Emma Harden-Wolfson

Higher education in Central Asia blog

  • The end of science in Turkmenistan?

    The Academy of Sciences in Turkmenistan is facing major budget cuts that will see a third of its personnel lose their jobs and structural changes that may see the Academy disappear from the science scene in the country. As an institution, the Academy of Sciences brings together researchers from across disciplines, historically separating them from… Read more

  • Politics is back (on the curriculum) in Uzbekistan

    Uzbekistan watchers must be exhausted with the near-constant flow of news about reforms in the country, but as the reforms appear to be supporting people in the country to live better and happier lives, this is a fatigue worth accepting. I’ve written a summary of the reforms that are affecting higher education and about a wave… Read more

  • Of bars and brothels: Turkmenistani parents warned of dangers of allowing children to study abroad

    The opportunity to study abroad is usually positioned as a life (and CV) enhancing experience. Among other benefits, studying abroad enables you to learn about different ways of teaching and learning, find out about new cultures, make new friends, and brush up on your language skills. Little wonder that the number of internationally mobile students… Read more

  • A wave of new higher education institutions for Uzbekistan

    In a post in September 2018, I detailed the extensive reforms being undertaken or planned for Uzbekistan’s higher education system. The reforms cover everything from legislation to recognize (and encourage the growth of) privately operated universities and institutes to new government funding streams to improve access to higher education for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. 2018… Read more

  • Study abroad returnees required to report regularly to local police in Tajikistan

    Not content with demanding its nationals return home from studying abroad, reports are circulating [ru] that the government of Tajikistan is now regularly monitoring these former students. Despite international borders opening for Tajiks since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Tajik government appears to be doing its best to close down opportunities… Read more

  • Empowering girls through education in Tajikistan

    Happy new year! I hope that 2019 will bring you health and happiness, and I hope that the world becomes a slightly more sensible place this year (I can hope, right?). Kicking off the year is a wonderful story about an inspiring teacher in rural Tajikistan who over the course of many years has shown… Read more