Emma Harden-Wolfson

Higher education in Central Asia blog

  • Promoting research in Kazakhstan

    I made my interest in Nazarbayev University clear in an earlier post, asking (only semi-jokingly) if it could become the Oxford of Kazakhstan. Largely at the eponymous President’s initiative, Nazarbayev University is being pumped with millions of petro-dollars to become, at great speed, a world-leading centre of academic excellence. Following on from this, a recent article… Read more

  • International students, international communities

    I recently started a new job as Registrar at St Antony’s College, which is part of the University of Oxford. Each student at the University is a member of a College, and the College provides residential, pastoral and social facilities as well as providing teaching (for undergraduate students) and a base for researchers, seminars, conferences… Read more

  • Uzbekistan: Karimov Decree Makes Schools, Universities Cell-Free Zones (Repost from Eurasia.net)

    (c) Evgeny Kuzmin, Eurasia.Net, http://www.eurasianet.org/node/65545 Uzbekistan: Karimov Decree Makes Schools, Universities Cell-Free Zones President Islam Karimov’s administration in Uzbekistan wants school-age children to be in school and studying. Yet a new rule imposed on schools and universities indicates that officials are worried Uzbek youngsters are learning too much. Under a decree adopted in late May, students… Read more

  • Kyrgyz students try to live on $100 a month – Washington Times

    Kyrgyz students try to live on $100 a month – Washington Times. Re-post from Washington Times By T. Umaraliev – Special to The Washington Times BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan — Kyrgyzstan’s online forums have buzzed with angry discussions about Economics Minister Akylbek Japarov since he told parliament in April that $100 is enough to live on for a month. Now three university students… Read more

  • Kyrgyzstan Trying to Systematize University Admissions, Curbing Corruption (repost from Eurasia.net)

    This is a reposting from Eurasia.net – original article at http://www.eurasianet.org/node/65464. Inna Valkova is accustomed to the prying government officials and tax inspectors sent to investigate her operations. “Look at my office,” she tells them when they arrive, gesturing to the boxes of instruction sheets and rulebooks stacked around the small room. “Does it look like… Read more

  • Study abroad survey: part 5

    Thank you all for sticking with me as I complete the publication of my study abroad survey results. Part 5 is the finale, bringing together in my conclusion everything that I’ve discussed in the paper. If you requested a copy of the full paper, I’ll be emailing it out shortly. (If you didn’t but would… Read more