Dr J Marc Foggin

Lanzhou China, 2 December 2016

Research-for-Development (R4D)

in the ‘Mountains of Central Asia’

The Tajikistan Pamirs & surrounding regions

• UCA –A Mountain University in Central Asia

• Partnerships with HKPL and others

• A wide range of opportunities

A new, truly Central Asian university

University of Central Asia (UCA) was founded by International Treaty signed in 2000

between the founding states and His Highness the Aga Khan.

UCA is a not-for-profit institution with campuses in three countries.

Republic of Tajikistan Kyrgyz Republic Republic of Kazakhstan

“To promote the social and economic

development of Central Asia, particularly

its mountain societies.”

“To provide a world class education with a

Central Asian context to the Kyrgyz Republic,

Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan.”

2016 2017

Launch of TekeliLaunch of Khorog

2019

University of Central Asia – A MOUNTAIN University

Launch of Naryn

6

Globally important mountain ecosystemsU

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UCA’s special development mandate

UCA’s mission is to promote the social and

economic development of Central Asia,

particularly its mountain societies…

And at the same time helping different peoples

of the region to preserve and to draw upon their

rich cultural traditions and heritages as assets

for the future.

One university, three countries

Naryn 2016

Khorog

2017

Tekeli 2019

• UCA’s campuses will serve as anchors in the region for development-research

MSRI’s Research focuses on several ‘Learning Landscapes’

MSRI’s Research focuses on several ‘Learning Landscapes’

• Multiple scales

• Multiple interests

• Multiple boundaries

• Multiple movements

Some landscapes already identified…

Three scales for research, monitoring, and learning – in all 3 UCA countries

• …• Local scale: detailed

investigations of watersheds (soil,

water, air, etc.) and of human-

nature interactions (at level of

single villages) • Meso scale: inquiries into

land cover and land use,

governance processes,

power dynamics, etc. (at

level of 1 or 2 districts)

• Regional scale: studies about

migrations, regional economy,

development policies, etc. (at

provincial level, and extending

internationally with movements)

SES Monitoring @ local scale, in close proximity to UCA Naryn

UCA Naryn

Bash-Kaiyndy

Bash-Kaiyndy Pilot Site in the project ‘Ecosystem based Adaptation to CC’

Novel approaches for community outreach, partnership development

Co-generating knowledge with

communities and other stakeholders

Increasing access to information for

many different development

stakeholders

UCA Academic Programmes (Arts & Sciences)

Naryn (2016) Khorog (2018) Tekeli (TBD)

Un

de

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ate

B.Sc. in Computer

Sciences

B.Sc. in Earth and

Environmental Sciences

B.Sc. in Engineering

Sciences

B.A. in Communications

and MediaB.A. in Economics

B.A. in Business and

Management

Minor – Central Asian

Studies

Minor – Development

Studies

Minor - Globalization

Studies

Pro

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e

Str

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Year 1: Preparatory Year: Math / English / Science

Year 2: Core Programme Summer: Paid Internship

Year 3: Pre-requisite year Summer: Paid Internship

Year 4: Major areas of Study Summer: Paid Internship

Year 5: Major and minor areas of Study

Cooperative Programme – Capstone Projects – Learning Labs – 30% Case Based Curriculum

Two-Campus Experience – Electives – International Expert Visiting Faculty – Preparatory Programme

Hybrid Liberal Arts and Focused Educational Experience

HKPL Project with ICIMOD and other partners focus on Tajik Pamirs

Rangeland Assessment

• Descriptions and

conditions

• Level of rangeland use –

by livestock and by wildlife

• Factors influencing their

use (i.e. governance)

Tajikistan Pamir Rangeland Assessment (2016-17)

Tajikistan Pamir Rangeland Assessment (2016-17)

Yak Husbandry in the Pamir, with similarities to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Opportunities for Collaboration in Tajikistan Pamir

Tajik Pamirs

– Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO), Tajikistan

Central Asia is data-poor, with many ‘knowledge gaps’ that still need to be filled.

Joint research would promote a sharing and exchange of resources and knowledge.

General Description

• High and arid rangelands

• Steep valleys to Panj River

• Valuable mountain ecosystem

services, wildlife, PAs, etc.

• Being developed into regional

‘economic corridor’ (must be

more than ‘transport corridor’)

• Ecological and cultural region

across several countries

One Belt One Road (OBOR) Project in Central Asia

• 65 million residents in Central Asia

• OBOR already begun, especially with

road network in Kyrg. and Tajikistan

• Trade between China and Central Asia

already ~$50 billion in 2013 (compare

to ~$30 billion with Russia)

• Over 10% of the region’s imports are

from China

• Nearly half of Tajikistan’s external debt

(foreign direct investment) from China

• Smaller countries such asTajikistan and

Kyrgyzstan likely will benefit most from

China’s OBOR project

• OBOR is more than just infrastructure,

also ‘people to people’ ties – including

academic exchanges, joint research,

forums, trainings, and exchange visits

Major development research themes and topics relevant for the Pamirs

• Natural resource management, incl. yak

husbandry and rangeland conservation

• Integrated watershed and water

resource management

• Mountain ecosystem services

• Green economy (environ. economics)

• Climate change (CC) & CC adaptation

• Disaster risk reduction & management

• Development of ‘economic corridors’

• Security studies, conflict resolution

• Cultural and traditional practices,

traditional ecological knowledge

University of Central Asia welcomes you!

Khorog campus, in the Tajik Pamir region – opening in September 2017

Thank you!

marc.foggin@ucentralasia.org

Website: www.ucentralasia.org