UN Resident Coordinator and Manas University Dean discuss university community’s role in achieving SDGs in Kyrgyzstan

On November 24, 2021, UN Resident Coordinator Ozonnia Ojielo hosted a meeting with the Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University, represented by Prof. Dr. Serhat Burgmaoglu, Dean, Advisor to the Rector and Dr. Azamat Maksudunov, Technology Transfer Office Coordinator. The delegation expressed university’s plan to integrate the Sustainable Development Goals into its teaching, research and operations. Prof. Burgmaoglu briefed on several initiatives for students and staff to increase awareness on the SDGs and to elaborate innovative solutions to some of the development challenges, notably around SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). The overall goal of these initiatives is to help the university community translate sustainable development in Kyrgyzstan from goals to action. The UN RC emphasized the importance of research and its application to development challenges in the country, as well as the importance for multi-stakeholder cooperation between academia, government, private sectors and international organisations. The parties agreed to continue cooperation in the future by bringing together the UN’s and the University’s expertise on the most pressing national development challenges for the socioeconomic development of the country.