Final Report Summary - PHOENIX (Fostering the rebirth of social sciences and humanities in the Central Asia)
Since independence most of the Central Asian countries have experienced several economic reforms. As in all the former Soviet Union countries, their research systems have suffered huge losses. The number of researchers has declined by more than 50 %. At the same time the percentage decrease in research and development (R&D) financing was even more substantial than the decline in the number of researchers and engineers. The Central Asia research system during the Soviet time was dominated by Russian speaking researchers who had close contacts with different Russian research centres. A huge number of these researchers emigrated during the 1990s to Russia and to Western countries. By now the R&D sectors all the Central Asia countries have greatly improved prospects. The human development index trends tell an important story in that aspect. All Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), following a catastrophic decline in the first half of the 1990s, have recovered to the level before the reversal. Currently, all Central Asia countries are modernising and reforming their research and education systems.
The goals of the PHOENIX project were to establish stronger research partnership and networking across national boundaries. The key to success and stability in the region depends on creating an environment where development of the area's resources proceeds relatively unhindered, and where the profits of that development can be re-invested into the development of the region as a whole.
Central Asia is extremely interesting from point of view history and culture. And it is foreseen that in very near future it will be one of the favourites among tourists. Up till now, several cultural heritage conservation projects along the Silk Roads have been launched (the site of Fayaz Tepe in Uzbekistan, the Otrar project in Kazakhstan, and the Krasnaya Rechka, Chuy Valley sites project in Kyrgyzstan, the Buddhist Monastery of Ajina Tepe in Tajikistan). Nine properties from Central Asia are included into World Heritage List. Since independence most of the Central Asian countries have passed through several economic reforms. As in all the former Soviet Union countries, their research systems have suffered huge losses. By now, all Central Asia countries are crossed the downfall. The human development index trends tell an important story in that aspect. All Central and Eastern Europe and the CIS, following a catastrophic decline in the first half of the 1990s, have recovered to the level before the reversal. By now, all Central Asia countries are modernising and reforming their research and education systems.
But the situation of researchers is still very bad; it concerns their salaries, and research infrastructures. Meanwhile, as all countries have discussed the situation, and are aware with it, we may expect that national governments can improve the living standards of university staff and researchers. Especially, in the case that all of them have declared, the importance of reforms. Despite the harsh decrease in the number of researchers and the decline in R&D funding throughout the region there are first class research centres, which are able to cooperate on level terms.
The goals of the PHOENIX project were to establish stronger research partnership and networking across national boundaries. The key to success and stability in the region depends on creating an environment where development of the area's resources proceeds relatively unhindered, and where the profits of that development can be re-invested into the development of the region as a whole.
Central Asia is extremely interesting from point of view history and culture. And it is foreseen that in very near future it will be one of the favourites among tourists. Up till now, several cultural heritage conservation projects along the Silk Roads have been launched (the site of Fayaz Tepe in Uzbekistan, the Otrar project in Kazakhstan, and the Krasnaya Rechka, Chuy Valley sites project in Kyrgyzstan, the Buddhist Monastery of Ajina Tepe in Tajikistan). Nine properties from Central Asia are included into World Heritage List. Since independence most of the Central Asian countries have passed through several economic reforms. As in all the former Soviet Union countries, their research systems have suffered huge losses. By now, all Central Asia countries are crossed the downfall. The human development index trends tell an important story in that aspect. All Central and Eastern Europe and the CIS, following a catastrophic decline in the first half of the 1990s, have recovered to the level before the reversal. By now, all Central Asia countries are modernising and reforming their research and education systems.
But the situation of researchers is still very bad; it concerns their salaries, and research infrastructures. Meanwhile, as all countries have discussed the situation, and are aware with it, we may expect that national governments can improve the living standards of university staff and researchers. Especially, in the case that all of them have declared, the importance of reforms. Despite the harsh decrease in the number of researchers and the decline in R&D funding throughout the region there are first class research centres, which are able to cooperate on level terms.
