Kazakhstan-UK cultural relations stronger than ever - Director of British Council in Kazakhstan Lena Milosevic
Director of the British Council in Kazakhstan Lena Milosevic considers so. Ms. Lena Milosevic kindly agreed to give an interview to our Agency concerning the Council's work in Kazakhstan, the relations between Kazakhstan and the UK in the field of culture etc.
Tell us, please, about the British Council, about its objectives. What sets you apart from other cultural and educational organizations?
The British Council is the UK's leading international organisation for educational and cultural relations.
We have been active in Kazakhstan since 1994, and work with educators, learners, professionals and artists in the field of English, education, exams and the arts.
We create opportunities in education and cultural exchange working with local and British partners. We showcase UK creativity and innovation and put local people in touch with people in the UK, for the mutual benefit of Britain and Kazakhstan.
Some of our unique activity is around support for English language in Kazakhstan.
English language skills are becoming more and more important in Kazakhstan as a means of international communications and a tool to get access to educational and professional opportunities. We have trained 10% of all English teachers (out of almost 15,000 ) in the last 18 months.
We constantly work on our products and services to make the learning process both interesting and effective. There are a number of ways we can help you improve your English. Please check our website www.britishcouncil.kz for more information.
We are working with the Ministry of Education and Science, In-Service-Teacher Training Institutes, the Republican Institute for Professional Development and other partners to help teachers improve their performance in the classroom by enhancing their access to materials, methods and opportunities for their professional training and development.
If I have to say just one thing that sets us apart from other cultural educational organizations it is that we do more projects, at a bigger scale that address the Government's agenda for Kazakhstan's education and social development.
What projects are you busy at now in Kazakhstan?
We are busy with projects in English and Exams, Education and the Arts. Let me tell you about our current work in education.
Secondary Education
We build links between schools in Kazakhstan and the UK to strengthen cultural exchange.
In partnership with the JSC Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools and the Ministry of Education and Science, we are influencing and supporting systemic improvements in secondary education in Kazakhstan.
Technical and Vocational Education
We work with the Government, experts' networks and employers, sharing the best of UK expertise to support current reforms in technical and vocational education in Kazakhstan.
Our work in vocational education is improving the skills of young people and adults so they are able to build successful careers. It does this by encouraging closer links between technical and vocational education and industry.
We have established college partnerships between Kazakhstan and the UK. One of our partnerships has resulted in a new curriculum in construction which is being rolled out across all construction colleges in Kazakhstan.
Higher Education
In higher education we are strengthening academic and research partnerships between Kazakhstan and the UK through, for example:
- strategic partnerships between universities of Kazakhstan and the UK
- exploratory grants for establishing links between Kazakhstan universities and potential partners in the UK
- a talented researcher programme to support early stage researchers
The Kazakh and British education systems have differences. With over 70 years experience of English language teaching have you found anything interesting you would like to apply at your schools and visa versa?
The Ministry of Education and Science and other partners such as INSETTI and RIPKSO are doing great things to improve English language learning and teaching in Kazakhstan. In particular I am impressed by the use of new technologies such as white boards to aid learning.
As you may know, many Kazakhstani students are studying currently abroad under Bolashak Presidential Program. Is there a similar program in the UK allowing its students to study in foreign countries?
Yes there are programmes available for British students to study outside of the UK, but I don't think these are as extensive as Bolashak.
At the beginning of December President Nursultan Nazarbayev held a meeting in the Nazarbayev University on development of the country's educational system. He said: "The country needs to develop technologies at home. This requires educational institutions that provide cutting-edge skills". Do you think that the Nazarbayev University will let our country move forward in this direction?
Definitely! The British Council worked with the Nazarbayev University to run the English Language placement tests in 2010. We are pleased to be doing this again for the 2011 student intake. I attended the Nazarbayev University opening last year and think it's most impressive. I am sure, that with time, the Nazarbayev University will establish itself as a world class educational institution and centre of excellence in Kazakhstan, Central Asia and beyond.
Unfortunately, the youth starts reading books less to date. They prefer playing computer games, reading comics or just watching TV all day long. I mean not the quantity of the books read but the quality. What should society do to make children love reading belles-letters and understand?
Actually, I think you have answered your own question! In some ways, technology can be part of the solution and is not the problem.
Yes, it's true that young people are drawn to information technology - computers and 'smart' mobile phones. So the question is how this technology can be applied in learning. For example, it is now possible to download many books onto mobile phones or "pads". This is exciting and I am all for making learning, and the written word, exciting and accessible to young people.
Do you like reading? Who are some of your favourite authors and books? What are you reading right now?
Yes, I do enjoy reading. It's hard to pick favourite authors and books but let me single out Shakespeare. The themes and relations of human life in his plays (such as love, revenge, greed or jealousy) are just as relevant today as they were when they were written.
As for what I am reading now: I have several books "on the go" at any one time. The book I'm just finishing is called "Eat, sleep, sit: My year at Japan's most rigorous zen temple" by Kaoru Nonomura.
At the age of thirty, Kaoru Nonomura left his family, his girlfriend, and his job as a designer to undertake a year of ascetic training at Eiheiji, one of the most rigorous Zen training temples in Japan. This book is Nonomura's account of his experiences.
They say culture unites people much stronger than politics do. Despite this, there are too many political discords, economic problems, wars, poverty in the world. Do you agree with this?
'Culture' is 'political'. Culture is not politically neutral. It stirs deep passions and emotions and can spark off huge political debate and even unrest. Yes, I do agree that there are too many political discords, economic problems, wars and too much poverty. I firmly believe that cultural relations build trust and understanding between people and that trust and understanding, in turn, help create peace and stability between nations.
The world needs more cultural relations!
How would you characterize the present cultural relations between Kazakhstan and the UK?
I think that at present, the cultural relations between Kazakhstan and the UK are stronger than ever. There is huge interest in the UK in Kazakhstan and visa versa. Let me give a couple of examples, from the British Council's work.
The British Council is supporting the development of the visual arts in Kazakhstan by involving students of Art departments of Almaty Colleges, Art Schools and Universities, as well as independent young artists, in an annual competition. Prizes are awarded to the runners up and the winning entries displayed in new British Council, Almaty office.
In a second example, we have united students of English in Kazakhstan and students of Russian in the UK to jointly translate materials from Kazakhstani museums into English.
Thanks to the project, students of both countries are getting the opportunity to contribute to promote the unique cultural heritage of Kazakhstan. As a result, museums in Kazakhstan are having new brochures and leaflets in the English language for international visitors.
In the second phase of this project we are working to put museums materials, in the English language on line, with the help of IT students from all around Kazakhstan.
What has been the most surprising thing when you arrived in Kazakhstan? Have you found anything special about our traditions, human values and interethnic relations among the peoples in Kazakhstan?
I think I was surprised by how sophisticated and beautiful Kazakhstan is. I am privileged to have the chance to work here.
Do you watch the Kazakh films? What film did you like most of all?
I really enjoyed "Nomad" created by Sergey Bodrov and Ivan Passer- and was happy to visit the film set by the Ili River. It's a really great film: super direction, script, casting and acting.
Thank you for the interview!