Aga
Khan Humanities Project
AKHP
University Course
AKHP
has developed a broad interdisciplinary humanities curriculum
for undergraduate students. The AKHP university course
encompasses literature, philosophy, history, the social
sciences, music, architecture, drama, poetry, folklore,
and the natural sciences.
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A seminar on research methods
for students |
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AKHP University Course
From 1998 to 2003, Central Asian scholars and instructors
collected and developed materials for an
interdisciplinary university-level humanities curriculum.
Materials were piloted in classes at AKHP partner
centres in nine state universities in Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, and were reviewed by an
international team of scholars. Over 50 university
instructors participated in a multi-year faculty development
process, providing training and support to enable
them to present this material in the classroom in
an active, student-centred fashion. The materials
are in the process of final editing in 2004, resulting
in the following eight semester-long courses:
·
Introduction to Humanities
·
The
Individual and Society
·
Tradition and Change
·
Art
and Experience
·
Cultural Dynamics
·
Negotiating Human Nature
·
Seeking
Social Justice
·
Identifying Civil Society
Courses
utilise a variety of pedagogical approaches within
the humanities, seeking to develop an appreciation
of different styles of learning as well as the complexity
of cultural traditions amongst students. The courses,
available in English and Russian, are intended to
serve as a basis for the preparatory programmes
for the three campuses of the University
of Central Asia (UCA). As part of UCA’s
faculty development and community outreach programmes,
the materials will reach students and instructors
throughout the entire Central Asian region.
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Ways of Learning
AKHP explores and encourages
different teaching and learning methods. These include:
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Active discussion
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Expressing insight
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Role-play
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Debates
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Individual work (reading,
background study etc)
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Group work (applied
research, projects etc)
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Texts and case studies
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Community outreach
Humanities
in English
The
AKHP Humanities in English
programme was launched in 2003 and is designed
to
improve university students, recent graduates
and teachers' skills in English, with particular emphasis
on their skills in reading and writing for academic work.
The programme also prepares students and recent graduates
for applying to programmes of further study in Central
Asia, Europe and North America. This is being done through
a combination of classes in academic reading and writing,
weekly seminars in the humanities taught by western university
instructors with the Civic Education Project, workshops
on different opportunities for foreign academic exchanges
and the preparation of a good application or project proposal.
Academic Reading and Writing
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AKHP Humanities in English students taking end
of
semester
test.
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English language academic work follows very different
rules than those of Russian language academic work.
The ability to use English language academic materials
makes available many new materials and provides new
opportunities. This part of the programme, taught by
western instructors, Muskie alumni and local teachers
familiarises students and recent graduates with the
rules of such work and the skills required. At the same
time, it also helps students, recent graduates and teachers
improve their English abilities so they will be ready
to participate in foreign exchanges, or to use English
materials in their own work.
Academic Courses
In
addition to classes focusing on reading and writing,
students and teachers study two full-semester weekly
academic courses taught in English. The classes
offered in 2003-04 are 'Western Perceptions of Central
Asia' and ' Science and the Humanities'. These classes
give participants the opportunity to practice the
skills they develop in the academic reading and
writing classes, whilst offering first-hand exposure
to western-style academic materials and standards.
Workshops
As
well as the classes and seminars, a variety
of workshops are offered by alumni of foreign
exchange programmes on themes such as writing
a statement of purpose, publishing articles
in English, the interview process, preparing
project proposals and others.
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Contact
Information
Jyldyz
Doolbekova, University Projects Officer
Aga Khan Humanities Project
75 Tolstoy Street
Dushanbe 734000
Tajikistan
Email: doolbekova@akhp.org
Tel.: (992 372) 245297/245823
Fax: (992 372) 510128
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