Sakhi Ataye: "OSUN provides students an opportunity to explore new horizons, develop and practice their leadership skills"

November 11, 2022

Sakhi Ataye, a student of MBA program at AUCA and MS in Environmental Policy at Bard College will be working as a Global Media Fellow of OSUN for AUCA. The Global Media Fellows work on building networks, raising awareness of OSUN opportunities and programs, and highlighting student and local engagement stories across OSUN campuses.

- Dear Sakhi, we are pleased to introduce you to our students. Can you tell us what is OSUN?

- The Open Society University Network (OSUN) is a global network of educational institutions that integrates learning and the advancement of knowledge—in the social sciences, the humanities, the sciences and the arts, on undergraduate and graduate levels—across geographic and demographic boundaries, promotes civic engagement on behalf of open societies, and expands access to higher education for underserved communities.

- What opportunities does OSUN open to AUCA students? What are the benefits of OSUN?

- OSUN provides countless opportunities for students, alumni, faculty, and staff with different themes including not but limited to educational, leadership, capacity building, and civic engagement. The opportunities vary from monthly capacity building workshops to occasional events, information sessions, conferences, short-term courses, educational and degree programs, and many more. Students from across all OSUN campuses can actively take part in attending and organizing the events. In addition, OSUN has Global Engagement Fellows who assist and encourage students in engaging and using OSUN related activities.

Being a member university of OSUN is a blessing for not only students but also faculty and staff. OSUN provides students with opportunities to learn and build capacities, develop and practice leadership skills, and engage with their communities through solving civic and social problems. In addition, students and staff can benefit from exchange programs, graduate programs, grants, awards, conferences, workshops and many more engagement and development platforms.

- Are there students from AUCA who have already visited another country on an exchange?

- A major focus of OSUN is to create exchange platforms for students in order to engage with universities and spaces outside their home countries and universities. Each semester many AUCA students go abroad as part of their exchange programs. Students from many departments are currently on their exchange programs and all other AUCA students have the chance to be the next exchange program student who goes abroad!

- Where and how can a student find out about events, programs, and activities? Can a student come up with additional questions about programs? What time and where can we find you?

- I will be working as a point of contact for all AUCA students. I will be available all the time to help students, faculty, and staff benefit from OSUN opportunities. Also, I will be available at AUCA campus every Thursday from 13 to 16 at Coffemania,4th floor to talk with students as part of my office hours. Students can reach me out through contacts to talk any time other than that time too.

OSUN opportunities are being accessible through below means:
• All OSUN opportunities and events are available here on the OSUN Website: https://opensocietyuniversitynetwork.org/newsroom
• At the beginning of each month, students, faculty and staff receive an email from Office VP for Academic Affairs containing details and links of all opportunities, events, programs, and grants.
• From now on, students will also be able to see OSUN opportunities through AUCA Social Media pages including Instagram through posts and stories.
• Students can reach out to me for information about OSUN opportunities anytime by any means:
• Email: ataye_g@auca.kg
• Phone and WhatsApp: +(996) 995 777 047

In addition to sharing opportunities, I work on getting stories of students’ lead projects, activities, and clubs, and highlight them through OSUN communication channels. We will create videos, design posters, and share pictures of such activities. Students only need to reach out to me and express their interest. I will help with developing stories, taking pictures, and making videos.

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