Central Asian University Aims to Train Region’s Next Leaders

The new Central Asian University will soon educate students of this multilingual region in a language that goes beyond borders—English. The liberal arts and strong science curriculum contrasts with the specialized Soviet curriculum offered in the past and will be preceded by English lessons and computer-training courses. Some have questioned the choice of language, arguing that Russian is already spoken in the region. That the Parliaments of Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan have already approved the University’s language of instruction only confirms the establishment of English as the 21st Century’s lingua franca. With three campuses in three countries, Central Asian University is expected to cost about $200 million, which will be financed by a mixture of foreign governments and private funds. The new institution's primary goal is to nurture future Central Asian leaders capable of helping their nations tap into the opportunities of the global economy. – YaleGlobal