MOCCA

Our latest post follows a MOCCA researcher from Istanbul to Zurich, where a one-month secondment at the University of Zurich opened new pathways for analysing corruption cases linking Central Asia and Europe. Immersed in a vibrant interdisciplinary environment, she refined her content-analysis framework, accessed key archival resources, and exchanged insights with anthropologists and communication scholars. The stay also strengthened academic networks and laid the groundwork for future collaboration across institutions.
Read the full story on our blog:

Bridging Continents: A Scientific Bridge from Istanbul to Zurich by Büşra Tosun Durmuş, Marmara University   When I first learned about the MOCCA project through the introduction of Prof. Dr. Erhan Doğan from the Faculty of Political Science at Marmara University, I was immediately excited by its content and the opportunities it offered. Seeing Zurich among ...

MOCCA team members from Lund University took part in the First “Central Asia – Nordics” Think Tank Forum at IICA in Tashkent. The event gathered experts and policymakers from both regions to strengthen cooperation in areas like education, governance, sustainable development, and human capital.

As an EU-funded initiative MOCCA plays a key role in supporting evidence-based policymaking through research exchange and capacity-building. The forum highlighted how our projects contribute to regional dialogue and help translate research on governance, anti-corruption, and migration into practical policy insights.
https://www.mocca.lu.se/article/lund-university-mocca-and-mars-project-teams-contribute-first-central-asia-nordics-think-tank-forum

From February to August 2024, Gulnoza Aliakbarova (Kurultai Research and Consulting, Uzbekistan) completed a transformative six-month guest research stay at Lund University’s Department of Sociology of Law through the MOCCA project.

In her blog, Gulnoza reflects on:
✨ Life in Sweden and adapting to Scandinavian academic culture
📚 How time at Lund deepened her theoretical and methodological approach
🎓 Her ongoing research on corruption in higher education in Uzbekistan
🔍 Key findings on structural pressures, informal practices, and challenges to meritocracy
🌍 How Swedish and European governance models inspired new ideas for improving transparency and institutional integrity in Uzbek HEIs

Her stay strengthened not only her academic skills and international networks, but also her policy-oriented work: she now plans to publish comparative research on university governance and develop an anti-corruption governance audit framework for higher education institutions in Uzbekistan — a concrete contribution to the MOCCA project’s mission of supporting integrity systems and evidence-based reform in Central Asia.

📖 Read the full reflection: https://mocca.blogg.lu.se/gulnoza-aliakbarova-my-journey-to-lund-a-personal-and-academic-reflection/

Gulnoza Aliakbarova: My journey to Lund — A personal and academic reflection My name is Gulnoza Aliakbarova, and from 15 February to 14 August 2024 I had the privilege of undertaking a guest research stay at Lund University’s Department of Sociology of Law, in the city of Lund, Sweden, while remaining formally affiliated with Kurultai Research and Consulting in Uzbekistan....

Between May and July 2025, Dr. Larisa Kangaspuro (University of Helsinki) carried out a MOCCA secondment at Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT), Uzbekistan.

Her research — “Preparing for Finland: Migration Strategies and Institutional Challenges in Uzbekistan” — explores how prospective labour migrants plan their moves to Finland and other Nordic–Baltic countries. Combining desk research with in-depth interviews, Larisa reveals how information flows, institutional hurdles, and informal “help” shape migration journeys.

Read how this secondment deepened academic and policy networks between Uzbekistan, Finland, and beyond:

Preparing for Finland: Field Notes from a MOCCA Secondment in Uzbekistan by Dr. Larisa Kangaspuro, University of Helsinki Between 29 May and 10 July 2025, I was a visiting researcher at Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT), Uzbekistan's first Western-style university, offering British-accredited degrees in partnership with the University of Westminster...

Sebastian Mayer from the OSCE Academy in Bishkek completed a 2-month secondment at Lund University’s Sociology of Law Department. He explored the effectiveness of anti-corruption efforts by international organizations in Central Asia. Read his full blog: https://mocca.blogg.lu.se/secondment-from-the-osce-academy-in-bishkek-to-lund-university/

Zamir Aiylchyev, a representative of the Anti-Corruption Business Council under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, has successfully completed a 3-month research secondment at Charles University in Prague, as part of the MOCCA project.

During his time at the Institute of International Studies, he explored anti-corruption strategies and reforms in post-socialist countries—particularly in the Baltic States and Central/Eastern Europe—with the goal of identifying effective practices that can be adapted to strengthen governance and transparency in Kyrgyzstan.

Read his full blog and insights here:

From Bishkek to Prague: Knowledge Exchange in Anti-Corruption Strategies by Zamir Aiylchyev, guest researcher at Charles University, Prague, from the Anti-Corruption Business Council under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic. From March 5 to June 2, 2025, I participated in a research secondment at the Institute of International Studies (IMS), Faculty of Social Sciences,...

On 21 May, the Department of Sociology of Law at Lund University organized a research seminar as part of the MOCCA project, featuring two visiting guest researchers: Dr. Sebastian Mayer from the OSCE Academy in Bishkek and Madina Ishkibayeva from the Eurasian Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies in Kazakhstan. Dr. Mayer presented his work titled “From Norm-Diffusion to Organized Hypocrisy? The OSCE as a Contested Security Institution,” examining the institutional challenges faced by the OSCE amid growing authoritarian contestation. Madina Ishkibayeva, in her presentation “I Stayed, But Not Silently: Upholding Professional Identity as a Catalyst Against Corrupt Practices in Higher Education,” explored how a strong professional identity can empower individuals to resist corruption and promote integrity within higher education institutions.

From May 6–8, the MOCCA project brought together over 60 researchers and experts at Lund University to explore corruption, informality, and governance in Central Asia. With 8 rich panels and voices from across Europe and Central Asia, MOCCA mid-term conference highlighted the power of interdisciplinary collaboration in tackling complex global challenges.

Thank you to all participants for contributing to an inspiring and impactful three days!🔗 Learn more about this event: https://shorturl.at/YSV7e

Tajik State University of Commerce hosted Professors Ole Hammerslev and Rustam Urinboyev from Lund University. During the meeting with Rector Professor Khayrullo Nazarzoda and the project team, participants exchanged ideas on project implementation and future scientific collaboration 🤝.
🆕 The project coordinator also informed that a new research project titled “SOCIAL” (2026–2029), with TSUC as a partner, has been approved by the European Commission ✅.

MOCCA Consortium Members - Zhetysu University and the Law Enforcement Academy strengthen academic cooperation during visit to Uzbekistan. https://shorturl.at/0I4QH

On January 24, Zamir Aiylchyev from the Anti-Corruption Business Council under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic led an engaging seminar for 150 students at Bishkek State University. Drawing from his secondment at the Vilnius Institute of International Relations and Political Science, Aiylchyev shared valuable insights on successful anti-corruption strategies in the Baltic states and compared them with ongoing reforms in Kyrgyzstan.

Key takeaways from the seminar:
✅ Expanding digital governance and open data platforms.
✅ Ensuring media freedom to promote transparency.
✅ Reforming laws and creating effective enforcement mechanisms.

The event sparked lively discussions on how Kyrgyzstan can adopt best practices from Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia to combat corruption. Students left inspired and equipped with knowledge to actively contribute to the fight against corruption.