Conferences & Workshops highlights BIMI’s research orientation and scholarly engagement by students and faculty.

Conferences & Workshops

BIMI hosts, co-hosts, and participates in a growing programme of scientific conferences, professional workshops, seminars, and continuing medical education (CME) events throughout the academic year. These events serve multiple purposes: they bring cutting-edge knowledge to our campus community, they connect BIMI students and faculty with national and international experts, and they establish BIMI as a genuine intellectual centre within the Central Asian medical landscape.

This page lists confirmed and planned conferences and workshops. For the latest additions and registration information, subscribe to the BIMI Events Newsletter at bimiedu.com/events.

Flagship Annual Events

BIMI Annual International Medical Research Symposium

Date: November (annually — 2 days)   |   Venue: BIMI Main Auditorium & Seminar Rooms, Bishkek   |   Type: Research Conference (International + National)

The BIMI Annual Research Symposium is the flagship academic event of the BIMI calendar — a two-day conference bringing together researchers, clinicians, educators, and students from BIMI and invited institutions across Central Asia, South Asia, and Europe. The Symposium showcases the year's best student and faculty research, hosts keynote lectures by internationally distinguished visiting academics, and provides a forum for networking, collaboration building, and scientific discourse. The event concludes with the BIMI Research Awards Ceremony.

Programme Highlights:

•       Keynote Address by a distinguished visiting speaker (internationally recognised clinician-researcher).

•       Oral paper competition — Year 5 student presentations assessed by an independent external panel; prizes for Best Paper, Best Presentation, and Best Introduction to Research.

•       Poster exhibition — Years 3–5 students and faculty; prizes for Best Original Poster and Best Systematic Review Poster.

•       Workshop stream — parallel hands-on workshops on biostatistics, systematic review methodology, clinical research design, and academic writing.

•       Panel discussion — invited international and national speakers address a topical global health issue of current relevance.

•       BIMI Research Awards Ceremony — recognising outstanding contributions by faculty researchers, student researchers, and clinical supervisors.

•       Networking dinner for faculty, visiting delegates, and research award winners.

BIMI International Medical Education Conference (BIMEC)

Date: March (annually — 1 day)   |   Venue: BIMI Simulation Centre & Academic Building   |   Type: Medical Education Conference (Regional Focus)

BIMEC is Central Asia's emerging forum for medical education innovation — a one-day conference dedicated entirely to pedagogy, curriculum development, simulation, assessment, and faculty development in medical schools. BIMEC attracts medical education leads, curriculum designers, simulation specialists, and quality assurance professionals from institutions across Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and beyond. BIMI's Medical Education Research Centre (CMERI) leads the scientific committee.

Programme Highlights:

•       Morning plenary: Keynote on the global state of competency-based medical education (CBME).

•       Workshop stream 1: OSCE design, calibration, and standard-setting — practical workshop with real station development exercise.

•       Workshop stream 2: Simulation scenario design — from learning objectives to debrief — practical hands-on session in BIMI simulation centre.

•       Workshop stream 3: Curriculum mapping for licensing examination alignment — interactive session.

•       Poster exhibition: Institutional submissions on curriculum innovation, assessment, and faculty development.

•       Panel: Is the traditional lecture dead? Evidence-based arguments for and against lecture-centred teaching.

•       Networking session and BIMI campus tour for visiting delegates.

BIMI Global Health Week

Date: February (annually — 5 days, themed)   |   Venue: Campus-wide — lectures, simulation centre, community venues   |   Type: Educational Event (All Students & Faculty)

Global Health Week is a student-led, faculty-supported week-long educational programme that focuses each year on a single globally significant health challenge. Past themes have included 'Antimicrobial Resistance: The Silent Pandemic', 'Mental Health: Closing the Treatment Gap', and 'Climate Change and Human Health'. The week combines academic lectures with practical workshops, community engagement activities, film screenings, debates, and keynote addresses from internationally recognised global health figures.

Programme Highlights:

•       Daily morning lectures by faculty and invited speakers on that year's theme.

•       Student-organised community health awareness activities in Bishkek (health screening camps, school health visits, social media campaigns).

•       One Grand Debate — students argue opposing positions on a contested global health policy question.

•       Documentary film screening and panel discussion.

•       Charity fundraising event supporting a global health cause selected by the student body.

•       Closing ceremony with student Global Health Awards.

Continuing Medical Education (CME) Workshops — Regular Programme

BIMI runs a monthly CME workshop programme open to both BIMI faculty and registered healthcare professionals from affiliated hospitals and the wider Bishkek medical community. These workshops provide structured CME credit hours and are designed to update practising clinicians on developments in key clinical areas.

External Conference Participation & Travel Grants

BIMI actively encourages and financially supports participation by faculty and students in relevant national and international conferences. The Conference Travel Grant programme provides funding for:

•       Faculty presenting original research at international peer-reviewed conferences — up to USD 800 per trip (once per academic year, per faculty member).

•       Students presenting research at recognised national or international conferences — up to USD 500 per trip, subject to first-author status on an accepted abstract.

•       Faculty attending WFME, AMEE, or ASPIRE-accredited medical education conferences — up to USD 600 per trip.

Applications for travel grants must be submitted to the Research Cell Director at least 8 weeks before the conference date. Priority is given to applicants who have not received a travel grant in the preceding 12 months and to first-time international conference presenters.

Propose a Workshop or Symposium at BIMI

BIMI welcomes proposals from faculty, external clinicians, academic societies, and industry partners for workshops, symposia, or short courses to be hosted at BIMI.

Proposals should specify: the topic and target audience; the scientific rationale and expected learning outcomes; proposed format and duration; speaker/faculty requirements; any financial or logistical support requested from BIMI.

Submit proposals to: events@bimiedu.com. The BIMI Events Committee reviews proposals on a rolling basis and responds within 14 working days.