American University of Central Asia
AC-10: Support for Sustainability Research

The AUCA Climate Student Assembly, held from February 16th to May 5th, was a key initiative aimed at involving 15-20 students, including members of the AUCA Green Club and the student senate, in crafting a comprehensive proposal for the Sustainability Task Force Steering Committee. This program aligned with the C5+1 agenda, focusing on Energy and Environment and People-to-People connections.

The assembly’s primary objective was to develop actionable recommendations for enhancing AUCA’s climate resilience and sustainability, while also empowering students to emerge as future leaders in climate action. The process began with a campus-wide call for participation, inviting AUCA students and Green Club members to join. The inclusion of the student senate ensured diverse representation and collaboration.

Participants engaged in Climate Fresk Workshops to deepen their understanding of climate change and sustainability. They also attended guest lectures from local government officials, ministries, and environmental NGOs, which provided insights into regional and national climate initiatives. A site visit to the Ministry of Natural Resources offered practical insights into the implementation of climate proposals.

To support their efforts, participants addressed five key questions: strategies for achieving carbon neutrality on campus; initiatives to increase renewable energy use; enhancements to campus infrastructure for sustainability; effective waste reduction and recycling programs; and measures to integrate climate education and promote awareness. The goal was to develop practical, feasible solutions aligned with AUCA’s sustainability objectives.

Incentives provided included recognition awards for outstanding proposals and contributions, which motivated active participation and high-quality work. Additionally, successful proposals received support for implementation, further encouraging student engagement.

Over the past three years, the Climate Student Assembly achieved several positive outcomes. The program not only resulted in actionable recommendations that enhanced AUCA’s climate resilience but also significantly boosted student involvement in sustainability efforts. The assembly fostered a sense of responsibility and leadership among participants, strengthened community engagement, and elevated AUCA’s profile as a socially responsible institution.

The timeline of the program included recruitment of students from February 15th to March 1st, workshops and guest speaker sessions from March to April, proposal development in April, and final presentations and implementation planning in May. Funding covered workshop materials and guest speaker honorariums, ensuring the program’s success and effectiveness.

At AUCA University, there is no dedicated sustainability research program. However, sustainability-focused criteria are integrated into existing research initiatives, specifically through the CASI research grants and the [Presidential Research and Education Fund](https://auca.kg/en/research_presidential_research/). These funding sources include criteria that emphasize sustainability, and research projects are assessed based on their alignment with environmental, social, or economic sustainability issues. Data collection involves gathering information from these grants and funds, complemented by interviews with relevant personnel. An Excel file with questions on research and sustainability was sent to department heads and faculty members to gather additional data, which was then reviewed and validated to ensure accuracy. This approach ensures that sustainability considerations are incorporated into research activities, contributing to AUCA's broader sustainability goals.

AUCA Library provides various support to sustainability efforts of the university. Library actively supports Open Access initiatives to make sustainability research openly available to the public. This contributes to the dissemination of knowledge and encourages collaborative efforts towards sustainable solutions. Library provides access to materials on environmental studies, including Elsevier Environmental Science collections; Journals by the International Association of Water; Research4Life collections. Library actively promotes the university’s sustainability programs to wider academic community through the university libraries network. For example, the annual meeting of university libraries hosted by AUCA Library includes sustainability component in the agenda (https://library.auca.kg/news/202/).