthen the country’s workforce by providing professional development for Kyrgyz citizens. The AUCA Moving Forward project runs from September 2010 to October 2015.
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