From October 6 to October 10, 2025, Karaganda University of Kazpotrebsoyuz (Karaganda, Kazakhstan), the Westminster International University in Tashkent, and the Central Asian University hosted the implementation phase of the academic project CirculEC – “Development of Innovative Educational Programs and Modules on Circular Economy and Sustainable Development”, funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ program.

The consortium includes 15 partners — leading universities and research centers from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan — who are adopting the experience of their European colleagues from Spain, Italy, and Germany. This international alliance promotes the creation of an innovative educational environment and the development of future-oriented competencies aimed at ensuring the region’s sustainable development.

According to the project plan, the seminar began on October 6–7 at Karaganda University of Kazpotrebsoyuz, Kazakhstan, which hosted more than 50 guests as the Lead Partner for this project stage. The events then continued from October 9–10 at Westminster International University in Tashkent and the Central Asian University of Uzbekistan, and will conclude at the Tajik State University of Commerce and the Technological University of Tajikistan in Dushanbe.

During the meetings, CirculEC project partners will conduct monitoring and evaluation of the pilot implementation of new educational modules, courses, and teaching materials at the following levels:

Bachelor’s programs,

Master’s programs,

Lifelong Learning (LLL).

A key feature of the event will be the participation not only of university representatives, but also of lecturers and doctoral students who have previously completed professional development training, as well as stakeholders from across Central Asia — including representatives from business, NGOs, and government agencies. Their expert input will help provide a comprehensive assessment of the results of implementing the new courses and their alignment with labor market needs and sustainable development goals.

It is hoped that the outcomes of this initiative will form the basis for a comprehensive pilot report on integrating circular economy and sustainable development modules into the educational systems of Central Asia. This event marks an important step in strengthening academic cooperation and nurturing a new generation of specialists capable of addressing the challenges of green transformation and sustainable regional growth.