Social Science Research Council

Gulmira Karabalaeva
Teacher of Social Sciences at the Islamic University of Kyrgyzstan
Harvard University, Spring 2005

Ms. Karabalaeva is an expert in pedagogy, with a focus on dual language learning among children. She has a degree in Russian philology from the Frunze Pedagogical Institute, a graduate degree in general pedagogy from the Kyrgyz State University and a doctorate from the Kyrgyz State Pedagogical University, where she is currently pursuing a degree in psychology and acting as deputy director of the Institute of Oriental Languages and Cultures. She has also attended a number of trainings, seminars and conferences hosted by organizations such as the Open Society Institute, the Aga-Khan Foundation, and the United Nations. She was engaged by the Islamic University to begin teaching courses in the social sciences, and although she currently teaches only part-time, she expects her commitment to the university to increase as their ability to offer additional courses improves. Already, Ms. Karabalaeva has created a syllabus for a course she wishes to teach on comparative world religions, and during her stay at Harvard University, she would like to gather additional materials for her proposed course and to gain comparative perspective on teaching about world religions. Additionally, she hopes to share her experiences in the U.S. with her colleagues through short presentations upon her return.