Seneca College congratulates its academic partner the University of Central Asia on the launch of its inaugural campus in Naryn, Kyrgyz Republic

TORONTO, Oct, 19, 2016 /CNW/ - Canada's Seneca College congratulates the University of Central Asia (UCA) on the inauguration of its first undergraduate campus in Naryn, Kyrgyz Republic.

"We are delighted to offer our congratulations on this important occasion to the University of Central Asia. We are proud that Seneca was selected, among other institutions around the world, to help develop curriculum for the university's preparatory year. We look forward to our continued work together to provide world class education and foster a global perspective in students." Seneca President David Agnew said.

The Kyrgyz Prime Minister Sooronbay Jeenbekov and His Highness the Aga Khan inaugurated the Naryn campus on Wednesday, October 19.

The campus opened its doors to the first cohort of undergraduates this September. The 71 undergraduates include talented students from the University's founding countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

In 2015, the Toronto-based Seneca signed a memorandum of understanding with UCA to develop the English, mathematics and science curriculum for UCA's Preparatory Program.

Under the agreement, Seneca developed an enrichment program to ensure that UCA students attain internationally competitive levels in English, math and science and develop key study and research skills necessary to succeed at the university level. The curriculum was modelled after Seneca's Liberal Arts university transfer programs.

Seneca also designed and delivered a professional development program for UCA faculty, including training held in Central Asia and Canada, and will provide in-class assessments, longer-term online resources and video conferencing support.

The partnership between UCA and Seneca is made possible by the financial support of Global Affairs Canada and the Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC).

Seneca is currently working with the Aga Khan Development Network on a skills-development project in Egypt and recently completed a Youth Employability and Leadership project in Pakistan. Seneca also recently hosted Together: An Exhibition on Global Development, an innovative, interactive and multi-sensory experience with photography, film and audio designed to spark conversations about the role Canadians can play in reducing global poverty.

About Seneca College
One of Canada's leading postsecondary institutions, Seneca offers a comprehensive range of programs across all disciplines to nearly 100,000 full- and part-time students in campuses across the Greater Toronto Area. Seneca's graduate certificates, degrees, diplomas and certificates attract more than 5,000 students from 120 countries around the world and students from across Canada. With an emphasis on work-integrated learning, interdisciplinary study and flexible learning opportunities, Seneca is the pre-eminent institution in Ontario, Canada for transfer options to and from universities and colleges. For more information on Seneca, please visit: www.senecacollege.ca.

About The University of Central Asia
The University of Central Asia (UCA) was founded in 2000. The Presidents of Tajikistan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Kazakhstan and His Highness the Aga Khan signed the International Treaty and Charter establishing this secular and private University, which was ratified by the respective parliaments and registered with the United Nations. UCA was established to offer an internationally recognized standard of higher education in Central Asia and prepare graduates to contribute leadership, ideas and innovation to the economies and communities of the region. UCA brings with it the commitment and partnership of the Aga Khan Development Network. For more information on UCA, please visit: www.ucentralasia.org.

SOURCE Seneca College

Emily Milic, Media Relations Specialist, Seneca College, [phone], [email protected]; Nisar Keshvani, Head of Communications and Marketing, University of Central Asia, [phone], [email protected]