Goals

EISCAS is directed to teachers, students, and experts working on Central Asian Studies (CAS) both from and beyond the EU. In order to address the needs of these target groups and improve the quality of CAS in Europe, the project is in line with the following EU priorities for higher education:

1. Open education and innovative practices in a digital era
2. Developing skills – developing curricula relevant to the labor market and societal needs
3. Supporting the transfer of latest research outputs back into education

The objectives of the project range from creating didactic materials, recommendations and organizing events, and their common aim is to improve the quality of teaching Central Asian Studies (CAS) by offering a comprehensive set of innovative didactic tools in an Open Access manner as well with tips and guidelines on how to use them. EISCAS will work toward strengthening the global position of CAS education in the European Union. The project’s main objectives are listed below:

Open Access New Handbook

A multidisciplinary, state-of-the-art, European Handbook of Central Asian Studies, covering historical and contemporary issues of politics, security, economics, culture, society and other aspects of CAS in a comprehensive way

Free Online lectures

A series of supporting online video-recorded lectures presenting handbook topics in an accessible way for learners and teachers. These can serve as e-learning materials for the handbook. – See other materials

Teaching Guidelines

A user-guide on how to implement innovative teaching techniques and assessment methods in Central Asian Studies, which were tailor-made for teachers planning to use the handbook and other didactic materials. For students and other end-users there will be specific guidelines and tips for self-study. – See other materials

Curriculum Design

Another goal of EISCAS is to make recommendations for institutions that teach CAS to improve existing CAS curricula in higher education by altering or complementing course offers and making the content more relevant to the contemporary labor market. – See other materials

Career Advice for students

The EISCAS project will track the trajectories of previous generations of CAS alumni in Europe and compare their experiences with the contemporary labor market in order to make some sound recommendations to future generations of CAS students. The aims are to prepare students better by providing them with valuable insights they should keep in mind when choosing or studying CAS, and present them multiple professional pathways that lie in front of them after they graduate. – See other materials

The EISCAS Project stimulates networking, the exchange of expertise and best practices among partners and with third parties in CAS. And there is no better way of integrating our efforts at strengthening CAS in Europe than linking up with WIKISTAN.

Central Asian Master Classes

EISCAS will organize two intensive study programs (2019 & 2020) in Poznan, Poland, directed at students from European consortium members. Each Master Class encompasses a 10-day, specialized program aimed at improving the academic and professional skills of MA and PhD CAS-related students from partners – during the ISPs students will participate in classes on CAS, but also trainings on soft/generic skills (academic writing, planning a career in/outside academia in EU-CA cooperation context, organization techniques, academic fundraising), as well as individual consultations with leading CAS scholars on their MA and PhD dissertation research. The learning program of the ISPs will count for 2 ECTS.

Teacher Trainings Events

EISCAS focuses to improve the teaching skills of CAS educators – during training events and workshops, educators from partners will be trained by education experts in innovative didactic techniques. During the dissemination phase, these educators will pass on these skills to other teachers of CAS from partner institutions and beyond the consortium. The following events offer seminars and workshops for teachers of CAS:

• Seminar on teaching CAS in Bishkek – Spring 2020
• “The Future of EU-CA relations” International conference in Ghent – March 2021
• Workshop for teachers of CAS in Paris – April 2021
• Webinar on teaching techniques for Area Studies – June 2021.

International Conferences

The EISCAS project organizes two main international events for scholars of CAS to meet and discuss the evolution and future of CAS in an interdisciplinary setting. Scholars and experts are invited to present papers, in various disciplines. There will be various roundtables to share and discuss the insights from the CAS scholarly community on a various range of topics. During these events the EISCAS project will present its project outcomes such as the handbook, other materials, recommendations for curriculum design as well as guidelines for teachers of CAS. Please check out the following upcoming events:

• Seminar on teaching CAS in Bishkek – Spring 2020
• “The Future of EU-CA relations” International conference in Ghent – March 2021

EISCAS has the following milestones to be reached by the end of the project:

• Ca. 80 other EU higher education institutions with CAS programs will get Open Access to the project’s intellectual outputs
• Ca. 1200 students who study CAS and related fields at non-partner universities will use the project’s comprehensive teaching materials: handbook and recorded lectures
• Ca. 800 CAS educators/researchers & curriculum designers and other stakeholders specializing in CA issues will get the benefits of the project’s digital platform and 400 will join the “Central Asian Studies European Network (CASEN)” to exchange information, knowledge and increase their networks. (5000 hits expected at the platform.)
• Ca. 150 professionals wanting to increase their careers in jobs related to cooperation with CA countries will get Open Access to the project materials.
• Ca. 80 stakeholders: policy-makers, research institutions, international organizations, NGOs, business centers, newsrooms, media, etc. employing experts, professionals and practitioners in the fields connected with CA-EU cooperation, will benefit from direct dissemination activities.