Faculty Development Fellowship

During her three exchanges at San Francisco State University, Ekaterina Galimova, a graduating fellow of the Faculty Development Program, was inspired to introduce innovative advocacy methods to her students in Kyrgyzstan.

Galimova became increasingly interested in bringing the virtues of civic education back to the classroom, with the medium of film being one of the central tools. When a change of government occurred in Kyrgyzstan in 2007, Galimova's political science students took to the Ala-Too Square in the center of Bishkek to interview demonstrators and passers-by and to film the historic events.  The aim was to encourage students to think critically and compare mass media reports broadcasted by national channels with their own experience, making them aware of the endemic corruption.

Galimova has also facilitated cross-cultural dialogues between scholars in the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic and San Francisco State universities, through webchats and teleconferences on current political and news events, as well as English-language skills.  Galimova hopes to make the initiative self-sustaining by having Kyrgyz students submit essays to U.S. participants on "What does democracy mean to you?"

Galimova plans to carry on teaching English with a civic education component, continuing to provide students with the most contemporary points of views on political, economic, and environmental issues.  In addition to more conventional teaching materials, meetings with contemporary politicians from the Kyrgyz Parliament will also be incorporated into lesson time. 

"Thanks to Faculty Development Program and San Francisco State University, Galimova says, "I had a chance to get various video and audio materials in English that could be used by my colleagues who teach students of English in the International Relations Department.  I hope my efforts will bring prosperity to my country in the future."

Kyrgyzstan |