Programme (Eng)
Diploma Brochure 2024
UCA Graduation Regalia
UCA Graduation Regalia
A Brief Background
A Brief Background
In anticipation of the first graduation of the University of Central Asia’s (UCA) School of Arts and Sciences in 2021, a Committee was appointed in 2020 to oversee the design and production of the graduation gowns and caps for students, faculty, and other participants of the convocation. The Committee included UCA faculty and staff from the three Founding States to provide input from their perspectives, and was chaired by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of UCA, Dr. Shamsh Kassim-Lakha.
An international design competition was held with the following key guidelines:
- Incorporate cultural and traditional motifs from the decorative arts of the Founding States of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and the Ismaili Imamat, as Founders of UCA.
- The design should reflect a blend of decorative traditions of Central Asia, but not clearly identifiable with any one country or culture.
- The gown and cap (with tassel) should be gender neutral, and not appear religious in character.
- The colours should harmonize with the UCA logo: light blue dark blue, and white.
An open competition was announced and over 50 designers from eight countries submitted their proposals. Three winners were selected, and their design ideas were blended into the final UCA regalia.
The student graduation regalia, which represents the basic design:
The various decorative motifs used on the gowns are from Central Asia. The primary or core design is a decorative chain motif that is popular throughout the region, and while it is known by many names, it is meant to symbolize friendship, unity, and loyalty.
Mindful that the UCA regalia should not be identified with any one country or culture, this core motif was remastered and stylized by the designer so that while it maintains a connection to the original inspiration, it looks different and unique to UCA. In this way it transcends nationalities and borders. In order to ensure that the design would be acceptable and have a distinct Central Asian look, cultural experts were consulted from the three Founding States.
Other motifs used on the regalia include:
The Alof motif, symbolic of fire, and meant to portray warmth and hospitality. Another popular motif on the has been remastered and stylized and used on the sleeves and back of the gowns.
The photo on the right shows a typical cap for the UCA graduation gown incorporating the main regalia design, and adding other popular design motifs from Central Asia.
Motifs on the regalia:
Alof motif
Motif
Cap
Faculty Regalia follow the same design concept as the graduates but distinguished by gold embroidery and cords which increase in number depending on rank. Photo on the right shows a Professor’s gown with three lines of gold cords.
The Trustees of UCA have gowns with more elaborate decorative motifs:
The Presidents of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan, as Patrons of UCA, wear a gown with a navy blue base with gold embroidery. An invited Chief Guest wears this same regalia:
The UCA Chancellor’s Regalia is identical in design to the Patron’s regalia but on a white base:
