1. Social work education in Kyrgyzstan: challenges and achievements
Association of Social Work Alumni in the Kyrgyz Republic
Ainuska Sheripkanova

2. Short summary about Kyrgyzstan
Population – million (2016)
Borders Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and China
94 percent of its territory is covered with snow
Official languages – Kyrgyz and Russian
GDP per capita (nominal) – USD (2016)

3. Development of Social Work Profession
Establishment of Social Work Department at Bishkek Humanitarian University in 1994
With the initiative of Association of Social Workers of the KR and Ministry of Labor and Social Development in 1998 social work was registered as a profession

4. Legal framework on regulation of social work profession
Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic
Social workers in Kyrgyzstan were first brought into statutory professional regulation in 2012 (sets and promote standards of conduct and practice for the profession; maintain a register of professionals who met the standards; hold to account those who failed to adhere to the standards; and ensure high standards of education for social workers)
Code of ethics of social workers
Other relevant regulations and legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic

5. Accredited institutions for training of social work specialists
Kyrgyz National University (Bachelor’s degree, 4 years)
Bishkek Humanitarian University (Bachelor’s and Master’s degree)
Osh State University (Bachelor’s degree, 4 years)
Zhalalabad University (Bachelor’s degree, 4 years)
Pedagogical University named after I. Arabaev (Bachelor’s and Master’s degree)
Institute of Social Development and Entrepreneurship (Bachelor’s degree, 4 years)
International University of Kyrgyzstan (Bachelor’s and Master’s degree)

6. Role of local and international organizations in training of social work specialists
Local civil society organizations are acting as implementers of professional development trainings for social workers (quality and impact of these trainings, qualifications of the trainers are questionable)
International organizations mainly act as donors and fund various social work related trainings

7. Challenges of social work education in Kyrgyzstan
Gap between education, training and practice application
High turnover (low wages, low status of social work in the country)
Lack of professional support and guidance of social work specialists in state and municipal organizations/supervision;
Lack of the third cycle of education in social work in Kyrgyzstan
The professional community is not commissioned to establish the standards.
Absence of one centralized educational institution which could examine the knowledge and skills of social workers and provide licensing and further professional career development or in-service training for state and municipal social workers without specific social work education

8. Challenges of social work education in Kyrgyzstan
Universities, non-profit organizations and state social institutions closely cooperate to fill the gap in social work education, training and practice application
Social Work Alumni Association of the Kyrgyz Republic (development of structured professional development courses for social workers on relevant topics, research center/think tank)
Social work education should adapt a business model
Leadership and management
Social protection system of population cannot assess the efficiency of financial Сегодня органы социальной защиты населения в Кыргызстане не могут оценить эффективность расходования финансовых средств, материальных и человеческих ресурсов на цели социального обслуживания населения. Граждане, получающие социальные услуги, не имеют представления о том, в каком объеме, содержании и какого качества эти услуги должны им предоставляться. Managers of social service providers (state and municipal institutions) have no clear visions on development and improvement of social services agencies, which creates difficulties development of specific programs/projects of the agencies. Thus, improvement of the management system and efficiency of the social services are the core issues in this field (Таким образом, есть все основания утверждать, что в социальной сфере современного Кыргызстана существует проблема повышения управляемости и эффективности системы социального обслуживания).

9. Achievements of SW education in Kyrgyzstan
Guidelines on status of a social worker developed by Ministry of Labor and Social Development of the Kyrgyz Republic in December 2017 (under consideration)
Outsourcing of state social services (crisis shelters, training of foster families, care for children with disability etc.)
Increased understanding of social work as a profession among the general public
Stable wages of social workers working in state and municipal institutions (local self-governance, schools) in Kyrgyzstan