Factors influencing the development of network educational programs between Russian and Kyrgyz universities

The aim of the research is to identify factors which promote or prevent the development of joint educational programs between Russian and Kyrgyz universities, and to give appropriate recommendations to Russian universities. The author used legislation and official statistics regarding higher education in Kyrgyzstan, as well as the websites of the key Kyrgyz universities. The article deals with political, social and economic factors influencing interaction of Russian and Kyrgyz universities; the basic parameters of the two-level system of higher education in Kyrgyzstan; the Kyrgyz university ranking based on the average score of students enrolled. The research reached the following conclusions. The positive course of Russian-Kyrgyz political relationship, the strong position of Russian in Kyrgyzstan, including education, and the higher education reform in Kyrgyzstan compatible with the reform in Russia are the factors which promote university cooperation between the two countries. The requirements and content of the Kyrgyz educational standards are also similar to the Russian ones. The problem of insufficient funding of higher education in Kyrgyzstan affects the quality of teaching and may require Russian universities to equalize Kyrgyz students' knowledge and skills. Given the level of incomes of the Kyrgyz population, the number of students enrolled at Russian universities and paying tuition fee is limited, and joint programs would require the allocation of extra free of charge places. In Kyrgyzstan, there are strong international universities admitting new students free of charge or with discounts on tuition. One of the options for action in the competitive environment would be to disseminate information about the various forms of support for Russian students studying free of charge. According to the data for the 2013-2014 academic year, 55 universities operated in Kyrgyzstan and 88 % of students studied at public universities. Following the unofficial university ranking based on the average test score of enrolled students credited within the "Republic-wide testing" (the Russian analogue of the USE), the most popular are the American University in Central Asia and the Kyrgyz Turkish Manas University. However, these universities focus on the development of relations with US and Turkish universities, respectively. First and foremost, the promising partners for Russian universities are the three Bishkek universities: the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University (the third most popular university, with a high average score of enrolled students), the Kyrgyz State Technical University (the top university for engineering and technology), and the Kyrgyz National University (one of the largest universities). With regard to universities in other regions, due to the lower level of Russian language skills (in the south of the country) or other skills of enrolled applicants (in the north of the country), they cannot be considered as priority for Russian universities.

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