On 12 December, Dr. Asel Doolotkeldieva, Post-Doc Researcher at the OSCE Academy, delivered a Public Lecture “To Bring the State Back: Mining Conflicts and Struggles for Political Participation and Social Justice in Kyrgyzstan.” During the lecture, Dr. Doolotkeldieva reviewed mining industry and mining governance in Kyrgyzstan.

On 12 December, the OSCE Academy organized the Leadership Development Workshop for alumni from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan of the MA Programmes working in managerial positions. This one-day intensive training was divided into two sessions. The first part was on gender mainstreaming in management strategy led by Ms. Gulnara Ibraeva, a prominent sociologist and expert on gender issues, where Ms. Ibraeva and the participants discussed basic concepts of gender equality, gender equity and gender mainstreaming in an interactive format.

On 13 December 46 students of the MA Programmes in Politics & Security and in Economic Governance & Development received their degrees and graduated from the OSCE Academy in Bishkek. Dr. Alexander Wolters, the Director of the OSCE Academy welcomed the members of the Diplomatic Corps, partners and donors as well as parents and friends of the graduates and gave an overview of the last 16 months that students spent at the OSCE Academy.

On 11 December, Ms. Nazik Mamedova, Junior Scholar at the OSCE Academy, delivered a Public Lecture on "Women in STEM in Kyrgyzstan: portrayal in the Mass Media Versus Advocacy Efforts." During the lecture, Ms. Mamedova provided an overview of the work of women in STEM (abbr. science, technology, engineering, math) in Kyrgyzstan by reviewing the most relevant research publications and statistical data available on the topic, as well analyzing implemented initiatives in this area.