Presentation of preliminary results of the study on improving the integration of foreign students
On April 10 in the conference hall of Kyrgyz State Medical Academy (KSMA) named after I.K. Akhunbaev a round table "Discussion of preliminary results of the study on improving the integration of foreign students" was held, which was attended by employees of the company "M-Vector".
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) organized the round table within the framework of launching a new project "Promotion of social cohesion by combating xenophobia and anti-migrant attitudes towards international migrants in the Kyrgyz Republic".
The roundtable was attended by representatives of many government services and international organizations, such as:
- The Ministry of Labor, Social Welfare and Migration,
- The Ministry of Internal Affairs,
- Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights,
- United Nations Population Fund,
- Rector of the Kyrgyz State Medical Academy named after I.K. Akhunbaev.;
- Rector of the International School of Medicine (ISM),
- Rector of the Osh State University,
- The National Center for Health Promotion,
- The Public Foundation "International Federation of Migrants" (IMF).
IOM Program Manager, Zulayka Yesentaeva told the audience about IOM activities and presented the main goals and objectives of the project.
M-Vector specialists presented the first results of the setup research conducted in partnership with IOM. In the framework of the research, we found out what are the stereotypes concerning foreign students and foreign migrants in general, how foreign students and migrants' contribution to the life of cities is estimated, what are the problems in interaction with local residents, as well as ways to solve them, according to the respondents.
The survey of foreign students allowed us to look at the issues of integration and interaction from a different perspective, revealing the specificity of the problems of students from different countries.
In-depth interviews with the management of leading Kyrgyz universities such as KSMA, AUCA, ISM, and the Osh State University, representatives of student associations, as well as focus groups with local and international students allowed completing the picture of the perceptions of the mechanisms of integration of international students and the problems that exist on this path.
The presented survey data aroused lively interest and fruitful discussion among the participants.
At the end of the round table, the participants concluded that closer cooperation between IOM, researchers, and universities in the framework of the project is necessary.
