International cooperation

The Department of Regional Studies creates the necessary conditions for students to realize their potential: meetings with prominent domestic and foreign scientists and politicians are held, youth schools, "round tables," scientific and methodological conferences, thematic advisory hours are organized; sports competitions in various sports; visits to cultural sites: exhibitions, museums, theaters.

The Department of Regional Studies has done significant work on signing cooperation agreements with leading universities in the near and far abroad, including: Central European University (Budapest, Hungary), Jawaharlal Nehru University (India, Delhi), Hacettepe University (Turkey, Ankara), St. Clement of Ohrid University of Sofia (Bulgaria, Sofia), University of Bologna (Italy, Bologna), F. Dostoevsky Omsk State University, South Ural State University (Russia), Chelyabinsk branch of RANEPA (Russia), M. Akmulla Bashkir State Pedagogical University (Russia), K. Karasaev Bishkek Humanities University (Kyrgyzstan), Ufa State Petroleum Technological University (Russia). The department implements dual degree programs with MSLU and RUDN (within the framework of SCO University) and Tomsk National University.

To implement educational programs, contacts were established with foreign centers and institutions studying the field of regional studies. Foreign scientists are invited to give lectures, supervise doctoral dissertations, organize and conduct round tables, and international conferences. The main criteria for selecting foreign scientists for teaching are: a PhD degree, a set of scientific works in the specialization, compliance with the scientific directions of the scientific schools of L.N. Gumilyov ENU, work in accredited universities, and others.

Over the years, the following world-renowned scholars have worked among the invited foreign professors: K. Pujol (France, 2008); T.A. Dronzina (Bulgaria, 2008); Abduahab Kara (Turkey, 2009), Laszlo Marash (Netherlands, 2011); S. Minin (Russia, 2011); Maurizio Pistoso (Italy, Bologna, 2011); Irfan Shahzad (Iran, 2012-2013); Plamen Dimitrov (Bulgaria, Sofia, 2012, 2014); Ramanakrusha Pradhan (2017), Puneet Gaur (India, 2016-2017, 2017-2018, 2018-2019); Dipti Deshpande, Sanjay Pandey, Phool Badan (India, 2017), Andrey Shenin (Russia, 2016-2017, 2017-2018, 2018-2019); Seit Ali Avju (Turkey, 2018-2023), Ekaterina Borisovna Mikhailenko (Russia, 2019-2020), Marina Vladimirovna Lapenko (Russia, 2019-2020), Vakhshitekh Ahmad (Iran, 2019-2020), Collins Ward (USA, 2022-2023), Farhod Fazilovich Tolipov (Uzbekistan, 2022-2023), and many others.

Since 2015, the department, together with partner universities from Russia (Saratov, Tomsk, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg), Kyrgyzstan (Bishkek, Osh), Uzbekistan (Tashkent), and Tajikistan (Dushanbe), has organized and conducted youth schools and expert meetings on Eurasian integration and the prevention of extremism among youth. The department's partners include the following analytical centers: the Center for Geopolitical Studies "Berlek-Unity," the expert club "Ural Eurasia" (Yekaterinburg, Russia), the "Russian-Kazakh Expert IQ Club," the Information-Analytical Center "Eurasia-Volga Region," the Scientific-Educational Center for the Study of CIS and Baltic Countries at SGU named after N.G. Chernyshevsky, the "Workshop of Eurasian Ideas" fund, the Analytical Research Center "Eurasian Monitoring," the expert club "Siberia-Eurasia," and others. In implementing educational programs, regular meetings with Kazakhstani and foreign diplomats and scientists were organized. For example, public figure and scientist M.Zh. Zholdasbekov, Alexandros Katranis (Ambassador of Greece to Kazakhstan), Montaser Abu Zeid (Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Palestine to the Republic of Kazakhstan), Dauren Abayev (Minister of Information and Public Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan), Alexey Nikolaevich Borodavkin (Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Kazakhstan), Konstantin Pavlovich Vorobyov (Head of the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Astana), and others.

The faculty members of the department develop working educational programs for elective courses in accordance with their scientific interests. Acting Associate Professor of the Department of Regional Studies, Zarina Kakenova, participated in international educational programs to enhance her professional qualifications. In March and April 2022, she underwent training at the University of Michigan, USA, as part of the "Weiser Center for Europe and Eurasia, Weiser Professional Development Fellow" program. The knowledge and skills gained had a significant impact on the development and teaching of courses such as "Sociocultural Continuum in Contemporary USA" and "Non-State Actors in the World System," intended for second-year master's students.

In May 2022, Zarina Kakenova completed the "Training in Peace and Conflict" at the OSCE Academy in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, where she mastered methods of theoretical conflict analysis and mediation. These skills were applied in the development and teaching of the course "Interpretation of International Regional Conflicts," also aimed at master's students. This course provides students with a unique analytical toolkit for studying and resolving international conflicts, ensuring a deep understanding of global politics and foreign policy strategies in various regions.

Moreover, in May 2022, Zarina Kakenova completed the "Training in Peace and Conflict" at the OSCE Academy in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, where she mastered methods of theoretical conflict analysis and mediation. These skills were applied in the development and teaching of the course "Interpretation of International Regional Conflicts," also aimed at master's students. This course provides students with a unique analytical toolkit for studying and resolving international conflicts, ensuring a deep understanding of global politics and foreign policy strategies in various regions.

On May 17, at the 5th Central Asian Climate Change Conference (CACCC-2023) in Dushanbe (Tajikistan), the EU project "Nexus Dialogue in Central Asia" held a Nexus Game with the participation of representatives from the Academic Community Network. During the game, participants took on the roles of ministers from countries located upstream and downstream of the river and made decisions of national importance. A.N. Ospanova participated in this event.

 

On November 8, 2023, a teleconference on the topic "Water Security in Central Asian Countries: International Legal Aspects" was held with the participation of representatives from L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University (Department of Regional Studies), the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan (Department of International Law), and Ferghana State University (Department of Sociology). The teleconference was organized with the support of the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia.

The Department of Regional Studies is one of the first to play the Nexus Game. The interactive simulation of the Nexus approach (Nexus Game) was developed by the Center for Systemic Solutions in collaboration with the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis and the "Sustainable Energy for All" initiative. Its introduction in the Central Asian region began in 2018 as part of the European Union (EU) project "Nexus Dialogue in Central Asia," implemented by the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia (CAREC).

The game represents a facilitated process of playing through five different development scenarios for territories located upstream and downstream of the river, simultaneously meeting the water needs of the population, industry, and agriculture while considering climate change issues.

The aim of the game is to provide an opportunity to practically understand how various water management strategies can lead to sustainable development of society in harmony with nature. Participants strive to meet the water needs of the population, industry, and agriculture while facing climate change challenges. The game is designed to demonstrate the many interconnected problems related to water, food, and energy.

Currently, the Nexus Game is actively promoted by CAREC in universities, academies, basin organizations, and media in Central Asia with funding from the EU and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). #NexusGame #НексусИгра #CommunityOfPractice #АкадемическоеСообщество #CAREC #РЭЦЦА

On November 10, 2023, an interactive modeling of the Nexus approach using the Nexus Game was held, involving students and professors from the Department of Regional Studies, as well as scientists and students from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, China, and Russia. The game demonstrated the concept of the "water-energy-food" approach in an accessible interactive format. Participants were engaged in the game and actively discussed resource allocation strategies despite the initial complexity. Students noted that they enjoyed the game process and expressed a keen interest in extending the game time and completing all the game scenarios next time.

At the meeting of the Council of Heads of State Founders of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) in September 2023, the key role of water resources in the sustainable development of Central Asia was emphasized. The parties expressed their readiness to prioritize water issues in their development strategies and plans, confirming their commitment to cooperation in solving water and energy problems, considering the interests of all countries in the region.

On November 29, 2023, Ospanova A.N. participated in a Training of Trainers (ToT) on water diplomacy and international water law within the framework of the Blue Peace Central Asia (BPCA) initiative in collaboration with the WAVE Regional Project, held in Almaty. The Blue Peace Central Asia initiative by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation is implemented by the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia (CAREC). The event's partner was the International Secretariat for Water (Canada).

On November 30, 2023, the Central Asian Network of Academic Community (SAC) held its regular semi-annual meeting at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. The meeting was organized by the USAID Regional Water Resources and Environment Project (WAVE) in collaboration with the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia (CAREC) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

SAC works on creating partnerships and networks to improve the level of teaching and research in Central Asian universities. At today's meeting, representatives of Central Asian universities and international development programs discussed the issues and prospects for SAC's development, shared cooperation experiences, and identified potential partnership opportunities for educational institutions within the network. Representatives from L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University (ENU) and the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan shared the results of student exchanges and plans for future cooperation, including joint research projects, faculty internships, teleconferences, and student competitions.

SAC meetings also provide a good opportunity to share innovative teaching materials with colleagues and other universities. At today's meeting, ENU professor Aigerim Ospanova shared her impressions of a new course for graduate students called "Water Issues in Central Asia."

Additionally, SAC members discussed the recently created Community of Practice platform, which has doubled the number of registered users to 76 since the last meeting. The platform contains a wealth of valuable information related to water in the form of educational materials, lectures, videos, and podcasts. It also provides a space for communication and knowledge exchange for both established and new water resource professionals.

During the meeting, development organizations also shared their experiences in strengthening higher education in the water sector to ensure climate resilience and security in Central Asia. Notable presentations included the experience of the SDC CoP4WASH project, the EU-funded Erasmus project, the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), and the WAVE project in the region.

Participants also shared the results of the SDC CoP4WASH project and discussed the possibility of creating a Community of Practice on water diplomacy based on the lessons and experiences of this project.

On March 18, 2024, Head of the Department of Regional Studies, A.N. Ospanova, participated as a member of the Central Asian Network of Academic Community (SAC) in an online meeting to discuss the network's development and opportunities for university cooperation in the region. The meeting was organized by the USAID Regional Water Resources and Environment Project in collaboration with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia (CAREC).

Forty-four representatives of leading universities and research institutes (RIs) in Central Asia, as well as international and regional organizations, discussed the current state and plans for the development of SAC and the Community of Practice platform. Since the last meeting, 40 new users have joined the platform. In addition to educational materials, publications, videos, and podcasts, the platform now provides links to regional scientific journals and announcements of grants, internships, scholarships, and job opportunities in the field of water resources.

The agenda also included the formalization of SAC for sustainable development and increased operational efficiency. The participants refined and approved the final version of the SAC Membership Regulations.

The meeting also focused on developing cooperation between universities in the region and research institutes for training personnel. A representative from the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (KISS) shared opportunities for student internships and grant programs to support young experts.

Among the aforementioned opportunities, it is also worth highlighting the opportunities within the framework of the European Union (EU) Erasmus project and the "Climate-Resilient Water Resource Management in CA" project by the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ). As part of the GIZ project, SAC members are planned to be involved in developing training materials on IWRM for basin organizations. Training modules will include assessments of climate risks for the basins of the region's countries and consider gender aspects in water resource management.

 

On April 16, 2024, the Department of Regional Studies and the Department of International Law of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University jointly organized a Nexus Game.

In April 2024, Zarina Kakenova participated in the Annual Conference of the International Studies Association (San Francisco, USA) as part of a project by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan. During the conference, the lecturer attended conference sessions as a listener and visited an international publications exhibition. As part of the business trip, the research group also visited the University of Central Florida (Orlando, USA).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWN_7pPbFoY

International activities are reflected on social networks https://www.youtube.com/@Akbotazhold