Today, the creative economy sector in Central Asia is developing rapidly. UNESCO Almaty Cluster Office has supported the Cultural and Creative Industries sector over the past four years with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea through projects such as “Strengthening Digital Literacy Skills and Competencies and Promoting Gender Equality in Cultural and Creative Sectors in Central Asia” and “Strengthening Film Industries in Central Asia“.
Taking into account the experience and recommendations gained from these projects, UNESCO Almaty is pleased to offer you a Mapping of Educational Platforms that support creative entrepreneurs and creative industries experts in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. This document may be useful for all professionals in the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) sector and may help to promote co-operation between the region’s creative communities.
The mapping was conducted by Anastasiya Goncharova, an independent researcher in the field of Cultural and Creative Industries. This research includes an overview of online and offline venues, informal learning platforms, creative and business hubs offering training and professional development for aspiring and experienced CCI professionals working in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Despite the wide availability of distance learning and online courses for professional development of beginners and experienced professionals, the development of educational resources with a focus on the creative industries in Central Asian countries looks heterogeneous. Of all the countries, the most information is available on venues in Kazakhstan, while the least information is provided on Tajikistan. Many online resources and specialised online platforms are not visible on the search systems and social media. Search results indicate that a significant number of educational initiatives had already been terminated by the time of the mapping, which indicates the short-termism and lack of sustainability of non-formal educational projects in the region. Very few projects with a duration of more than three years were found.
Source : Unesco