Information about the program: (UniCEN)

The Central Asian University Partnership (UniCEN) program (UniCEN). This project is supported and funded by the U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan - a partnership program of U.S. and Kazakh universities and implemented by the American Councils for International Education. The U.S.-Kazakhstan Partnership Program strengthens educational ties between the two countries by providing Kazakh universities with the opportunity to establish new partnerships with U.S. institutions, as well as adapt and modernize curricula in English as a foreign language, English in STEM, agribusiness, entrepreneurship, environment, air quality and commercialization of research.

Project Title: Academic Publishing Partnership — K-MAPP

Period of Implementation: 2020, extended, 2021 – one week training

U.S. institution: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Partners in Kazakhstan: Rudny Industrial Institute, E.A. Buketov Karaganda University

Project  objectives: To improve academic publishing capacity of Kazakhstani academic staff

Project outcomes: May 24-29, 2021 Academic Publishing Partnership project workshop:

• 15 academic staff from A.Baitursynov Kostanay Regional University
• 7- academic staff from Rudny Industrial Institute
• 13 academic staff from E.A. Buketov Karaganda University

Project Coordinator at ABKRU: Yelena Kandalina, kandalina.em@ksu.edu.kz

Program: US-Kazakhstan University Partnerships Awards • UniCEN (americancouncils.org)

Project Title: The University of North Texas, A. Baitursynov Kostanay Regional University, and Karaganda Technical University: Creating a Partnership Program in Teaching and Learning English Language for both TESOL Training and STEM Teaching

Deadline: 2021

American educational institution: University of North Texas

Partners in Kazakhstan: Karaganda Technical University

Aim of the project: to improve the English language skills and pedagogical competency of English and STEM professors through remote intensive English classes and through TEFL and STEM pedagogical workshops for both ABKRU and KTU professors.

Results of the project: 

• January 11 to February 26, 2021 11 professors virtually studied and completed the English for Communication course at IELI, UNT
• October 18 to December 10 UNT IELI Communication classes for Fall 2, 2021 7 faculty of ABKRU were involved, graduation ceremony was held synchronically with offline learners
• November 15, 2021 Gordon Clark. Director and Assistant Dean, Intensive English Language Institute, UNT presented a webinar "Communicating What you Need in Culturally Appropriate, Timely and Sensitive Way with U.S. University Officials" within IHEEP series of webinars. Participants: everyone Interested in collaboration with US universities, particularly International Offices employees at KZ universities, total number of participants is 48.
• December 14-15, 4 hours per day UNT STEM Workshop on Scientific Teaching for KZK Partner University Instructors. Dr. Thompson delivered online training, which included the following issues: active learning, assessment, The Framework for Backward Design, Building a Teachable Lesson

Project Coordinator at ABKRU: Yelena Kandalina, kandalina.em@ksu.edu.kz

Program : U.S. - Kazakhstan University Partnerships Program awards announcement • UniCEN (americancouncils.org)

Project Title: Partnering to Develop Project-Based Learning Capacity for Teaching and Research in Renewable Energy 

Period of Implementation: January –September 2022

U.S. institution: Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Project  objectives: Build capacity among a core group of faculty at A.Baitursynov Kostanay Regional University to develop evidence-based undergraduate curricula in renewable energy and/or environmental studies while adopting project-based learning

Project Outcomes: Communicate the value of project-based learning and explore best practices for implementing projects in STEM courses

1. Increase faculty awareness of STEM curricula
2. Fostering opportunities for discussion about capacity building in STEM courses and programs
3. Increase faculty knowledge of PBL strategies

Project Coordinator at ABKRU:

• Academic issues - Gulnara Yunussova, Head of Ecology, Biology and Chemistry Department
• Communicative issues - Yelena Kandalina, Associate Professor of Foreign Philology Department

Program : U.S. – Kazakhstan University Partnerships Program awards announcement • UniCEN (americancouncils.org)

Project Title: STEM Environmental Technologies Courses For Investigation Water Flow In The Aral Sea Basin

Period of Implementation: January –September 2022

U.S. institution: Washington State University

Project  objective: establishment of the collaboration between Washington State University (WSU) and Urgench State University (UrSU) in the areas of applied mathematics research and education

Project Outcomes:

• to facilitate research collaborations between mathematics and sciences faculty at the partner universities via webinars and offline discussions
• to identify potential for short-term undergraduate student exchanges, with the ultimate goal of organizing student summer schools and conferences.

Project Coordinator at ABKRU:

• Abdykarim Baimankulov, professor of Information Systems Department

Программа проекта: Central Asia University Partnerships Program (UniCEN) awards announcement • UniCEN (americancouncils.org)

Project Title: Renewable Energy and Climate Change

Period of Implementation: January–September 2022

U.S. institution: University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus

Partners in Kazakhstan:

• L.Gumilyov Eurasian National University - coordinator,
• Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University,
• Toraighyrov University
• A. Baitursynov Kostanay Regional University

Project  objectives: Development of a new online course on Renewable Energy and Climate Change

Project Outcomes: The new course is implemented in master program

Project Coordinator at ABKRU: Igor Koshkin, Head of Electric Power Department

Project Title: COIL - Collaborative Online International Learning

Period of Implementation: January-May 2022

Project  objectives:

• Development of collaboration and intercultural competence via a semester long exchange between participating faculty, partnering U.S.and Central Asian Higher Education Institutions.
• A four-week professional development course to learn, understand and design a virtual experiential learning experience through Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL).

Project Outcomes: One-semester exchange with the University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Project Participants at ABKRU: Svetlana Ibragimova, Associate Professor at Electrical Power Department

Program: Collaborative Online International Learning: Introduction • UniCEN (americancouncils.org)