May 14, 2014, WASHINGTON, D.C. The US-Central Asia Education Foundation released Business Education in Central Asia: Best Practices in Integrative Study and Teaching, a collection of groundbreaking essays exploring innovative approaches to business education in Central Asia.
Edited by Dr. Kathryn Nantz, Professor of Economics at Fairfield University, the volume contains 21 articles by faculty of KIMEP University in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and the American University of Central Asia (AUCA) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan exploring such topics as collaborative learning techniques, role playing, curriculum design, classroom simulation exercises, and the instructional value of Central Asian case studies. The collection provides both a theoretical grounding for more learner-centered approaches to business instruction and practical advice for faculty seeking to develop innovative exercises, assignments, and activities for students of economics, marketing, management, accounting, and other business fields.
"Business Education represents the important, creative efforts of dynamic educators at two of Central Asia's leading universities to share best teaching practices and develop important new resources for their students and colleagues in the region," said Stephen Weinroth, Chair of the US-Central Asia Education Foundation (US-CAEF). "It also reflects the deep personal commitment of AUCA and KIMEP faculty to providing their students with the critical thinking abilities and the concrete skills necessary to succeed in Central Asia's highly demanding job market."
The collection is the final product of a four-year series of faculty development workshops funded by US-CAEF and conducted in Central Asia by Dr. Nantz with colleagues from Fairfield's English and Business Departments. Over 25 faculty from AUCA and KIMEP attended the training series, which culminated in June 2013, when participants drafted articles describing pedagogical innovations they had successfully introduced in their classrooms since beginning the workshop. Participants continued to consult with Professor Nantz and Fairfield's editorial team throughout the coming year as they developed their articles for the final volume.
Business Education in Central Asia: Best Practices in Integrative Study and Teaching is available through Amazon.com, CreateSpace.com, and Kindle.
About US-CAEF
Committed to the development of a vibrant, private business sector in Central Asia, US-CAEF provides full fellowships to academically outstanding students from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan who seek to study business and economics at AUCA and KIMEP but could not do so without comprehensive financial assistance. More than 135 students from the region have studied at the two institutions with US-CAEF fellowship support since 2007. US-CAEF also provides exceptional fellows the opportunity to participate in U.S-based internships. American Councils for International Education administers the Foundation's programs in Central Asia and the US
Overseas Contacts
In Kazakhstan:
Jessica Leonard
American Councils Regional Director, Central Asia
E-mail: accels@americancouncils-kz.com
Tel: 772 7291 92 26 Fax: 772 7291 93 14
Address: 20A Kazybek Bi Street050010 Almaty, Kazakhstan
In Kyrgyzstan:
Rebecca Gordan, Country Director
American Councils, Kyrgyzstan
E-mail: director1@americancouncils.kg
Tel: 996 312 910 989 Fax: 996 312 910 987
Address: 187 Sadykov Street Office 29720001 Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan