On 17 May, 2022, UNESCO-ICHEI and Kyrgyz National University (KNU), Kyrgyzstan's flagship university, signed a Memorandum of Understanding online to officially join forces in promoting digital transformation of higher education for Kyrgyzstan.

Prof. Bekzhan Temirov, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs of KNU, attended this signing ceremony representing the university, emphasizing this cooperation is the first-ever international cooperation of KNU in the field of ICT. While expressing his high recognition of UNESCO-ICHEI’s efforts and achievements in enhancing higher education through digital technologies, Prof. Temirov noted that the integration and application of innovative digital technologies in teaching and learning is a priority area of institutional development plan of KNU, and he therefore looked forward to a fruitful partnership between the two sides.

Mr. Lyu Feng, Assistant Director of UNESCO-ICHEI, attended the ceremony on behalf of Prof. Li Ming, Director of UNESCO-ICHEI. He expressed the willingness of UNESCO-ICHEI to work together with KNU towards a shared educational goal. In the spirit of "joint contribution and shared benefits", KNU will be actively involved in IIOE and empowering university teachers in Kyrgyzstan. This partnership will also provide a foundation for promoting digital transformation of higher education at national and sub-regional levels.

At the signing ceremony, Professor Rashid Yusupov, Director of the “Belt and Road” Research Center of KNU, responded: “I believe KNU will be an important, reliable and priority partner of UNESCO-ICHEI in Central Asia. KNU will provide solid support to UNESCO-ICHEI for implementing higher education projects in the region.”

Kyrgyz National University (KNU) is the second formal partner university of UNESCO-ICHEI in Central Asia. KNU currently hosts more than 17,000 students and more than 1,900 teachers. It is Kyrgyzstan's leading comprehensive public university, as well as the country's largest scientific research center. According to statistics, 80-90% of Kyrgyzstan's academicians have graduated from the university. The mission of KNU is to contribute to the preservation and development of the scientific potential of modern society, relying on academic traditions and advanced scientific achievements.