February 2018 update

Progress summary:

  • 3 Prerequisite courses are nearly done.
    • Ecology (Biol), Physics, Chemistry, each built by a UBC Science Education Specialist.
  • 19 Program core courses are in syllabus-design stage. Personnel:
    • 14 courses being built by 5 in EOAS, Geog. or other UBC dep’ts;
    • 4 courses being built by 2 with other affiliations.
  • UCA Curriculum Review Committee begins this month.
  • UBC team visited Tajikistan, October 2017.
  • UBC team will visit again, likely May 2018 and Sept/Oct 2018.

Details:

  • Funded by UCA & AKDN; contract between UCA & UBC.
  • Coordinated at EOAS and UCA in Tajikistan & Kyrgyz Republic.
  • Three prerequisite courses are well underway:
    • Biology (genetics, evolution, ecology): to be taught Sept 2018.
    • Physics: to be taught January 2019.
    • Chemistry: to be taught February 2019.
    • Syllabi currently (Feb 2018) under review with the newly formed UCA prerequisite Curriculum Review Committee.
    • All thirteen 3-hour lessons, including class, lab, home and assessment work are essentially complete for chemistry and biology.
    • Physics will be completed by end of April 2018.
    • Curriculum Review Committee will offer feedback. Any adjustments to be completed by May 2018.
    • Transfer to UCA instructors in summer 2019.
  • Nineteen EES program core courses are at the syllabus-design phase.
    • Seven course developers are working on 18 of 19 courses.
    • Team meets weekly.
    • Developers collaborate on related courses and course sequences.
    • One developer still needed: Geodynamics/structures, or equivalent.
    • 5 EES courses to be taught starting September 2019.
    • 5 EES courses to be taught starting January 2020.
    • Students take electives at a different campus, Sept. 2019.
    • 9 EES courses to be taught starting January 2021.

Coming up:

  • Visits to and from Tajikistan & Kyrkyz Republic
    • UCA faculty and staff will likely visit UBC March 6, 7, 2018.
    • UBC course developers will likely visit UCA May ~14-31.
    • Prerequisite instructors will likely visit UBC, summer 2018.
    • Second UBC visit likely in Sept/Oct 2018.
    • New UCA faculty will likely visit UBC, summer 2019.
    • Third visit is possible for senior courses, summer 2019.
  • Opportunities
    • EOAS, Geog faculty will hopefully advise on courses, lessons, activities and assessments (See benefits to UBC faculty).
    • Faculty to be approached starting Feb. or Marc.
    • Potential for Geog, EOAS, IRES, EESG (ubc-o), others to collaborate with new UCA faculty on research with Central Asian context.
    • Student contributions (depending upon availability and funding): possibly 2 UBC worklearn summer students; possible opportunities for UCA students; volunteers (clubs?)
  • For more information or to ask about contributing or helping out, please contact project coordinator Francis Jones.

 

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