The School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPCE) at the University of Central Asia is the region’s first provider of formal, university-based, non-degree educational programmes, offering vocational, professional development and personal improvement opportunities to youth and adults. Its mission is to foster economic, social and cultural development. SPCE emphasises tertiary short-cycle education (TSCE), which is well developed in advanced economies but still new to Central Asia. Instead of a university degree, TSCE gives students intense training, usually in one year or less, which leads to a widely accepted qualification to perform industry-specific tasks.  SPCE has programmes in areas relevant to the economic development of the region: Enterprise Development and Management, Information Technology and New Media, Applied Languages, Public and Social Sector Management, Vocational Education and Training, Post-Graduate Preparatory Programmes, Professional Development, and Personal Development and Improvement. Professional development courses that are offered include accounting, language for specific purposes, computers and information technology, small business management, and tourism planning and development. Vocational courses include carpentry, construction, painting and plastering.