Virtual Exchange Project Winner Connects the U.S. and Kyrgyzstan

The Muskie program is pleased to announce the winner of the first Virtual Exchange Project (VEP) competition. The Virtual Exchange Project was designed by IREX to foster broader ties between communities in the U.S. and their counterparts in Muskie fellows’ home countries. Umut Kakeeva, an education fellow who studied at Alabama A&M University, won the outstanding project competition for her work using Skype to connect students and teachers in Kyrgyzstan with American guest speakers.

Over the course of a semester, Kakeeva successfully managed a series of 12 webinars that served as professional development sessions for Kyrgyz teachers and as cross-cultural experiences for both teachers and students.  American guests offered insights into professional development in the field of education and provided perspectives on American culture to an audience of university students and secondary school English teachers in Kyrgyzstan.  Webinar topics included education best practices, creativity and critical thinking, African American innovators, American country music, and even tourism in New York City.

Reflecting on the experience, teacher Aigul Dzhumagulova from Kyrgyzstan said, “After the discussion we thought about starting to use [grading] rubrics in our classes. I think these rubrics can really help our teachers in Kyrgyzstan to evaluate students.”  

Sheila Johnson, a classmate of Kakeeva’s at Alabama A&M, shared information about famous African American innovators.  Johnson also learned more about Kyrgyzstan through the exchange.  “I was educated about a country that I did not even know existed,” said Johnson.  “The project helped me to appreciate technology because I was able to communicate with Kyrgyz students and teachers in real time.”

Congratulations to Umut Kakeeva and to her collaborators in the U.S. and in Kyrgyzstan!

The Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program is administered by IREX and funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State. In 2012, the Muskie Program celebrates 20 years of productive partnerships with leaders of Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Find more stories here.