Speaking at the University of Central Asia (UCA) Convocation 2023 in Khorog, Tajikistan, Head of the Department of International Relations of the Ministry of Education and Science of Tajikistan, Farrukh Khudoydodzoda, noted on June 16 that at the official opening of the UCA Campus in the city of Khorog, the capital of Tajikistan’s Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO), Tajik President Emomali Rahmon said:  “The University of Central Asia in the city of Khorog is a new page in the system of higher education of the country... I believe that the activity of the newly established university is not only for the benefit of our country, but will serve to expand the multilateral cooperation of the countries of the region in the field of education.”  

“I am happy to note that since that time, in keeping with the advice of President Rahmon, the University of Central Asia has had a very fruitful cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Tajikistan.  Among the many areas of collaboration I am happy to recall the following successes,” Khudoydodzoda said. 

“Dear participants, I am delighted that the University of Central Asia has established close cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Tajikistan and other educational agencies of the Republic of Tajikistan and I am confident that it will make a significant contribution to the education of the country in the future,” Tajik official added.

For the development of math and natural sciences, UCA in cooperation with the "Talent Acquisition and Development Center" organized Olympiads in mathematics, biology and chemistry for 370 high school students from different regions of Tajikistan.

More than 90 percent of the graduates of 2021 and 2022 are employed mostly within the region, and some were admitted to graduate programs of world-renowned universities such as Simon Fraser University, University of Michigan, University of Tsukuba Japan, and University of Alberta, and also other universities.

All students undergo internship training and practical training at various institutions in the country.

Since the start of its operation in Tajikistan in 2006, UCA’s School of Professional and Continuing Education, through its seven learning centers in Dushanbe, Bokhtar, Khujand and Khorog, has provided short training courses and certificate programs in English, IT, Entrepreneurship, Academic Achievement Programs, technical vocational education programs in carpentry, construction, plumbing, auto-mechanics, general construction, electrician and repair of home appliances to over 119,000 of learners.

In 2023, the School of Professional and Continuing Education opened its seventh learning center in the city of Khujand, and at the moment waiting for the license to inaugurate the established Learning Center in Kulob.  In the nearest future, the opening of such an educational center in the city of Danghara is also planned.

These centers teach the English language, information technology (including coding, Python, digital marketing), academic achievement program, accounting and many other courses based on the market needs.

In 2023, the University of Central Asia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tajik National University for cooperation in the field of geosciences, and has already established cooperation within this framework.

The University of Central Asia and Khorog State University named after Moyonsho Nazarshoyev have conducted a number of studies in the Faculty of Economics and the Department of Geology.  UCA has established at Khorog State University four geological laboratories, opened a digital library, organized sessions on English language for 55 teachers, provided equipment to improve Internet and provided about 800 books.

Among various research projects, UCA’s Mountain Societies Research Institute (MSRI) launched a project funded by USAID designed to address how changes in water supplies and associated runoff affect the production of hydropower and agriculture in Tajikistan.  MSRI scientists presented two papers at the European Geosciences Conference in Vienna last year and worked with three partner institutes, Kulob Botanical Garden, Pamir Biological Institute, Pamir Agricultural Research Center on various research projects.

And finally, in 2022, the three-year Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development-sponsored project on ‘Sustainable Infrastructure Development’ was launched by UCA’s Institute of Public Policy and Administration, through the inaugural summer school held at Issyk-Kul Lake.  The summer school brought together international experts on sustainable infrastructure development along with approximately 25 government representatives from Central Asia, including from Tajikistan.  A digital platform, with learning materials, has been created and a series of events are planned leading up to the second summer school.