AUCA/ RESEARCH/ RESEARCH INSTITUTES/TEAMS/ Presidential Research and Education Fund

Presidential Research and Education Fund

PURPOSE, GOALS, AND OBJECTIVES OF THE FUND

Established in 2019, the Presidential Research and Education Fund (PREF) is a unique initiative to foster innovative research and educational activities at the American University of Central Asia (AUCA). The purpose of the PREF is to provide crucial support to faculty, students, and staff for a wide range of projects, including seed funding for new initiatives, multidisciplinary research collaborations, and student-led projects. The fund promotes academic and research excellence, innovation, and community engagement by providing resources for projects that align with the University’s strategic priorities, such as advancing interdisciplinary research, enhancing student learning outcomes, and addressing pressing social and environmental challenges in Central Asia. With a strong emphasis on encouraging creativity, the PREF is an essential resource for the AUCA community to bring new ideas to life and drive positive change in the country and region. 

 

AWARD DETAILS

Eligibility: 

The PREF eligibility criteria include full-time faculty, active students, and full-time staff members at AUCA. Current part-time faculty who involve students in their projects are also eligible to apply. Previous PREF awardees representing faculty, students, and staff can apply only after two full academic years. PREF awardees of earlier years who failed to submit a report on time are not eligible for further consideration and funding. 

Eligible costs:

The following is a comprehensive list of eligible costs under the PREF; however, the Selection Committee will consider exceptional requests for funding other research-related activities not covered in this list if a strong case is made in the application. 

  1. Acquisition of data and information, including technical support that costs no more than 1,000 USD;
  2. Conference attendance fee as a way of disseminating research results;
  3. Equipment purchase for a specialized research activity that costs no more than 1,000 USD;
  4. Hiring temporary research assistants among AUCA students and alumni;
  5. Hospitality expenses (coffee break, lunch, etc);
  6. Payment to AUCA faculty and staff members, including other payments and honorarium;
  7. Publication costs (translation, editing, open access publication costs, etc);
  8. Research-related services (e.g., translation) and communication;
  9. Student stipend;
  10. Travel for fieldwork, including archival works;
  11. Travel and accommodation costs for principal researchers and participants of the project in trips or meetings related to the project.

Non-eligible costs:

The following is a comprehensive list of non-eligible costs under the PREF:

  1. Costs of interviews or surveys involving participants;
  2. Costs of presents and gifts (e.g., certificates, coupons) involving participants;
  3. Overtime payment or bonuses;
  4. Undergraduate and graduate thesis projects.

 

APPLICATION FORMAT AND CRITERIA

Applications must be submitted according to the deadline announced by the Office of the President. Applications should be submitted using the application form (Annex 1) to pref@auca.kg and will be decided by the PREF Selection Committee. In exceptional cases, the Committee may request an external review of any application. The Selection Committee will review and evaluate the application within three weeks after the set deadlines. Priorities will be given to high-quality applicants participating in the call for the first time. 

Selection criteria: 

In assessing applications by faculty, students, and staff members, the PREF Selection Committee will give priority to: 

  1. First-time applicants applying for the fund;
  2. Research that involves AUCA undergraduate and graduate students;

As a general rule, research on the same project can only be funded once.

 

FUNDING, MANAGEMENT, AND BUDGET GUIDELINES

The project principal researcher is responsible for the logistics, administrative, and financial procedures. The principal investigator reports and consults with the Executive Officer of the President to resolve any questions arising before the application and during the project implementation period. If necessary, the funding for each project approved in the Fall semester can be disbursed by July 10th of each year.  Research on the same project can only be funded once. 

  1. AUCA faculty, students, or staff may apply for up to 3,000 USD per project, which includes taxes;
  2. The principal investigator of the project is responsible for disbursing the fund and managing relevant financial documentation in close coordination with the Executive Officer to the President;
  3. Funds must be spent according to the approved budget. For any significant changes in spending amongst budgetary  lines, the grant recipients must seek approval from the President’s Office;
  4. Funding is intended to be utilized over ten months (September/October - June/July) by the end of the academic year;
  5. All PREF awards will be made public on the AUCA website and disseminated via intra-email;
  6. Projects that require Institutional Review Board approval cannot start before the IRB has completed its evaluation and approval;
  7. If the project's activities, duration, or other characteristics change, the principal researcher must notify the Executive Officer to the President as soon as possible. 

 

RELEVANT PARTICIPANTS AND PROJECT GUIDELINES

Main actors:

1. Principal Researcher:

  • Decides on purchases;
  • Manages the scientific aspects of the project and is responsible for its implementation;
  • Prepares and submits the final narrative report;
  • Regularly consults with the PREF Manager on the project progress;
  • Selects services;
  • Selects team members and supervises the research team (if applicable);

2. PREF Manager (Executive Officer to the President)

  • Provides support and guidance to the Principal Researcher;
  • Manages funding at the institutional level (submitting requests, overseeing budget, etc.).

Reporting:

The principal researcher is responsible for submitting a narrative report on research activities and results, or expected results, on the relevant form (Annex 2), within one month of the project's completion and any papers accepted for publication therein. A financial report is unnecessary, as it can be retrieved from the notes of the Executive Officer to the President. Reports will be reviewed by the Executive Officer to the President and shared with the President. 

Topics:

We encourage researchers to consider the project’s social impact while designing their proposals. We are specifically interested in seed funding for new initiatives that may be scalable or potentially create a long-lasting impact through proof of concept, especially in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia. 

Among possible topics to be proposed, but certainly not limited, include:

  • Art, history, and culture of Central Asia and its neighboring countries;
  • Creativity and innovation in higher education;
  • Innovative solutions to combat climate change, including renewable energy technologies and sustainable infrastructure;
  • Technological change and its impact on mental and physical health;
  • The impact of AI on various aspects of business, such as marketing and financial analysis;
  • The effects of climate change on renewable energy resources;
  • The effect of language learning apps and online platforms on pedagogy;
  • The effect of social media on mental health among adolescents and young adults;
  • The increasing focus on interdisciplinary research that combines social science with data science;
  • The psychological and social impacts of climate change on individuals and communities;
  • The role of art in addressing social and environmental challenges;
  • Unique characteristics of nomadic peoples and cultures.

Project results may also be diverse, ranging from producing new high-tech goods to traditional and non-traditional art forms, documentaries and videos, and even more standard academic studies. See Annex 3 for other projects implemented since 2019. 

 

Below you can see how diverse the PREF projects were:

2019-2020 AY

  1. An order of polarizing microscope with transmitted and reflected illumination, Rustam Orozbaev
  2. Augmented reality as an educational tool for children with developmental delays, Vladislav Pak
  3. Beyond plain visualization: 3D modeling of historic buildings in Karakol, Aida Abdykanova, Jyldyz Bekbalaeva, Tolgonai Kozhokanova
  4. Data Art, Anastasiya Valeeva
  5. Digitization of the National Academic of Science herbarium with AUCA students, Amadeus DeKastle
  6. Media representation of Islam and Muslims in Kyrgyzstan, Mukaram Toktogulova, Elira Turdubaeva
  7. Online Kyrgyz language course for beginners, Uulkan Kambaralieva, Daniyar Karabaev
  8. Participation in the International Film Festival in Rotterdam, Anastasiya Lysogorova
  9. Startup Bootcamp, Bermet Talasbek kyzy, Begimay Abdraeva
  10. The casebook of the constitutional chamber of the Kyrgyz Republic: 15 major decisions as a promoting and internationalization of the rule of law and constitutionalism in Kyrgyzstan, Saniia Toktogazieva, Kanykei Kasybekova
  11. The foundation needed for AUCA to be competitive in attracting a large research grant that will help children on the autistic spectrum, Michael Brady
  12. The value of liberal arts education: AUCA alumni perspectives and curriculum design opportunities, Anguelina Popova, Jarkyn Shadymanova, Emil Begimkulov
  13. The voices of the Afghan students at AUCA, Tamo Chattopadhay, Zarlasht Sarmast

2020-2021 AY

  1. Accreditation of undergraduate programs at AUCA: lessons learned and way forward, Chynara Ryskulova, Anguelina Popova
  2. Blockchain technology in Kyrgyzstan, Saikal Anvar kyzy
  3. Climate change in Kyrgyzstan: short movie series project, Adina Sulumbekova, Kamila Kurbonmamadova
  4. Compilation and preparation of the publication of the collection AUCA Mathematical Olympiads for secondary school students, Sergey Sklyar, Syrgak Kydyraliev, Elena Burova
  5. Development of a Kyrgyz language textbook for students whose first language is English, Gulmira Duisheeva
  6. Documentary Interview Film "Immigration, Sense of Belonging and Envisioning the Future: unheard voices of people of Kyrgyzstan", Ruslan Rakhimov
  7. Forward - to the past. Satellite images of the Chui region from 1960 to the present day, Talgat Dzhumashev
  8. Implementation of international law by domestic courts of Kyrgyz Republic, Hannepes Taychayev
  9. Mapping of Issyk-Kul rock art: prevention and preservation, Aida Abdykanova
  10. On the Edge of Bishkek: Highlighting Ecological Problems Through Creative Writing and Visual Research, Mingoiim Nishonova
  11. Oral histories collection at AUCA, Jyldyz Bekbalaeva, Aijamal Sarybaeva
  12. Problems, progress and prospects of organic farming as a means of sustainable agriculture in Kyrgyzstan, Mairambek Nurgaziev
  13. Responsible mining at the top of the world: Balancing the protection of investors’ rights and advancement of sustainable development in the Kyrgyz Republic, Begaiym Esenkulova
  14. Role of gender and social media in Kyrgyzstani parliamentary elections October 2020, Olga Tarabashkina
  15. Singing the Song of the Land You Are in. Local dissemination of the findings of the AKYN project, James Plumtree
  16. Tengrian beliefs/practices in post-Soviet Kyrgyzstan, Mukaram Toktogulova, Baitur Toktosunov

2021-2022 AY

  1. A textbook on the German language for tourist purposes, Gulshayir Derbishalieva, Diana Arykbaeva
  2. Adaptation of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-V (WISC-V), Elena Kosterina, Olga Yarova
  3. Annual flagship activities for economics students of Bishkek universities by the AUCA Economics department, Dina Mamadjanova
  4. Dusty Data Project (digitalization of archived statistical data), Akylai Muktarbek kyzy
  5. Central Asian Nomad Youth @cany.kg, Erkebai Bakhavadinov
  6. Collaborative teaching materials website, Ilias Suvanov
  7. Continuation of the digitization of the National Academy of Science herbarium, Amadeus DeKastle
  8. Creation of GIS and remote sensing laboratory in AUCA, Zheenbek Kulenbekov
  9. How can we do more for refugee students, Nicholas Durham Andersen
  10. Hybrid education: its effectiveness and sustainability (the case of AUCA), Cholpon Chotaeva
  11. Inherent powers of courts in the Kyrgyz Republic, Hannapes Taychayev
  12. Integration of international innovative practices of Climate Fresk and Model COP for climate education and engagement in Kyrgyzstan, Samar Kanatov
  13. Measuring and mapping walkability in Bishkek, Otabek Nigmatov
  14. Promotion of sex education for teenagers through social media, Ramina Ergeshova, Albina Dastanova
  15. Student empowerment through the experience of “OVOP+1” local rural development projects, Aizada Tynyeva, Yumi Takahashi
  16. The emerald handbook of childhood and youth in Asian societies – generations between local and global dynamics, Elena Kim
  17. Справочник по культуре русской речи в вопросах и ответах, Svetlana Kunduzakova, Eleonora Karypkulova

2022-2023 AY

  1. Art has no gender, Gulnur Esenalieva, Viola Mustafina, Darya Gusmanova
  2. BusQuiz, Talant Asan uulu
  3. Carbon sequestration of the trees of the EcoPark in Bishkek, Zere Abisheva
  4. Challenges of environmental research with modular array cameras, Sagynbek Orunbaev
  5. DigitalHub (Digital literacy and cybersecurity), Erkebai Bakhavadinov
  6. Film Lab Camp, Daniyar Abdykerimov
  7. Green Kyrgyzstan, Kanykei Kochkambaeva
  8. Invisible traces, Nurzhamal Karamoldoeva
  9. Riverfront development: identifying potential locations for public spaces, Nurzhan Beken kyzy
  10. Satellite analysis of glaciers in Ala-Archa National Park, Zhamilia Baiborieva
  11. Security, conflict management and peacebuilding, Alisher Norov
  12. Student churn analysis and prediction: a case study at AUCA, Azamat Kibekbaev
  13. Teaching sustainability through the collaborative, collective creative building of the eco-house, Olga Tarabashkina
  14. True nomadism in the conditions of the urban world: Challenges and uniqueness of lives of chabans in Suusamyr Valley, Adina Sulumbekova, Aksana Shanaeva
  15. Unlocking the collection of early printed books, Jyldyz Bekbalaeva
  16. Дидактыкалык оюндар аркылуу кеп өстүрүү, Zaripa Samudinova

2023-2024 АY

  1. UrbanEyes, Fund U-Innovations
  2. "Манас" эпосуна тиешелүү изилдөөлөргө жаңыча илимий сереп, James Plumtree
  3. Revising the Place and Role of Kurmanjan Datka in the 19th Century's History of Kyrgyzstan, Cholpon Chotaeva
  4. Measuring of Integral Index of Social Distance among AUCA students in the Context of Interstate Conflicts of 2021-2022, Natalia Korosteleva
  5. Exploring the Benefits of Improvisation upon the Listening and Speaking Skills in English to Intermediate and Upper-intermediate EFL Pre-undergraduate Courses at AUCA, Oubab Msllam
  6. Centralized Educational Data Collection and Analysis System Development, Polina Dolmatova
  7. Study of Geographic Distribution of Smog in Chui, Rasul Matisakov
  8. Legal Clinic: Releasing videos to assist people on legal issues (IBL & TCMA students), Jannat Kovalchuk
  9. Liberalization of the Post-Soviet Education System: a Case Study from Kyrgyzstan, Saikal Anvar kyzy
  10. History of Settlement in the Chui Valley through Watercolors of Old Houses and Life Stories of their Owners, Emil Nasritdinov

2024-2025 АY

  1. Engaging AUCA students and eco activists in building a food forest for food security and climate change resilience, Anipa Almazbek kyzy
  2. Photo Caravan, Adilet Karzhoev
  3. Kadji-Sai Esimde: Bridging history with tomorrow, Artur Kim
  4. Launch Yourself: School of Social Entrepreneurship, Bakytbek Sagynaly
  5. SkyLarkEthno, Bermet Dadibaeva, Aizhana Imamalieva
  6. Developing new test questions and interactive animations for the Easy Kyrgyz Mobile app, Daniyar Karabaev
  7. Impact Hub, Eldar Aibekov
  8. Launching Impact StartUps Incubator, Elena Chigibaeva
  9. From homeland to ancestral land: Economic adaptation strategies of Afghan Kyrgyz after resettlement, Farhad Ehsani
  10. Integrating digital humanities tools and methods into the classroom, Kamilya Kadyrova
  11. Research on the impact of the "Basketball for All" project on socialization and motor skills of children with Autism, Maginur Dzhaparova
  12. Empowering female educators: a collaborative training program between Kabul and Herat, Mahnaz Nabizada
  13. Measuring integral indexes and identifying the system of values and existing norms among AUCA students in the context of interstate conflicts, Natalya Korosteleva
  14. How does climate change affect the agricultural yield in the Central Asian countries? Nurbek Madmarov
  15. UNET Youth Camp, Nurbolot Piridinov
  16. Integrated textbook of the Kyrgyz language and literature for higher education institution teachers, Uulkan Kambaralieva

HOW TO APPLY

The PREF Application Form is usually distributed once the call is announced (August - December) and includes some narrative and a budget, including personal information of applicants (faculty, staff, and students). If your project proposal is approved, you might be required to provide a more detailed budget. 

For detailed information, contact Umut Kydyrgychova, Executive Officer to the President, at kydyrgychova_u@auca.kg.