The AUCA MAT program builds upon the innovative MAT model of Bard College in New York and seamlessly integrates four components: foundational education theories, disciplinary content knowledge, mentored practicum in pedagogy, and academic and action research. The curriculum balances content area pedagogy with an understanding of learning and adolescent development. Courses are taught by AUCA faculty, as well as faculty from Bard College in New York and the Bard Global Network.
The AUCA MAT program collaborates with the US Embassy in Bishkek to provide full scholarships to highly deserving applicants from diverse regions of the Kyrgyz Republic. The scholarship is available to individuals outside of Bishkek, particularly in language diverse areas or among ethnic minorities, who are already teaching or are committed to teaching in public schools in those regions.
In addition to admitting current teachers, the AUCA MAT program also accepts candidates who aspire to become school teachers. The program offers courses that address significant issues in the Central Asian educational context, such as inclusive education, multicultural education and identity, and law, society, and sustainable development. Participants are required to defend a thesis and pass a comprehensive exam to graduate with a teaching license from the Kyrgyz Ministry of Education.
The AUCA MAT program is a 2-year, six-semester program, consisting of summer, fall, and spring semesters. Summer semester classes are held on campus, while the fall and spring semesters follow a blended learning approach. This means that online lectures and consultations are combined with face-to-face, on-campus coursework over one full week at the AUCA campus.
The blended approach allows AUCA MAT candidates to continue their jobs in schools (if they are in-service candidates) or undergo extensive practice teaching (if they are pre-service candidates) in a partner school. The time spent in the classroom by program participants is structured for mentored practice and conducting classroom research. The mentored practicum and classroom research are integrated with coursework in disciplinary content and pedagogy. This program structure ensures that active work in classrooms is a consistent frame of reference for AUCA MAT candidates throughout the academic year, and they graduate from the program as teachers who understand the connection between their discipline and teaching practice.
Furthermore, the blended approach enables colleagues from the Bard Global Network, including Bard New York and Al-Quds Bard, to contribute as faculty members to the AUCA MAT program.