The American University of Central Asia (AUCA) and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB) with support of the UMB-AUCA Project of Norwegian Centre for International Cooperation in Education (SIU) are happy to announce our Sustainable Development Conference to be held at AUCA on 12 February 2014.

Central Asia has its own share of environmental assets and problems, and has to work out appropriate sustainable development strategies that suit its social and economic circumstances. To this end the region has to educate impassioned leaders who are well acquainted with sustainability principles and who have the skills to steer their organisations and society onto a more sustainable pathway. At the same time, research and practice may provide input for future policies and improved educational case studies. AUCA has started investing in these and wishes to increase exchange and cooperation with others both in academics and beyond.

The conference focus will be on progress to integrate sustainable development thinking in the educational process, research and service to society (such as extension programmes). Our target group is fellow academic teachers, researchers and SD professionals. We wish to raise awareness of AUCA’s sustainability initiatives, but also to renew participants’ inspiration to cooperate in SD research and teaching, both in and out of AUCA. Thus, we will be glad if new education and research links could be established as a result.

Preliminary programme

PLENARY

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS

1. Corporate Social & Environmental Responsibility in Developing Country Context – the potential for business leadership toward sustainability

2. Energy Efficiency and Renewables – benefits, barriers to introduction, and ways to speed up the process

3. Sustainable Rural Development –all forms of development outside cities, including biodiversity, land/topsoil, forest and lakes, as well as ways to simultaneously promote economic empowerment, social inclusion, and environmental resource protection.

PLENARY

Participation: send an e-mail to assist_econ@mail.auca.kg or call (0312) 663501.