1. Linked Networks ofCentral Asian UniversityWebsitesexamining communities and trends in data

2. Establishing Community andAuthority Hyperlinks and citation share a high degree of similarity The university website serves as the hub for the affiliated communityInternet Usage 1999-2011 for Former Soviet Central Asian RepublicsAs Percent of Population 3. The Question(s) University websites serve as the online representation of theinstitution. Website content conforms with institution policy,which reflects state education policy Do the hyperlink networks of Central Asian universities revealdiffering communication strategies or variations in audiencebetween international and state-operated universities? Do university hyperlink networks offer evidence of regionaltrends or suggest differences in perception between states ordisciplines 4. Sample Set 24 Universities State University (largest institution in country) Foreign Funded (International) Institutions Technical and Specialty University Regional University Arts/Humanities University Medical University Control Cases National University Economic University Foreign Funded (International) University 5. Sample Set Kazakhstan Kazakhstan National UniversityUzbekistan(KAZNU) National University of Uzbekistan (NUU) Astana Humanities and Law National Conservatory of Uzbekistan (KAZGUU)Andijion City University (ADU) South Kazakhstan State (UKGU) Karakalpak State University (KARSU) East Kazakhstan State (VKGU) Uzbek Information and Technology Pedagological UniversityUniversity(KAZNPU) Economics University (KAZEU) Economics Institute (TFI) Islam University (TIU): International Westminster University (WIUT)Kyrgyzstan Kazakhstan-British Technical University National University of Kyrgyzstan Kazak-Turkish University Bishkek Humanities University (BHU): (Turkistsan) Osh State (OSU): University of Central Asia in Economic University (KEU): multiple states State Technical University (KSTU): American University of Central Asia (AUCA) Manas Turkish University (Manas) 6. Network AnalysisWeb Environment Networks 50 Domains weighted, inDegree to University Network Density, National TLD Representation 7. Results Network Analysis Inductive Categories as % of Network (averages) Social Network Academic Programming/Misc Networks WebsiteOrganization NewsEconomics 10.7%64.7%16.0%8.0%0.7%Humanities26.0%32.7%34.0%6.0%1.3%National15.3%28.0%33.3% 16.7%6.7%Regional11.3%65.3%14.7%5.3%3.3% 8. Testing for Statistical SignificanceUnpaired T-Test Using International Universities As Control (P Values) Social Network Academic Programming/Misc Organization News WebsiteKyrgyzstan0.97490.81730.48610.5634 0.7596Kazkahstan0.62220.45830.69070.0809 0.135Uzbekistan1 0.3660 0.2580.2865 0.4032 Social Network Academic Programming/Misc Organization News WebsiteEconomics 0.1917 0.2930.57570.6468 0.2685Humanities0.93220.5537 0.2050.3506 0.3064 National 0.00510.30570.11070.5036 0.7442 Regional 0.18760.2309 0.5330.2616 0.3064 9. Network Data - Other Statistics National Network Density National % National TLD Kazakhstan 75.13% Kazakhstan 68.5% Uzbekistan 60.16% Uzbekistan 65.3% Kyrgyzstan 43.6% Kyrgyzstan 47.04% International 40.7% Category Network Density Category % National TLD Regional 81.8% Regional 82.0% Economics 68.6% Economics 55.3% National 58.0% National 47.3% Humanities 28.6% Humanities 46.0% 10. KazakhstanNationalUniversity 11. Results Network AnalysisInterlink Network 12. Suggestions From Analysis Are State Education Policies Present in Link Data? While apparent in website content, policies are not explicitly displayed through link data. Observable difference in Uzbek university communication versus Kazakh and Kyrgyz networks Do International University Communication Strategies Differfrom those of Central Asian Universities? Based on the inductive categories there is only minimal statistical difference in communication strategy based on national affiliation of the institution There 13. What trends are apparent? Uzbek Universities More likely to be referenced on Uzbek governmentinstitution websites . Academic institutions cite Uzbek institutions lessfrequently. Kazakh Universities More likely to be referenced to by Kazakh academicinstitutions High density suggests a close network among institutions Kyrgyz Universities Low density among websites citing Kyrgyz universityindicates more diverse sources referencing universitiesin the state 14. Regional Trends International institutions link to Central Asian universities morefrequently than institutions from other Central Asian states. Communication strategies for academic institutions in eachstate exhibit a hierarchical linking structure Regional institutions link predominantly with intrastate entities International Universities linking networks indicate their position as a bridge between international and national communities Certain university categories exhibit more interstate communication than others (humanities) 15. Further Research To confirm or disprove statistical significance across categories, sample size should be increased A control group of universities from outside of the region should be included More investigation into the communication strategies of medical universities, and other university categories