On April 17, 2025, a seminar titled “Leadership and Academic Freedom in University Governance” took place at Kyrgyz State Technical University named after I. Razzakov. The event’s keynote speaker was Director of World Bank projects at the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic, national expert on higher education reform, and manager of the “Quality and Innovation in Higher Education” project.
The seminar focused on the contemporary challenges faced by universities in the context of a rapidly changing educational and social environment. It was emphasized that effective university development requires a strategic vision built on three key principles: autonomy, leadership, and academic freedom.
🔹 Leadership is the ability to shape and communicate a strategic vision, make managerial decisions, and inspire the academic community toward development.
🔹 Academic freedom is the foundation of scientific inquiry, freedom of teaching, and personal responsibility for both teachers and students.
🔹 Autonomy is an essential tool for enabling universities to adapt flexibly and promptly to the needs of society and the labor market.
The seminar was attended by representatives of various universities across Kyrgyzstan, including administrators, faculty members, and researchers. It served as an important platform for experience sharing, reform discussions, and the development of new approaches to higher education governance.
