Agenda

The Central Asia Universities Forum (CAUF), with the support of international organizations such as the World Bank, UNESCO, ISESCO, UNICEF, the British Council, and Times Higher Education, serves as the platform to exchange innovative and transformative ideas that are aimed to shape the future of education across Central Asia.

The event will take place on October 16, 2024 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

The opening ceremony and plenary session will bring together internationally reputed academic leaders, researchers, policymakers and other distinguished figures and other notable members of the education community from across Central Asia and the world. CAUF participants will reflect on the achievements in developing education in Central Asia and outline the future plans and initiatives to continue advancing the field.

Apart from the main event we also have prepared pre-forum and post-forum activities to expand the scope of the topics and provide delegates an opportunity to learn local history and culture.

Pre-Forum Activities:

During October 12-15, 2024, the Central Asia's Spiritual and Intellectual Renaissance lecture series will feature talks by distinguished speakers, including Nobel laureates. This series of talks will provide an unique opportunity for students, academics, and education professionals of the Central Asian region to learn the latest trends in science.

Post-Forum Activities:

On October 17, 2024, the Forum journey will culminate in a one day-tour of Tashkent's 'Educational and Cultural Heritage' exploration. This city tour will provide Forum delegates with an opportunity to learn more about the rich cultural and historical heritage of the city. Participants will explore bazaars, peaceful squares, and historical landmarks. The tour will highlight the city's evolution over the centuries, showcasing to visitors its potential as one of the major tourist destinations in Central Asia. Through this exploration, delegates will appreciate Tashkent's unique position as a city with a unique blend of ancient traditions and modern developments, all within an atmosphere of warm local hospitality.

We invite you to take in this extraordinary opportunity for growth, reflection, and collaboration.

Separate registration for each event ensures a tailored experience, allowing every participant to engage fully with the aspects most relevant to them. The comprehensive schedules for all Forum events can be found on the following pages.

Join us at CAUF as we embark on a journey of discovery, honoring our past and forging a future filled with innovation, partnership, and academic excellence.

Central Asia's Spiritual and Intellectual Renaissance lecture series

Luciano Rezzolla is a leading astrophysicist and theorist. He holds the Chair of Theoretical Astrophysics at Goethe University in Frankfurt. His research focuses on advancing our understanding of black holes, neutron stars, and other extraordinary astrophysical phenomena. Rezzolla was also part of the Event Horizon Telescope project, which produced the first-ever image of a black hole. He has authored numerous scientific papers published in top journals and the book "Relativistic Hydrodynamics," a key textbook for students and researchers. Rezzolla frequently speaks at international conferences, sharing his expertise with colleagues and the public.

His achievements and contributions to science have been widely recognized, as evidenced by his membership in various scientific societies and numerous international awards. Luciano Rezzolla is not only a distinguished scientist but also an inspiring fiaure in humanity's quest to understand the mysteries of the universe.

Jean Tirole is one of the most respected economists of our time. He was born on August 9, 1953, in the French city of Troyes. He received an engineering education at the École Polytechnique and the École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, and later earned a Ph.D. in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Tirole has made significant contributions to industrial organization theory, studying monopolies, market power, and regulation. His work has helped to understand how companies can manipulate market conditions and what measures are necessary to protect consumer interests. This has become especially important in the age of globalization and the digital economy, where issues of competition are more relevant than ever.

Known for his research in contract theory and incentives, Tirole demonstrated how information asymmetry and incentives influence decision-making in both business and government. These studies have found wide application, from corporate strategies to public policy formulation.

In 2014, Jean Tirole was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics for his analysis of market power and regulation. His research has helped governments and international organizations develop more effective economic strategies.

Jean Tirole continues to inspire a new generation of economists, teaching students and young researchers. His work remains relevant and helps shape economic policy, improving the lives of people around the world.

Eric L. Grimson is a distinguished leader at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he serves as the Vice President for Open Learning, Chancellor for Academic Advancement, Professor of Computer Science, Professor of Medical Engineering.

In his role as Chancellor for Academic Advancement, he acts as a central advisor to the MIT president, playing a significant role in shaping the Institute’s fundraising campaigns.

As Vice President for Open Learning, Professor Grimson oversees MIT’s digital education initiatives, reinforcing MIT’s global reputation for educational innovation.

Having joined the MIT faculty in 1984, he has held prominent positions, including Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Chancellor of MIT.

In addition to his leadership roles, Professor Grimson is renowned for his aroundbreaking research in computer vision and medical image analysis. He has profoundly impacted education at MIT, teaching introductory computer programming courses, including a popular online MITx course. Throughout his career, he has taught approximately 20,000 MIT undergraduates and supervised nearly 50 MIT Ph.D. students.

We are honored to have Professor Eric Grimson at the Central Asia Universities Forum in Tashkent this October. We are delighted to feature his open lecture on how MIT is embedding AI and Machine Learning throughout its curriculum, addressing the transformative implications for faculty hiring and promotions. His insights promise to offer invaluable perspectives on integrating cutting-edge technologies into educationgl frameworks and advancing academic institutions’ roles in technological innovation.

AGENDA