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Education

From Kazakhstan to Arizona: First Student Cohort Marks Nation’s Education Hub Ambitions

On August 23, 2025, 29 students from Kozybayev University in Petropavlovsk arrived at the University of Arizona. Their journey marks the start of a dual-degree program that allows Kazakh students to spend a semester in the U.S. while completing the rest of their studies at home. Graduates will receive two diplomas, one from each institution. The program, launched under President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s directive, is Kazakhstan’s first large-scale partnership with a U.S. university. Fully funded by the state, it covers tuition, housing, visas, and travel expenses. Courses are offered in biotechnology, information systems, and inclusive education - fields aligned with Kazakhstan’s development priorities. Part of a Broader Strategy This initiative is not just about Kozybayev University. It is part of a broader government strategy to internationalize higher education and transform Kazakhstan into an academic hub for Central Asia. In 2022, Tokayev set a goal of opening five foreign university branches by 2025. Since then, partnerships have multiplied: De Montfort University (UK) in Almaty, MEPhI and Gubkin University (Russia) in Almaty and Atyrau, and the University of Arizona in Petropavlovsk. Others are in development, including Heriot-Watt University (Scotland), SeoulTech (South Korea), and Tianjin University (China). These ventures come with incentives. The government treats foreign universities as “strategic investors,” offering land, tax breaks, and simplified bureaucracy. In return, Kazakhstan gains access to advanced curricula and English-language teaching, while local universities benefit from joint research and faculty exchanges. Building Domestic Capacity Kozybayev University has expanded rapidly to accommodate the Arizona program: a new academic laboratory, dormitories, and upgraded infrastructure are in place. The university is also hosting students from 16 countries, including a hundred from Türkiye. This signals a shift - Petropavlovsk, once peripheral in academic terms, is now a point of attraction for international students. The government’s long-term aim is to convert more domestic universities into research-intensive institutions. By embedding foreign collaborations into the national strategy, Kazakhstan hopes to ensure lasting benefits rather than temporary prestige projects. Rising Student Mobility Kazakhstan’s pivot to become an education destination reflects changing regional dynamics. More than 31,000 foreign students now study in Kazakhstan, including over 12,000 from India in medical programs. This is a sharp rise from a few years ago and a reversal of the trend where most Kazakh students went abroad, often to Russia. The Ministry of Science and Higher Education is actively promoting the country under the “Study in Kazakhstan” campaign, targeting markets like Pakistan, China, and Azerbaijan. For many students, Kazakhstan offers lower costs than the West and the chance to earn dual degrees with reputable foreign institutions. For many international students, Kazakhstan is becoming an appealing study destination. Tuition fees are comparatively low - ranging from US $1,500 to $5,000 per year - while monthly living costs are in the U.S. $550–$750 range, encompassing accommodation, food, transport, and essentials. These financial benefits, along with government scholarships, English-taught programs, and dual-degree opportunities, make Kazakhstan an increasingly attractive option. Lessons from Abroad Kazakhstan’s ambition echoes strategies pursued by the UAE and Singapore. Dubai, for example,...

Culture

Afghanistan Dismantles Navoi Statue, Plans New Memorial Amid Uzbek Backlash

The Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have dismantled the statue of renowned Timurid-era poet and thinker Alisher Navoi in Mazar-i-Sharif, according to a report by Amu. Local sources told the outlet that the monument, located in the telecommunications square of the city’s third district, was completely removed. The decision has drawn criticism from Uzbek cultural figures and officials, who argue that the Taliban are disregarding the spiritual heritage of other peoples and eroding the region’s historical and cultural uniqueness. In response, Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through spokesperson Ahror Burhonov, sought clarification on August 21. “As soon as we learned that the monument to the great poet and thinker Alisher Navoi in Mazar-i-Sharif had been dismantled, Uzbekistan’s Foreign Ministry immediately contacted representatives of the Afghan authorities to obtain an official explanation,” Burhonov said. Initial explanations from Afghan officials claimed the statue’s location was not dignified enough to properly honor Navoi. They announced plans to construct a new memorial complex, which would include a new statue, restored inscriptions on Navoi’s life and work, and the renaming of the square in his honor. Burhonov added that Afghan authorities had expressed regret over the statue’s removal without prior consultation with the Ministry of Culture or the public. He emphasized that the Afghan side reaffirmed its commitment to preserving Navoi’s legacy and pledged to take appropriate measures to commemorate him respectfully. Alisher Navoi (1441-1501), born in Herat, modern-day Afghanistan, is widely recognized as the father of early Turkic literature. He remains a powerful cultural symbol for Uzbeks and other peoples across Central Asia. The statue had stood in Mazar-i-Sharif for approximately 17 years. It was previously damaged before its complete removal. As reported by Dunyo, Afghan officials reiterated that the statue’s location was unsuitable and reaffirmed plans to establish a larger and more dignified memorial site. The new monument is expected to include multilingual plaques in Uzbek, English, Dari, and Pashto, recounting Navoi’s life and contributions. At a public event on August 21 attended by local officials, diplomats, and journalists, Mazar-i-Sharif Mayor Abdurahman Himmat said that Afghans deeply respect Navoi’s legacy. “We will turn this monument into a worthy place of remembrance for both local residents and foreign visitors,” he stated. Himmat noted that around 40 projects are currently planned in the city, including restoration efforts for monuments dedicated to cultural icons such as Navoi, Magtymguly Pyragy, and 13th-century poet Jalal ad-Din Rumi. He also highlighted the construction of the Imam al-Bukhari madrasah, supported by Uzbekistan, as a symbol of close bilateral ties. The project was first announced by Uzbekistan last year. Jafar Fattayev, head of the Uzbek Council in Mazar-i-Sharif, welcomed the Afghan initiative, calling it a gesture of respect for Navoi and Uzbek cultural heritage.

History

Henry Wallace’s Journey to Central Asia and Its Connection to Kazakhstan

Central Asia has long held significance for the Western world — both in the past century and today. The region is home to ancient peoples and rich indigenous traditions. As a journalist from Kazakhstan, I became curious about the cultural ties between the United States and my country. In 2023, I studied at George Washington University through the Bolashak scholarship program to explore this subject in depth. My research led me to numerous works written by American travelers and scholars. Among them, I discovered a book authored by former U.S. Vice President Henry Wallace, based on his journey to Central Asia. [caption id="attachment_35215" align="aligncenter" width="351"] Henry WallaceCredit Hudson Institute[/caption] His book, Soviet Asia Mission, was published in New York in 1946 and reflects observations from that trip. During this special mission in 1944, Wallace first traveled through Siberia, where he studied the conditions of the local population, before continuing on to the Kazakh steppe. Wallace describes the social and political realities of Kazakhstan under Soviet rule, as well as the industrial projects that caught his attention. As a senior American politician, he was particularly interested in production and agriculture. “Down to meet us at the airfield was the director, Georg Georgevich Spitsen. In motorcars, we drove at once to the largest of Karaganda's three big open-pit coal mines. With a sweeping gesture, Spitsen said: “We are digging 6,000 tons of coal a day here. Production began a year ago." A proud shovel operator, scooping up tons of run-of-mine coal to load into steel hopper cars, waved to us. The tracks were driven directly into the cut. We looked closely at the shovel's trademark. It was a Bucyrus Erie electric shovel, one of three at work here, and had been shipped in under lend-lease from the United States.” His journey to Kazakhstan in the previous century demonstrates that U.S.–Kazakh political contacts began earlier than is often assumed.. Although Kazakhstan’s place in the Soviet system was highly constrained, Wallace’s account provides valuable insight into the wartime Soviet republics.. “After lunch at Karaganda, we took off, flying southwest over very dry country. Even the streams were dried out, except in deep valleys where clusters of huts could be seen in the midst of green oases. When still a long distance away, we could see a wide expanse of water ahead. It was Lake Balkhash, bright blue in the midst of gray, treeless country. Along the shore rose the smoking stacks of smelters. On landing at the dirt airfield, we were welcomed to the copper-smelting town of Balkhash by its mayor, Anna Stepanovna Piribinus, president of the city Soviet.” His next stop was Semipalatinsk (today’s Semey). There Wallace spoke with Dimitri Chuvakhin of the Soviet Foreign Office, who accompanied him on the trip. “This kind of thing,” he said, referring to the new towns we had seen, “this kind of thing saved Russia. Trotsky was against it; he thought there had to be a world revolution. Stalin had faith in the moral stamina of...

TCA Interviews

Nigora Fazliddin: The Social Media Storyteller Bringing Life in Tajikistan to the World

For all its beauty and Silk Road history, Tajikistan remains one of the least visited countries on earth. Life in its epic mountain ranges is rarely captured by photographers, and documentary films are few and far between – mainly half-hearted vlogs by the foreigners who pass through on the Pamir Highway. But in recent years, one Tajik filmmaker and travel influencer has made it her mission to show both her own people and the wider world what makes her homeland so extraordinary. Nigora Fazliddin, a former journalist from Dushanbe, is part of a new generation of creators using social media to bridge cultural distances. Posting simple videos and photographs from her journeys in Tajikistan, she captures the landscapes and communities that outsiders, and even many Tajiks, rarely get to see. "This love I have for our land – its wild beauty, its silence, its soul – I try to share with others," she tells The Times of Central Asia. "On X I mostly reach an international audience, since it's not very popular in Tajikistan. But on Instagram, it's a different story. That’s where Tajiks find me, and where I find them." [caption id="attachment_35211" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Image: Nigora Fazliddin[/caption] One of her favorite discoveries, she says, is Shirkent National Park in the south-west of the country, where fossilized dinosaur footprints mark the earth. "It gives you goosebumps to stand there and imagine creatures walking those same paths millions of years ago," she adds. Then there are the Pamirs, often called “the roof of the world.” At 7,495 meters, Peak Somoni attracts mountaineers from Central Asia and further afield. The region is also home to the rare Marco Polo sheep and shaggy yaks, which are found only here. But what lingers most for Fazliddin is not the challenge of climbing or the sight of wildlife, but the solitude of valleys so remote that no car can reach them. She also cherishes journeys into the Yaghnob Gorge, where people still live as their ancestors did. There she met a shepherd in his seventies, Mirzoali, who has spent four decades with his flock among the peaks. "He told me, “I’ve been a shepherd for 40 years – and I never get tired of it.’” His secret? Clean air, peace, a healthy routine – and living in the mountains year-round. That’s the kind of wisdom you can only find in the mountains," she says. [caption id="attachment_35209" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Image: Nigora Fazliddin[/caption] What Fazliddin shares online is more than travel content. For many Tajiks, especially those in cities, her images bring new perspectives to familiar places. "My Instagram has become like a mirror where people can see themselves, their roots, and the beauty they grew up with – but may have never really looked at," she explains. The responses have been moving. Her social media followers now invite her to visit their villages. For Fazliddin, these moments confirm that her work is worth doing: "It makes me feel like what I do matters – even in...

Earthquakes

Earthquakes: Is Central Asia Ready for the Next Seismic Event?

In a recent livestream with a Russian nationalist commentator, prominent Kazakh political analyst Marat Shibutov was asked what threat most concerns Kazakhs today. While his interlocutor expected a geopolitical answer, perhaps Russia’s military might or imperial ambitions, Shibutov’s response reflected a deeply local fear shared by many in Almaty: a devastating earthquake. Given the region’s seismic history, his concern is far from misplaced. A powerful natural disaster could strike a crippling blow to Almaty, Kazakhstan’s economic and cultural heart, and potentially derail the country’s broader development ambitions. A History of Devastation Almaty lies within the Almaty Seismic Zone, a high-risk area in southeastern Kazakhstan known for producing powerful earthquakes. Several historically significant tremors, Vernensky, Keminsky, Kemino-Chuisky (1936), Chiliksky, Sary-Kamyshsky, and Dzhambulsky, were named after their epicenters. The Verny earthquake struck early on May 28 (June 9 in the modern calendar), 1887. Measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale, it destroyed nearly 1,800 stone buildings and over 800 wooden structures. The epicenter was located just 10-12 kilometers south of the city on the northern slope of the Zailiyskiy Alatau, at a depth of about 60 km. The second major disaster, the Kemin earthquake, occurred on December 22, 1910 (January 4, 1911, by modern reckoning). It struck the Chon-Kemin, Chilik, and Chon-Aksu valleys, with a magnitude of 8.2. Tremors lasted for five minutes, followed by strong aftershocks. The epicenter was about 40 km from Verny, in the eastern Zailiyskiy Alatau. On June 21, 1938, another major quake, later named the Kemin-Chui earthquake, originated at the mouth of the Bolshaya Kemin River. Though its epicenter registered between magnitude 8 and 9, public memory of the event is surprisingly faint. In Almaty, the quake struck at around 5 a.m., jolting residents from sleep. Tremors reached magnitude 6, but most people remained calm. Panic in 2024 This was not the case in January and March 2024, when strong tremors triggered widespread panic in Almaty. Some residents jumped from balconies or stairwells, sustaining injuries. Others fled the city in cars, causing major traffic jams. The panic was most pronounced among residents of modern high-rises. Until the 2000s, Almaty had largely avoided such construction due to seismic safety concerns, a principle rooted in Soviet urban planning. Developers now claim modern technologies ensure these buildings can withstand earthquakes but many residents remain unconvinced. This mistrust has sparked public protests against large-scale development projects, including by members of the Mazhilis, Kazakhstan’s lower house of parliament. Adding to concerns, Soviet-era buildings have significantly deteriorated. Aging infrastructure, waterlogged basements, and amateur renovations, including the removal of load-bearing walls, have further weakened the housing stock. In the event of a major quake, widespread destruction is likely and experts agree that the national budget alone could not absorb the resulting financial fallout. Is the Kemin Fault Awakening? Following the March 2024 earthquake, seismic expert and former head of Kazakhstan’s seismic monitoring network, Mukhtar Khaidarov, warned that the epicenter may have been in the Kemin fault zone, a possible precursor to a larger quake. His...

Archaeology

Archaeologists Uncover 80,000-Year-Old Arrowheads in Uzbekistan

Archaeologists in northeastern Uzbekistan have discovered stone arrowheads in the Obi-Rahmat cave that could significantly alter current understandings of early human hunting practices. The findings, published in PLOS ONE, date back approximately 80,000 years and represent some of the earliest known examples of long-range hunting technology in Central Asia. The excavation site, located in the western foothills of the Tian Shan Mountains, yielded a collection of small, triangular stone points embedded within sediment layers representing 40,000 years of human occupation. Researchers concluded that the arrow-like tips are too slender to have served any purpose other than as projectiles, making them among the oldest ranged hunting tools ever found in the region. Until now, such finely crafted projectile points had been primarily associated with later Homo sapiens sites in Europe, dating back only 25,000 years. Their presence in Uzbekistan suggests that sophisticated hunting techniques involving lightweight weapons may have developed far earlier than previously believed. The arrowheads were uncovered alongside a broader assemblage of Early Middle Paleolithic tools, including blades, bladelets, and flakes. The toolset reflects both continuity with Levantine lithic traditions and unique adaptations specific to Central Asia. Researchers used microscopic trace analysis to identify impact damage patterns on the points, clear evidence of high-speed delivery mechanisms such as arrows or darts. Experts note that ranged weapons would have provided early humans with significant evolutionary advantages, allowing them to hunt more efficiently and with reduced risk. This technological innovation may have been crucial in supporting human migration and adaptation across Eurasia. Broader Archaeological Context This discovery adds to a growing body of archaeological breakthroughs in Uzbekistan. In October 2024, researchers using advanced laser scanning technology revealed two lost cities in the country’s southeast. These urban centers, which thrived between the 6th and 11th centuries AD, include a site believed to have been a metalworking hub and another that showed early Islamic cultural influences, underscoring the importance of Uzbekistan along ancient trade routes. Further excavations in December at Mengchaktepa, a key Silk Road settlement on the northern bank of the Syr Darya River, yielded new insights. Known as the “Living Fossil of the Silk Road,” the site has been under continuous investigation since 2012 through a joint expedition by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and Uzbekistan’s Institute of Archaeology.