On 5 August the OSCE Academy started its preparatory Summer School Programme for students from Central Asia, Afghanistan and Mongolia. At the official opening, Ms. Indira Satarkulova, the Deputy Director of the OSCE Academy, welcomed new coming students and congratulated them on their admission. She introduced the Academy’s MA Programmes, highlighting that those Programmes and other activities of the Academy are possible due to continuous and generous support of the donors and partners and the commitment of teaching and administrative staff. In conclusion, Ms. Satarkulova wished students to enjoy the studies and successfully complete this School.

On 23 July, the OSCE Academy signed an Agreement with the Ministry of Economy of the Kyrgyz Republic for the establishment of internships for graduates under the Junior Public Officers (JPO) Programme. The Agreement was signed by Mr. Aidin Sharsheev, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy, and Dr. Alexander Wolters, Director of the OSCE Academy.

From 15 to 19 July the OSCE Academy conducted regional training on writing feasibility studies for investment projects within the framework of state development policies (industrial development, export promotion and infrastructure development) for 22 junior and middle-level staff from the analytical departments of institutes, ministries and departments of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

On the 12th of July Ms. Karoliina Rajala, Associate Research Fellow of the OSCE Academy, gave a talk about the Russian military-industrial complex and its prospects for future development. This presentation aimed to provide an overview of the current state and workings of the Russian military-industrial complex by examining some of its recent successes as well as prevailing key issues. Ms. Rajala presented the historic development of the defense industry from the Soviet times until today and highlighted how the defense industry has served as a forerunner of the country’s innovation activity. Even today the Russian political elite sees it as a locomotive for economics, politics and society.