How language courses in Shopokov grew into an institute of languages and culture — timeline and key milestones.
The history of the institute began in 2013, when language courses for schoolchildren and adults opened in Shopokov:
The SOSI Educational centre courses became popular in the Sokuluk district thanks to their effective teaching and strong results. Pupils who successfully completed the courses went on to win places on the FLEX programme. More than 250 pupils from nearby schools and gymnasiums studied at the courses.
The location of the institute in Shopokov (close to Bishkek), on the main Bishkek — Osh highway, proved convenient for an educational institution. To assess the demand for a vocational college, meetings were held with representatives of the local aiyl okmotu and with residents. People from the surrounding villages were keen to see a new institution open, since sending young people to Bishkek made little economic sense. That is when the founders came up with the idea of creating a student campus here, where one could follow a degree programme and take courses that develop creative talents.
Just two years after the courses opened — in June 2015 — the Kyrgyz International Universal College was founded. The Kyrgyz Institute of Languages and Culture was established in 2018. The institute now offers two degree programmes:
At present 88 students study at KILC.
To ensure the quality of teaching, experienced lecturers were invited from the leading universities of Bishkek — J. Balasagyn KNU, the Law Academy, K. Karasaev BSU, the Academy of Tourism and others. Free transport is provided for them. Considerable attention is paid to infrastructure: a modern sports complex has been built with exercise machines, table tennis, volleyball equipment and a room for extracurricular activities. Foreign languages are taught by native speakers from the USA and lecturers from South Korea. A Talking club with native speakers runs throughout the year, helping students master foreign languages faster in practice.
