7/2/2004
OSCE Academy starts post graduate programme in Central Asia

Twenty-five students from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Italy and Britain this week began their post-graduate studies at the OSCE Academy in Bishkek.

"The Academy has an opportunity to introduce and adapt authentic international expertise through an intensive study programme, which is unique in the Central Asian region," said Ambassador Markus Mueller, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek.

The curriculum of the five-month course will include such topics as regional and international security and co-operation, the OSCE and other international organizations, democratization, conflict prevention and conflict resolution. With its special focus on Central Asia and its regionally balanced participation, it is designed to bring together future decision makers of all countries of the region in joint workshops and discussions.

Newly appointed Academic Director, Ms. Annette Kramer, said the Academy, now open after a year of intensive work on the concept and curriculum development, was looking for additional partners in central Asia and OSCE participating States, who are prepared to share their experience.

The students' own motivation for participating in the course varies from seizing a good opportunity to find out about the problems and concerns of other central Asian Republics to focusing on the issues of human rights.

Among the major partners of the Academy are the Centre for OSCE Research in Hamburg, the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, the Clingendael Institute in The Hague, the UN Peace University and the Austrian Study Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution.

The course is conducted in the new premises of the Academy provided by the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic. The pilot course will last until 30 June 2004. A detailed curriculum of the course, as well as further training and research activities are announced on the Academy website.