On May 6, 2025, the Tajik Agrarian University named after Shirinsho Shotemur hosted an International Scientific and Practical Conference on the topic:
“Sustainable Development of Higher Education Institutions within the Framework of EU Erasmus+ Programmes.”
The event brought together representatives from the National Erasmus+ Office in Tajikistan, universities from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Finland, as well as partners of Erasmus+ projects HWCA, ESGCA, and KA147.
The conference took place at the main building of TAU in Dushanbe and was also broadcast online via Zoom, allowing for broad international participation.
Opening Session
The plenary session featured welcome speeches from:
- Usmon Ma’mur Mahmadyorzoda – Rector of TAU, Professor, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences;
- Mokhbonu Nakhatzoda – National Erasmus+ Coordinator in Tajikistan;
- Madina Khudonazarova – Head of the Department for Investment Program Implementation and Grants at TAU, Local Coordinator of Erasmus+ Projects.
Key Presentations
Participants presented insightful reports and shared best practices for integrating sustainable approaches into university operations. Highlights included:
- “The Contribution of Erasmus+ Programmes to Enhancing Educational Quality and Research Capacity of the University” – Madina Khudonazarova (TAU);
- “Transition to Sustainable Financing: ESG Practices in the Banking Sector of Kyrgyzstan” – Chinara Adamkulova and Arsen Akhunbaev (KNU, Kyrgyzstan);
- “Integrating Sustainability Principles into University Curricula” – Sara Orazbekovna Kitaibekova (KAU, Kazakhstan);
- “The Role of Education and Science in Climate Change Adaptation” – Shavkat Yarashovich Pulatov (TAU);
- “Erasmus+ Opportunities in Tajikistan: Globalizing Higher Education” – Mokhbonu Nakhatzoda.
Representatives from the University of Eastern Finland and the University of Business and Law of the Republic of Tajikistan also shared their experiences in international collaboration and implementation of sustainable practices in higher education.
Panel Discussions and Outcomes
The panel sessions encouraged live dialogue and covered the following key themes:
- Global challenges in higher education;
- Integration of sustainable models into teaching and learning processes;
- The impact of international education programmes on the transformation of universities in the region.
The conference concluded with a dynamic exchange of views and ideas, reinforcing partnerships among higher education institutions from Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Finland.
Importance of the Event
The event marked a significant step forward in advancing Erasmus+ programmes and supporting sustainable development in the higher education systems of Central Asia. Erasmus+ continues to play a vital role in modernizing education, promoting academic mobility, and enhancing the institutional capacity of universities across the region.