Brief profile of the region

Central Asia is becoming increasingly important in geopolitical, economic and scientific terms. The region is at the center of global transformation processes and is developing dynamically in key future fields such as education, science, innovation and sustainable development. For the University Alliance Ruhr (UA Ruhr), Central Asia is therefore a strategically important partner region for the expansion of international university and research cooperation.

In many Central Asian countries, the higher education and research sector is currently experiencing a strong upswing. Reform processes, internationalization and the targeted expansion of academic structures are opening up a wide range of cooperation potential for German universities - both in research and in teaching and learning. The region offers attractive starting points for long-term, institutionally anchored partnerships.

Kazakhstan is playing an increasingly central role within the region and has developed into an important strategic partner for German universities. At the same time, Uzbekistan is continuously gaining in importance, particularly due to comprehensive reforms in the higher education sector and a rapidly growing interest in international cooperation. The UA Ruhr is systematically expanding its cooperation with both countries.

With the opening of the new DAAD regional office for Central Asia in Bishkek, the region is receiving additional impetus for cooperation with German universities. Central Asia is of growing importance for German universities - not only in the area of academic and research cooperation, but also in the context of economic networking, knowledge transfer and the recruitment of students and young academics.

The UA Ruhr sees its activities in Central Asia as a contribution to the sustainable development of effective scientific relations. The aim is to shape future-oriented cooperation with regional partners and to strengthen international exchange between Germany and Central Asia in the long term.