Effects of the Russia-Ukraine Conflict on the Internationalization of Higher Education in Kyrgyzstan

Authors

  • Martha Merrill Kent State University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/jcihe.v16i3.6583

Keywords:

Kyrgyzstan, internationalization of higher education, Russia, Ukraine war, transnational education

Abstract

The war in Ukraine has affected the internationalization of higher education in Kyrgyzstan in a number of ways, some unique to Kyrgyzstan and some paralleling effects in other countries. This reflective essay, drawing on four theoretical frameworks, with a focus on examining the actors involved, and informed by personal communications and participant observations, suggests that further research is needed on a number of Kyrgyzstan-specific topics. Moreover, the presence in Kyrgyzstan’s capital of two internationalized universities with connections to opposing side in the conflict – the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University and the American University in Central Asia – puts forth the notion that post-World War II assumptions about internationalization contributing to mutual understanding were developed in specific contexts. The complexity of the forms internationalization takes now implies that the comparative and international education field might benefit from some broader rethinking about the rationales for and effects of internationalization. 

Украинадагы согуш Кыргызстандагы жогорку билим берүүнүн интернационалдашуусуна ар түрдүү

таасирин тийгизди. Алардын айрымдары Кыргызстанга гана таандык болсо, кээ бири башка

өлкөлөр менен бирдей мүнөзгө ээ. Бул реффлективдүү баян катышуучу тараптарды изилдөөгө

басым жасап, о.э. жеке пикир алышуу жана жеке катышып байкоо жүргүзүү ыкмалары аркылуу

маалымат алуу менен төрт теориялык негизге таянып жазылган. Ал Кыргызстанга тиешелүү бир

катар темалар боюнча мындан аркы изилдөөлөр зарыл экенин көрсөтөт. Мындан тышкары,

Кыргызстандын борборунда карама-каршы тараптар менен байланышы бар эки эл аралык

университеттин – Кыргыз-Орус Славян университетинин жана Борбордук Азиядагы Америка

университетинин болушу согуштан кийин өз ара түшүнүүчүлүккө өбөлгө боло турган

интернационалдашуу жөнүндөгү божомолдор конкреттүү контексттерде өрчүйт деген ойду жарат.

Интернационалдашуунун бүгүнкү күндөгү түрүнүн татаалдыгы интернационалдашуунун себептери

менен натыйжаларын кайра кенен карап чыгуу салыштырма жана эл аралык билим берүү тармагы

үчүн пайдалуу боло турганын билдирет.

 

Война в Украине повлияла на интернационализацию высшего образования в Кыргызстане по-

разному, некоторые из них уникальны для Кыргызстана, а некоторые имеют параллельные

последствия в других странах. Это рефлексивное эссе, опирающееся на четырех теоретических

основах, с акцентом на изучении участвующих сторон, а также на личном общении и наблюдений

участников, предполагает, что необходимы дальнейшие исследования по ряду тем,

специфических для Кыргызстана. Более того, наличие в столице Кыргызстана двух

интернационализированных университетов, имеющих связи с противоборствующей стороной

конфликта – Кыргызско-Российского Славянского университета и Американского университета в

Центральной Азии – выдвигает идею о том, что послевоенные предположения об

интернационализации, способствующие взаимопониманию будет развиваться в конкретных

контекстах. Сложность форм, которые принимает сегодня интернационализация, подразумевает,

что сфера сравнительного и международного образования могла бы выиграть от более широкого

переосмысления причин и последствий интернационализации.

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2024-08-02

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16(3)2024 Special Issue - Guest Editor: Aliya Kuzhabekova

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Effects of the Russia-Ukraine Conflict on the Internationalization of Higher Education in Kyrgyzstan. (2024). Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education, 16(3), 106-118. https://doi.org/10.32674/jcihe.v16i3.6583