Ian Gorog: "I try to stimulate my students' minds"

December 14, 2015

Ian Gorog is a European Studies Professor at AUCA. This year he is teaching The concept of European Sustainable Development, Social Europe, European Union Law and Human Rights (a course co-taught with Nicholas Mazik), Political Communication, and New Mass Media. Ian has told us about himself, and what inspired him to become a professor.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

My name is Ian. I come from France, more precisely Paris where I grew up. I have a very special academic background with a Bachelor degree in Mathematics applied to Social Sciences, and two different Master’s degree in Information and Communication Sciences and Political and Social Sciences Before living in Bishkek, I have lived in different European cities such as Madrid (Spain), Rome (Italy), or Brussels (Belgium). I had the chance to travel a lot in Europe and also abroad in Latin America (mostly Brazil) or in the Middle East (Israel, Cisjordania, Jordan, and Sinai).

 

Tell us a little bit about what research you are working on right now.

As a full-time faculty, I must say that it is not easy to have proper time for research. Hopefully, the ES Department gave me the opportunity to elaborate a new course for spring semester named “The concept of European sustainable development. The concept of “sustainable development” is multifaceted, complex and multi-dimensional. Indeed, “sustainable development” aims to integrate environmental, social and economic objectives. There is no single academic discipline that definitively addresses its problems or solutions. This new course should first try to introduce and discuss the concept of sustainable development. And secondly, it would attempt to study topical issues of the European Union’s and European countries/cities’ environmental discourses and policy practices.

 

What inspired you to become a professor in your discipline?

I have always been interested in European issues and I have always had a desire to participate in international activities. By combining these passions, working today for the innovative European Studies Department, which is unique in Central Asia, give me the opportunity to operate in a fantastic environment and make progress in my career plans.

 

What do you try to bring to your class every day?

I try to bring one of the AUCA values that is near and dear to my heart: developing critical thinking. I try to stimulate our students' minds. As I see it, it is the greatest thing a student can develop. The ability to think critically about things, to try to find the reasons behind, the interests of the different actors, understand all of the possible paths of action and only then determine which of these could make the most sense to us.

 

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

When you are able to realize that the message you wanted to transmit is considered and challenged, even for only one student, it is absolutely fantastic.

 

What has been the most surprising part of Bishkek/Kyrgyzstan for you?

Kyrgyzstan lies on intersection of so many cultures, influences, opposed interests. So many things are interesting for a European eye. But probably, one of the most surprising things is the abilities of the marshrutka drivers. They drive dangerously in a complex environment (I experienced myself how difficult to drive here), count the number of passengers, cash, speak on phone, and even sometimes smoke.

 

How did you initially hear about your current job?

When I graduated from Science Po Strasbourg, one of my classmates was an excellent AUCA alumni from the ES Department. That was my first connection with Kyrgyzstan and at the same time with AUCA. I was very surprised that such a Department could exist in an American University of Central Asia. It was absolutely amazing for me and also very attractive.

 

What are you plans for the next few years?

I am young with dreams and strong ambitions. I have several ideas for the future, working for the European Institutions such as the European External Action Service, or the French Diplomacy within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development, working for a political organization in which I believe are certainly projects I would like to do.

Also, I am still very interested in Journalism, and I must admit becoming an international reporter has always been one of my dreams.

However, I might change my mind. The teaching profession is also probably one of the best jobs in the world…

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