Oybek Turaev: "The exchange presented an opportunity to combine my passion for leadership and academics, nurtured at the AUCA"

March 6, 2024

My name is Oybek Turaev, Software Engineering, 2024 – graduate year. My exchange semester at Bard College, New York, was deeply rooted in my commitment to broadening my academic horizons and immersing myself in a diverse educational environment. The exchange presented an opportunity to combine my passion for leadership and academics, nurtured at the American University of Central Asia (AUCA), with the dynamic academic atmosphere Bard College is renowned for.

Starting in Spring 2021, I joined the C5+1 Youth Council as a member, where I presented my idea for a "Cybersecurity Championship" for Youth-Led Projects. After successful consideration by the US Embassy, my project secured funding, and I assembled a team of Youth Council members. Together, we won nearly $5000 for the implementation of our project. Leading our team, I gained valuable experience in project management, negotiation with partners, and coordination with speakers.

During the Summer of 2021, my passion for cybersecurity led me to participate in an internship program at Verzeo company focused on "Ethical Hacking and Cybersecurity." I was recognized as an "Outstanding Performer." This internship experience, coupled with my keen interest, was the driving force behind my project, which was implemented on December 11-12 in Osh, Kyrgyzstan. We brought together 42 students from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and various regions of Kyrgyzstan.

Building on my active participation in the C5+1 Youth Council, the US Embassy nominated me to participate in the Everest International Model United Nations (EIMUN 2022) in Kathmandu, Nepal. The agenda topic, "Blockchain Technology," effectively captured my interest and enhanced my knowledge.

Subsequently, I joined the voluntary program "Afghan Mentorship," where I assisted my Afghan friends in smoothly integrating into university and city life. Fueled by my passion for helping others, I joined the OSUN Capstone Project, "Afghan Migration." This project allowed me to represent my team at OSUN Summer Policy Labs in Budapest, Hungary, where I shared our project research results with teams from the Geneva Institute, CEU, and others. My philosophy at the university is to challenge myself in different areas of society and the curriculum to identify my essential skills and determine where I should focus. Due to my high academic results and rich extracurricular experience, I earned a fully-funded OSUN Mobility Program scholarship to study for an exchange semester at Bard College, New York. In conclusion, my exchange semester at Bard College has been a transformative chapter in my academic journey. It has broadened my understanding of my specific academics and enriched my overall approach to cultural diversity and leadership. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to and learn from the vibrant academic community at Bard. Notably, my home university, AUCA, was pivotal in unleashing my passion for learning and a broader worldview with extensive opportunities.

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