EMSD AT KUMTOR AND NABU CENTER

October 27, 2014

For students like Nurzhan Chunueva (Environmental Management for Sustainable Development '18), the chance to get hands-on experience from professionals in the field is one of the most important aspects of her degree program at AUCA. Speaking about two recent site visits organized for students of the Environmental Management for Sustainable Development program, to the Kumtor Gold Mine and the NABU Wild Animal Rehabilitation Center, Nurzhan opined:

"Both were great because they were a practical chance to see these things with our own eyes. It makes me want to study harder - I was able to ask questions about environmental management and sustainable development and to see professionals at work. Whenever I see specialists I want to reach that level and become a professional too.

Seeing snow leopards was a reminder that we should not disturb existing ecosystems and should pursue people who hunt and sell these animals. I knew this theoretically before, but seeing it in practice here was much more useful to help understand all the details.

Both trips were also a good platform for networking. I got acquainted with different ecological organizations that are useful for my own development and career."

Partnerships with organizations such as Kumtor and UNDP as well as a faculty composed of award-winning researchers ensure that students in the program have access to some of the top minds in Central Asia in the field of Environmental Management. Launched in 2013, the program continues to grow in terms of both the number of students enrolled and in the opportunities for field experience available to those students.

At both Kumtor and the NABU Center, these students were able to interact directly with staff that work primarily in the fields of environmental management and conservation. Ben Ferris, Environment Director at Kumtor, prepared a brief presentation for AUCA's students before leading them on a several hour tour through the mining and milling facilities on-site as well as a look at the environmental impacts of mining and what standards Kumtor adheres to in order to mitigate their impact on that environment.

"Kumtor was beautiful - I saw glaciers for the first time in my life. I had a conversation with Ben Ferris about the need to support the people and environment in the area. If people are educated, they'll understand how to use these resources in a positive way. Things like snow leopards, for example, need this type of education so that people know how important they are to the economy and environment. "

- Lazizjon Abdulazizov (EM for SD '17)

Experiences like these play a vital role in the education of the next generation of Environmental Management professionals in Kyrgyzstan, giving students not only a practical understanding of how their classroom studies apply to the real world but also the broader impact that such considerations have on local communities and environments. An understanding of such environmental challenges and their impact on Central Asia is necessary for the future of this region and in consideration of the long-term consequences these issues pose for the world at large.

To learn more about Environmental Management for Sustainable Development at American University of Central Asia, see the article on their program in the Fall 2014 issue of AUCA Magazine.

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