Science Laboratory opened at the American University in Central Asia with the support of Kumtor Gold Company

published: 07 June 2016

The opening of the laboratory for students of two faculties, Environmental Management and Sustainable Development and Applied Geology, took place at the American University in Central Asia (AUCA) on June 3, 2016.The laboratory will open the doors to the new students already in the next semester. The overall contribution of Kumtor to the campus construction and equipping the science laboratory was about $300,000.

Future geologists and experts in sustainable development management will be able to carry out laboratory works on ecochemistry and geochemistry, and make experiments required for their research papers. The laboratory is equipped with modern facilities, including various geophysical devices, so that the students of the new faculty could apply their knowledge in practice, without leaving the university.

“Investment into the youth and education is one of the best investments into the social and economic development of any country. For Kumtor, this direction is one of the priority areas in the implementation of its sustainable development programs. I hope that the new Faculty of Geology will be in great demand in Kyrgyzstan, since our economy depends on the mining industry and the market is badly lacking mining professionals,” Kumtor Gold Company’s Sustainable Development Director Aktilek Tungatarov said.

Head of the Faculty of Environmental Management and Sustainable Development, hydrogeologist Jeenbek Kulenbekov, emphasizes that AUCA teaches its courses in English, which gives graduates a competitive advantage. “It is no secret that many foreign companies, dealing with the development of mineral resources in our country, outsource foreign specialists. Now we have an opportunity to train specialists for the mining industry, who will be fluent not only in Russian and Kyrgyz, but also in English, recognized as an important international language,” J. Kulenbekov said.