In recent years, countries in Central Asia have seen a surge in digital transformation in their higher education systems and a proliferation of promising practices at both country and sub-regional levels. In view of this, the UNESCO Almaty Cluster Office (UNESCO Almaty) and UNESCO-ICHEI jointly planned and released the fifth issue of CLOUD, with a focus on Central Asia. Specifically, this joint publication aims to share the policy implications of institutional reforms in the field of digital transformation, capacity-building programmes, as well as the latest research findings with its global readers.

Highlights from the publication at a glance:

1.A special address to CLOUD readers from Ulanbek Mambetakunov, Minister of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic, sharing his vision for the digital transformation of higher education in Central Asia;
2.The latest research findings from the joint research outcomes of UNESCO-ICHEI and Institute of Education at Tsinghua University on the digital transformation of higher education teaching and learning;
3.A systematic analysis of the status and needs in the area of technology-driven higher education in Central Asia, along with promising case studies from local universities, showcasing good practices and achievements in relation to the digital transformation of higher education in the sub-region;
4.Visualized data based on the latest research results of international organizations and think tanks;
5.Projects and initiatives by international organizations and the private sector on empowering Central Asian university teachers and leaders with digital skills and competencies.

The publication is available in both Russian and Chinese on the official websites of UNESCO-ICHEI and UNESCO Almaty.