Article

TAM Report / Kyrgyzstan - University collaboration Europe- Central Asia

Default profile image
Petya Mitova • 18 December 2025
0 comments

GENERAL INFORMATION

TAM title: Strengthening University Collaboration Between Europe and Central Asia: Expanding Opportunities through Joint Programmes, Research and Mobility

Type of Event: Conference with training workshop

Modality: Presential

Location: Park Hotel, Bishkek

Country: Kyrgyzstan

Dates: 23–24 April 2025

Participants: Up to 100 participants attended the sessions, with some fluctuation across the two days. Participants included HEREs, rectors, vice-rectors, deans, representatives of ministries, national agencies, and higher education institutions from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.

              

THEMES COVERED

  • Global and regional trends in higher education and the development of higher education macro-regions (EHEA and CAHEA)
  • Student-centred, competence-based curriculum design
  • Joint, double, and multiple degree programmes
  • Internationalisation strategies and academic mobility
  • University–university collaboration between Europe and Central Asia
  • Sustainability and the role of higher education in achieving the SDGs

 

KEY OUTCOMES

During the workshop, participants:

  • Enhanced their understanding of competence-based, student-centred curricula and joint programme development.
  • Examined concrete European and Central Asian practices for internationalisation, mobility, and academic collaboration.
  • Strengthened awareness of the strategic importance of the Central Asian Higher Education Area and its links to the EHEA.
  • Built and reinforced professional and institutional networks across Central Asian higher education systems.

OVERVIEW

The two-day presential TAM took the form of a regional conference combined with interactive training activities, bringing together higher education stakeholders from all five Central Asian countries. The programme was jointly designed by the two experts in close coordination with the NEO and included expert-led presentations, panel discussions, and structured interactive sessions. Core topics addressed global and European higher education trends, curriculum modernisation through student-centred and competence-based approaches, and the strategic development of joint academic programmes aligned with both Central Asian and European standards.

A strong practical dimension was ensured through interactive group work, where participants worked in small groups to design mock joint Master’s programmes, including an intra-regional Central Asian programme that generated significant engagement. The second day focused on institutional strategies for sustaining internationalisation and on sustainability, highlighting how universities can integrate green skills and SDGs into curricula, research, and institutional practices. Throughout the TAM, emphasis was placed on strengthening regional cooperation, reinforcing the Central Asian Higher Education Area (CAHEA), and clarifying its relationship with the EHEA.

 

THE FOLLOW UP ACTIVITY 

Title of the activity: Follow-up webinar on Strengthening University Collaboration Between Europe and Central Asia

Dates: 25 April 2025

Audience: Representatives of 20 higher education institutions in Kyrgyzstan, including institutional leaders, internationalisation coordinators, academic staff, and representatives of national authorities involved in higher education policy and Erasmus+ activities (around 40 participants in total).

Description: The follow-up activity consisted of an online national webinar organised after the two-day conference “Strengthening University Collaboration Between Europe and Central Asia” (23–24 April 2025). The session aimed to translate the conference outcomes and draft resolution into concrete implementation steps for higher education institutions in Kyrgyzstan.

Participants reviewed the main conclusions of the conference and discussed practical measures to strengthen international cooperation and alignment with European and global higher education standards, including the Bologna Process and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The discussion focused on establishing institutional working groups on internationalisation, exploring joint degree programmes and micro-credential initiatives, strengthening quality assurance and digital learning capacities, expanding participation in Erasmus+ initiatives, and improving coordination with national authorities and regional partners.

The meeting resulted in the development of a six-month implementation plan outlining concrete actions, responsibilities and milestones. Expected outcomes include the preparation of internationalisation roadmaps across participating institutions, the development of pilot joint-degree programmes and micro-credential modules, capacity building on quality assurance and digital pedagogy, and increased academic mobility and collaboration between Europe and Central Asia.

 

ENHANCING IMPACT: PROPOSED NEXT STEPS

  • Continue strengthening the Central Asian Higher Education Area (CAHEA) to enhance regional compatibility, mobility, and cooperation.
  • Further develop student-centred, competence-based degree programmes using the Tuning methodology.
  • Promote the creation of joint, double, and multiple degree programmes within Central Asia and with European partners.
  • Adapt legal and policy frameworks to better support joint programmes and joint degree awarding.
  • Integrate sustainability and SDGs more systematically into curricula, research, and institutional strategies.

 

RESOURCES AND BACKGROUND MATERIAL

Be the first one to comment

Please log in or sign up to comment.