From Idea to UN Resolution: How IUK is Creating the Global Mountain University

Kyrgyzstan is positioning itself as a hub for a new Global Mountain University, an international educational and scientific center designed to unite universities, research institutions, and experts from various countries. The International University of Kyrgyzstan (IUK) is a primary initiator of this project, which has now gained international traction.

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All this began back in 2002 when the first Bishkek Global Mountain Summit was held in Kyrgyzstan, and this year the UN General Assembly declared the International Year of Mountains.

The university concept has received backing from several UN bodies, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Partnership for Mountain Research, and academic institutions worldwide. Plans include developing master's and doctoral programs focused on sustainable mountain development, green energy, food security, and peacebuilding in mountainous regions. IUK is also actively pursuing international partnerships, including collaborations with the UN University and the UN Peace University.

Asylbek Aidaraliev, founder of IUK and an academic at the National Academy of Sciences, detailed the project's origins. The idea first emerged in 2002 during the first Bishkek Global Mountain Summit, coinciding with the UN's International Year of Mountains. Following a conference on sustainable mountain development, a resolution recommended the observance of this international year. During this period, a concept for uniting universities and research institutes around mountain development issues was formulated, inspired by the model of the University of the Arctic, a network of institutions across several countries.

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This network university brings together universities from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Canada, and the United States. This format allows for a much more effective impact on sustainable development than the work of individual organizations.

Aidaraliev noted that the initial attempt to establish the university in 2002 was unsuccessful due to time constraints. However, the project was revived when President Sadyr Japarov renewed focus on mountain issues and initiated a five-year period for sustainable mountain development, providing a sufficient timeframe to realize the university's creation. The university aims to foster collaboration and address critical challenges facing mountain regions globally.

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In 2002, we couldn't realize our idea: one year was not enough to create a university. Later, when President Sadyr Japarov again addressed mountain issues and initiated the five-year period of sustainable mountain development, the opportunity arose to return to this project.