The University of Central Asia (UCA) was founded in 2000 by the governments of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, and His Highness the Aga Khan. It is the world's first internationally chartered institution of higher education; the International Treaty and Charter establishing this secular and private University was signed by the Aga Khan and the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, ratified by the respective parliaments and registered with the United Nations. UCA is a private, independent, self-governing institution. It will have three campuses of equal size and stature in each of the founding countries. The mission of UCA is to promote the socio-economic development of Central Asia's mountain societies, while at the same time helping the peoples of the region to preserve and draw upon their cultural traditions and heritages as assets for the future. Admission to the UCA is based on merit, as determined by objective standards. An applicant's financial resources does not play a role in decisions on admission and the university states that no qualified student will be denied the opportunity to study at the university for financial reasons.