On 2 July 2026, the OSCE Academy had the honour to welcome Mr. Thierry Umbehr, Head of section Caucasus, Central and East Asia at the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and Ms. Mia Kirsch, Programme Manager for Central Asia at SDC. Mr. Umbehr and Ms. Kirsch were accompanied by Dr. Renaud Vuignier, Programme Manager for International Cooperation and Head of the Economic Development and Governance Domains at the Embassy of Switzerland in the Kyrgyz Republic. The distinguished guests were welcomed by Dr. Pal Dunay, Director of the OSCE Academy, H.E. Dr. Volker Frobarth, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek (POiB), Mr. John DiPirro, Senior Political Adviser at the POiB, Dr. Burulcha Sulaimanova, Head of the Research and Training Department, and Ms. Victoria Orazova, Head of the International Department at the OSCE Academy.
Dr. Dunay and Ambassador Frobarth, in his capacity of a Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the OSCE Academy, have presented the current situation of the Academy and shared the challenges and opportunities for the coming years. Dr. Sulaimanova and Ms. Orazova shared in more details about research activities and the alumni network. Mr. Umbehr was especially interested about the impact the Academy has on the region and its development as well as underlined the importance of the research topics the Academy’s publications. Following the meeting with the management and staff, SDC representatives met several students, to learn more about their experience at the OSCE Academy.
