Duration: September 2016 – September 2019

Budget: $1,573,400 (including $73,400 of cost-sharing by AUCA)

Implementing Partner: American University of Central Asia

Activity Location: Kyrgyz Republic

Under the project, USAID partners with the American University of Central Asia to provide need- and merit-based scholarships to students, enhance research capacity of faculty and students, and facilitate accreditation of the Business Administration program of AUCA. The project supports the unique higher education model in the Kyrgyz Republic based on traditions of a liberal arts education.

MAJOR FOCUS AREAS

Financial aid to eligible young people helps to address economic challenges of selected individuals, but also plays a critical role in creating an environment of equal opportunity for attaining education and decreasing income inequality in society overall. With USAID support under the Building the Future project, AUCA is able to offer merit- and need-based scholarships for undergraduate education to students from all regions of the Kyrgyz Republic. Over 60% of recipients are non-Bishkek residents.

University-based research capacity is a vital component not only in the supply of policy-related knowledge, but also in the generating demand for that knowledge. Under the Building the Future project, AUCA provides extensive training for faculty members and will administer 20 faculty-led research projects, with research reports being published at local and international levels.

Obtaining accreditation for the business administration program from the world’s top three leading accreditation agencies (IAA, AMBA and AACSB) is a major strategic priority for AUCA. It will help to improve the quality of the program and attract more international and local students.

Under the Building the Future project, USAID also promotes gender mainstreaming in AUCA through formal integration of gender-specific reporting for Admissions, Financial Aid, Research, and Human Resources Management.

EXPECTED IMPACT AND RESULTS

• Project activities directly support 113 student’s scholarships and 150 faculty and staff members.
• Provides opportunities for obtaining quality higher education for young people from all regions of Kyrgyzstan.
• 20 quality research projects addressing relevant social and economic issues in the Kyrgyz Republic.
• Increased number of AUCA research publications and improved research capacity of faculty and students.
• IAA and AMBA accreditation received. Significant progress made towards fulfillment of AACSB accreditation requirements. Improved program quality as a result of mentoring in the course of accreditation process.
• Gender-specific reporting formally integrated for AUCA Admissions, Financial Aid, Research, and Human Resources Management.