On 26 January 2026, the annual international NEO–ICP–ENFP meeting was launched in Brussels (Belgium) with the participation of representatives of national structures involved in the management and coordination of the Erasmus+ educational exchange programme of the European Union. The event brought together representatives of the European Commission, the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), National Erasmus+ Agencies, National Erasmus+ Offices (NEOs), Erasmus+ National Focal Points (ENFPs), as well as representatives of ministries of education and higher education institutions from partner countries of the Erasmus+ programme.

The NEO–ICP–ENFP meeting serves as an important platform for discussing key issues related to international academic mobility, facilitating the exchange of working practices and experiences among participants, exploring future perspectives for the international development of the Erasmus+ programme, and highlighting the role of national structures in enhancing the effectiveness and sustainability of cooperation in education and science.

The Republic of Tajikistan was represented at the meeting by Ms. Mohbonu Nakhatzoda, Coordinator of the National Erasmus+ Office in Tajikistan, and Ms. Muyassara Sharif Davlatzoda, Representative of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Tajikistan.

The participation of Tajik representatives provided an opportunity to present national priorities at the international level, as well as to actively engage in discussions on future directions for the development of the Erasmus+ programme and international academic mobility.

The event began with an International Seminar on Academic Mobility, which covered all stages of the mobility process—from the management of student and staff mobility to the assessment of its long-term impact on higher education institutions.

Opening remarks were delivered by representatives of EACEA and the Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC) of the European Commission, who emphasized the strategic importance of international academic mobility for strengthening national education systems.

The following issues were discussed during the panel sessions:

• key challenges in the implementation of student mobility;
• support mechanisms for Erasmus+ programme participants;
• the use of teaching and administrative staff mobility as a tool for institutional development;
• the role of national offices and contact points in supporting mobility projects.

Special attention was paid to issues of inclusion, the level and quality of academic exchanges, and their alignment with the strategic goals of higher education institutions.

The programme also included the following parallel sessions:

• ICP working group meeting;
• NEO meeting;
• ENFP meeting;
• regional sessions for the Southern Mediterranean, Western Balkans, Central Asia, and the Middle East.

Within the framework of the National Erasmus+ Offices (NEO) meeting, the following key topics were addressed:

• prospects for NEO activities beyond 2026;
• grant management and reporting requirements;
• preparation for the new call for project proposals (NEO Invitation to Submit);
• effective use of SPHERE resources and engagement of HERE experts;
• communication strategies to promote Erasmus+ initiatives at the national level.

During the regional sessions, representatives of Central Asian countries, including Tajikistan, identified common priorities and needs and discussed ways to strengthen the role of National Erasmus+ Offices in the region.