UCA celebrates Class of 2026 and concludes Silver Jubilee Year

Kyrgyz Republic · 25 June 2026 · 6 min

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Central Asia, 25 June 2026 - The University of Central Asia (UCA) celebrated a major milestone on 20 June with the graduation of its sixth cohort of undergraduate students at the University's residential campuses in Naryn, Kyrgyzstan, and Khorog, Tajikistan. The occasion also marked the University's 25th anniversary, celebrating a quarter century of advancing education, research and development across Central Asia.

UCA's Silver Jubilee Year commemorated 25 years since the signing of the International Treaty that established the University through a unique partnership between the Republics of Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, the Kyrgyz Republic and the Ismaili Imamat. Throughout the year, UCA has celebrated its enduring commitment to improving the quality of life of people living in the mountain regions of Central Asia.

The occasion was honoured by the presence of Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan, who joined graduates, their families, government representatives, members of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), UCA's Board of Trustees and other distinguished guests in celebrating the achievements of the Class of 2026 and reflecting on UCA's first quarter century of impact across Central Asia.

Sixty graduates from the three founding states, as well as Afghanistan, Pakistan and Russia, received degrees in Computer Science, Communications and Media, Earth and Environmental Sciences, and Global Economics. This year's graduates represent a new generation of leaders, researchers, innovators and professionals whose academic work reflects many of the critical challenges and opportunities facing Central Asia today.

In a message to the graduating class, Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan highlighted UCA's role in advancing the expanding educational, economic and social opportunities across Central Asia and reflected on the 25th anniversary as a time to honour the extraordinary partnership that led to the University's founding. He also delivered a message from UCA's Chancellor, His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V, reaffirming the University's commitment to research, innovation and the sustainable development of mountain societies. Read the full speech

In his message, the Chancellor reflected on the broader purpose of education, noting: "Your education has given you knowledge and skills. I hope it has also strengthened your judgement, deepened your sense of responsibility, prepared you to listen with care, to think independently and to work with others in a spirit of respect."

The graduation programme also featured addresses by the Rector, government representatives and the class valedictorian.

"UCA has brought world-class higher education to mountain regions, enabling young people to access quality learning in their own communities," noted Jyldyz Mambetova, Deputy Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic in the Naryn Region.

UCA Rector Professor Christopher J Gerry highlighted how education can be transformative - not only for individuals, but also for their families and communities: "What makes this university distinctive is not simply its programmes or its locations, but the connections it creates. We bring together students, researchers and practitioners from different countries, cultures and disciplines, and encourage them to build bridges between worlds that too often remain separate."

Both the Chancellor's message and the Rector's address emphasised the importance of curiosity, judgement, ethical leadership and cross-cultural understanding in a world increasingly shaped by technological, environmental and social change.

"We have grown up in mountainous communities where uncertainty is not a rarity - it is the order of the day," said Valedictorian Syed Shujaat Ali, who hails from Gilgit, Pakistan. Reflecting on the experiences of his graduating class and the future ahead, he concluded: "The world does not want us to be perfect, it needs us to be present, persistent and purposeful. The mountains teach us that the summit is not the end, but simply a higher perspective bringing into view the next valley and peak worth exploring. So, keep climbing, and do so together."

As UCA concludes its first 25 years and looks towards the future, the Class of 2026 stands as a testament to the University's enduring mission: preparing graduates with the knowledge, skills, values and sense of purpose needed to contribute meaningfully to their communities, and the wider world. Looking ahead, UCA remains committed to building on this foundation to expand opportunities and strengthen its impact across the region in the years to come.