Center for Sustainable Urban Futures (CSUF)
Центр Устойчивого Развития Городов (ЦУРГ)
Balancing Development with Livability
Соотношение развития с качеством жизни
23.2.05 KIMEP Establishes Another First in Central Asia - The Center for Sustainable Urban Futures (CSUF)
Chan Young Bang, PhD, President of KIMEP is delighted to announce the creation of the Center for Sustainable Urban
Futures (CSUF) The Center will focus on urban planning and economic development issues which are affecting all of the cities
in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. CSUF will undertake two main tasks:
 Research to increase awareness of urban development issues and contribute to more effective evidence based policy
making
 Education and professional development programs to develop a corps of future urban specialists to drive the
structured development of Kazakhstan’s urban future.
There are clear synergies between the two components of the work program. The research will not only directly inform strategy
development but enhance the education programs.
Qualified experts in city management and urban planning who are current KIMEP faculty members will lead the Center. The
Executive Director of the Center will be Robert W Robertson PhD. Dr Robertson is currently the Dean, Bang College of
Business at KIMEP. He is a certified city planner in both the United States and Canada with many years experience in urban
management and business and holds a PhD from the University of Stirling in the United Kingdom.
Ewan Simpson PhD will act as Associate Director. Dr Simpson is currently Chair of Management and Marketing at the Bang
College of Business KIMEP. He has extensive experience in urban regeneration and urban management in the United Kingdom
and holds a PhD from the University of Glasgow, United Kingdom.
The center will also draw on additional expert faculty from KIMEP and elsewhere.
In addition, KIMEP will leverage expertise from its partner, the Korea Land Corporation (KLC). KLC was established by the
Korean Government to promote effective land use planning and development. Its activities have been central to the rapid growth
of Korea in the last 25 years. In 2004, it had over 2,400 professionally qualified employees, with assets of over $13.5 bn US and
capital investment funds of $3.8bn US.
The work of the Center will include research and writing on urban issues as well as assisting cities in Kazakhstan and Central
Asia on a consultancy basis to address their urban planning, development and management issues.
From Fall 2005, the Center will establish training programs and courses to build local capacity in this region for sustainable city
futures. This will take the form of a full degree program and financial support will be available for prospective students, including
full scholarships, to be awarded on a competitive basis.
Funding will come at the outset from KIMEP and private benefactors, including the President of KIMEP, Dr Chan Young Bang
and others. Other sources of financial support are being actively assessed including international agencies. CSUF is actively
seeking partnerships for the Center from administrations of different cities in Kazakhstan and from other similar organizations in
the world.
Chan Young Bang PhD, President of KIMEP says "this is a golden time in Kazakhstan with significant growth and opportunity. It
is timely for us to establish the Center for Sustainable Urban Futures to ensure our cities are safe, affordable, clean, livable and
most importantly, economically viable for all of our citizens. KIMEP is proud to provide the leadership in establishing this Center.
It is the first of its kind in Central Asia." Initially the Center will be located in Almaty at KIMEP.
For more information on this initiative please contact either
Dr Chan Young Bang
President,
Kazakhstan Institute of Management
Economics and Strategic Research
Room 102, 2 Abai Ave
Almaty KZ 480100
Ph + 7 (3272) 70 42 00 Ext 2005
Email: bang@kimep.kz
Dr Robert W. Robertson
Dean, Bang College of Business
Kazakhstan Institute of Management
Economics and Strategic Research
Room 301, 2 Abai Ave
Almaty KZ 480100
Ph +7 (3272) 704440 Ext 2285
Direct PH +7 (3272) 704380
Email: robertr@kimep.kz