DUSHANBE, January 21, Asia-Plus –  The School pf Professional and Continuing Education (SPCE) of the University of Central Asia (UCA) has opened IT Academy in its office in Khorog, Tajikistan and Tekeli, Kazakhstan.   

Dilovar Butabekov, head of the SPCE campus in Khorog, told Pamir Media that IT Academy was an initiative of the Microsoft Corporation and provided for two level of membership – Essential and Advanced.    

The Microsoft Essential IT Academies, established at SPCE’s offices in Tekeli, Kazakhstan and Khorog, Tajikistan in early January are authorized to deliver Microsoft Office Specialist courses.   

 The goal of this program is to develop highly qualified and internationally recognized local information technology experts in Central Asia to provide access to world-class education, foster economic development, and promote integration of the region into the global information community, Butabekov said. 

Kyrgyzstan''s first Microsoft IT Academy was established by the University of Central Asia in Naryn in June 2007.

The University of Central Asia was founded in 2000 by the governments of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, and His Highness the Aga Khan. The International Treaty and Charter establishing this secular and private University was signed by His Highness the Aga Khan and the Presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, ratified by the respective parliaments and registered with the United Nations. Established in 2006, the School of Professional and Continuing Education is the University’s first operational academic program. The School is Central Asia’s first provider of formal, university-based, non-degree educational programs. It emphasizes tertiary short-cycle education, which gives students intense training, usually in one year or less, that results in a widely accepted qualification to perform industry-specific tasks. 

His Highness the Aga Khan is Chancellor and Chairman the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) which is a group of private, non-denominational development agencies working to empower communities and individuals to improve living conditions and opportunities, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East.  The Network’s nine development agencies focus on social, cultural and economic development for all citizens, regardless of gender, origin or religion. The AKDN’s underlying ethic is compassion for the vulnerable in society.