On February 28, 2025, Karaganda University of Kazpotrebsoyuz hosted the Information Day of the Erasmus+ CirculEC project – "Development of Innovative Educational Programs and Modules on Circular Economy and Sustainable Development." The event brought together representatives from universities, businesses, government agencies, and public organizations interested in promoting a sustainable economy in Kazakhstan and Central Asia.

The main topic of discussion was the integration of circular economy principles into higher education programs, particularly within our university. Participants examined key challenges and opportunities for transitioning to sustainable production and consumption models and emphasized the importance of preparing professionals for the green economy.

Experts at the event discussed the potential for implementing new teaching approaches, expanding interdisciplinary courses, and enhancing practical training for students and retraining specialists in this field. Business representatives highlighted the growing demand in the labor market for specialists with knowledge in resource conservation, environmental management, and sustainable development.

During the discussions, recommendations were made on syllabus projects and the development of new professional development courses at Karaganda University of Kazpotrebsoyuz, aimed at fostering competencies in circular economy and sustainable development.

As a result of the meeting, recommendations were formed to modernize the university's educational programs, strengthen partnerships between universities, industry, and the government, and develop pilot educational programs incorporating European experience.

The project continues its active work, and we invite interested partners to collaborate.

Contact person: Oksana Bezler
E-mail: bezler@karu.kz
Phone: +7 (7212) 45-67-89

We are thrilled to announce the upcoming trainings for enhancing teaching staff capacity for CA partners from March 11 till March 27, 2025. These important international events will embark on a journey starting in Napoli, then moving to Bielefeld, and finishing in Santiago de Compostela. Spanning four days at each institution, our aim is to foster a rich exchange of experiences EU partners for project partners from Central Asia on the successful incorporation of Circular Economy (CE) principles into educational frameworks.

 

Event Overview:

- Title: Capacity building in Circular Economy

- Locations: Napoli, Bielefeld, Santiago de Compostela

- Duration: Four days per institution

Objective:

The main purpose of the work package is primarily to provide access to the developed project materials for partners and future users from the beneficiary universities. During the development of materials, the electronic platform can serve to study the views of project partners and discuss the issues and materials being developed.

Trainings on Circular and Sustainable Economy:

Join Us:

This series is a unique opportunity for educators, sustainability advocates, and policy makers interested in the practical implementation of Circular Economy concepts within higher education. Together, we can pave the way for a sustainable future through collaborative learning and shared experiences.

Understanding the importance of accessibility to the event, Project partners will provide live streaming of the workshop series. This will be complemented by a video recording made available post-event, ensuring educators worldwide can benefit from this initiative.

Stay Connected:

Follow us on social media and check our website regularly for the latest updates, registration information, and specific dates related to the workshop series. Join the conversation and be part of our growing community committed to sustainability education.

https://www.facebook.com/people/Circulec/61557848549316

https://twitter.com/Circulec

We look forward to welcoming you to this enlightening journey through Circular Economy education.

Warm regards,

CirculEc Project Team

The trainings are aimed at increasing the capacity of teachers of Central Asian partners to create courses and curricula, as well as to develop teaching materials in selected disciplines:

1. Territorial and urban characteristics
2. The systemic approach to study the sustainability
3. Territorial and urban components of competitiveness
4. Sustainability and competitiveness indices
5. Sustainability and competitiveness ranking of CA countries
6. Corporate environmental management
7. Corporate climate management
8. Circular economy fundamentals
9. Fundamentals CE Sustainability Policies
10. Circular Sustainable Entrepreneurship
11. Circular sustainable business models

The content of the trainings covers new trends and topics in the direction of the circular economy, the development and structuring of curricula and programs, the development of teaching materials, forms of organizing cooperation between education and business structures. During the face-to-face trainings, 2 people from each partner university will be involved to each European universities and the remaining members of the academic groups of partners will be involved online. The activities planned within the framework of project trainings in European partner universities will contribute to the expansion of academic excellence for partner universities through the implementation and promotion of the principles of the Circular Economy.

Participants, including professors from the Central Asia region, will engage in a comprehensive learning experience, sharing the innovative practices of EU partners in embedding CE concepts into their courses.

1. Trainings on Circular and Sustainable Economy

The centerpiece of this initiative is the " Trainings on Circular and Sustainable Economy", which aims to provide educators with the tools and knowledge to integrate CE principles into their teaching.

2. Empowering Educators for a Sustainable Future

The CirculEc project means the generating new economic insights by implementing the principles of the Circular Economy and thus contributing to sustainable development through the education system.

This series of professional trainings is a very important and productive part of the project and will make a significant contribution to the formation of human capital for the higher education systems of the Central Asian countries.

About the CirculEc Project

The CirculEc (Development of innovative curricula and modules in Circular Economy and Sustainable Development) project is aimed to build the capacity of the human capital in the HEIs of Central Asian countries on a Circular Economy in order to provide staff, students and a wider public with the skills and competences aligned to the needs of local labor markets and environmental challenges CA countries face.

Project will update current subjects that HEIs have in the Circular Economy adapted to the needs of each country (KZ, TJ, TM, UZ).

For additional information, please contact:

Tajik State University of Commerce 

Address: 734055, Tajikistan, Dushanbe, Dehoti Street, 1/2

Phone: +992 234 84 34

E-mail: sirculec@gmail.com

URL: http:/circulec.tguk.tj

Stay Connected:

Follow us on social media and check our website regularly for the latest updates, registration information, and specific dates related to the workshop series. Join the conversation and be part of our growing community committed to sustainability education.

https://www.facebook.com/people/Circulec/61557848549316

https://twitter.com/Circulec

We look forward to welcoming you to this enlightening journey through Circular Economy education.

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On December 26, 2024, the local newspaper "Industrial Karaganda" published an article under the same title, dedicated to the project "Development of innovative curricula and modules in Circular Economy and Sustainable Development", implemented by Karaganda University of Kazpotrebsoyuz within the Erasmus+ program.

The project focuses on developing and integrating innovative educational programs to train specialists for the circular economy and sustainable development. The article highlights the importance of this initiative for the region, which faces several environmental and economic challenges, such as low recycling rates and high resource consumption.

Key Points of the Article:

The project introduces changes to existing university programs and develops professional development courses.

Collaboration with leading European universities ensures the adaptation of best practices to regional needs.

Training specialists in circular economy principles includes teaching the development of eco-friendly technologies, waste recycling, and the design of sustainable products.

Significance of the Project for the Region:

Environmental benefits – Reduced environmental impact and increased waste recycling rates.

Economic growth – Creation of new jobs, attraction of investments, and development of local businesses.

Quality of life – Cleaner environment and expanded opportunities for employment and professional development.

This initiative lays the foundation for a sustainable future where the economy and ecology are in harmony, fostering regional development based on environmental responsibility.

Read more in the article published in "Industrial Karaganda" (https://inkaraganda.kz/pdf_version/svezhij-nomer-za-26-dekabrja-2/)!

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Invitation Letter to Companies for the Validation Workshop

Dear stakeholders,

We are pleased to invite you to participate in our “Transforming Education for Environmental Entrepreneurship: Strategies for Regional Sustainability” Workshop. This event aims to bring together key stakeholders from various sectors and collaboratively discuss pathways for improvement and innovation.

Workshop Objective:

The primary goal of this workshop is to delve into the innovative educational programs and modules in circular economy and sustainable development. The workshop will focus on top-tier courses and methodologies designed to develop circular economy skills, including policies, business models, and techniques tailored to the modern challenges of ecological transition.

Date: December 26

Time: 11 am (Astana time, GMT +5)

Location: Zoom meeting

Please find the link:

Alikhan Bokeikhan University invites you to the Zoom meeting.

Topic: Zoom meeting invitation - Zoom Meeting Alikhan Bokeikhan University

Time: 26 дек. 2024 11:00 Алматы

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/96893826136?pwd=9pjhGrbjzqY6FZrnePqJdQcYFWeXfN.1

ID: 968 9382 6136

Code: 905304

Who Should Attend:

We are inviting participants from diverse sectors, including technology, education, government, private industry, and non-governmental organizations, ensuring a well-rounded discussion that reflects the multifaceted challenges and opportunities within our analysis.

We kindly request you to confirm your participation by responding to this letter. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

We look forward to your valuable contribution to this workshop.

Best regards!

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On November 27, 2024, Karaganda University of Kazpotrebsoyuz hosted a Career Festival, which became a platform for interaction between students, graduates, and regional employers. Special attention at the event was given to the Erasmus+ CirculEC Project (“Development of innovative curricula and modules in the field of circular economy and sustainable development”).

About the CirculEC Project:

CirculEC aims to integrate the principles of circular economy and sustainable development into educational programs. This opens new opportunities for students and contributes to preparing professionals ready to address modern ecological and economic challenges.

Key Highlights of the Event:

• The project’s goals and objectives, including the development of educational modules to support sustainable development, were presented.
• A survey of employers was conducted to analyze satisfaction with graduate training quality and identify labor market needs.
• Opportunities for collaboration with stakeholders and regional companies were demonstrated.

Results:

• The project attracted significant interest from business representatives and students interested in acquiring new competencies.
• Companies emphasized the importance of incorporating sustainable development concepts into specialist training.
• Survey results will help adjust educational programs to better meet market demands.

The Career Festival became an important step in promoting the CirculEC project, strengthening interaction with employers, and preparing graduates for successful careers. We thank all participants and partners for their interest and contribution to a sustainable future!

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On October 1, 2024, an online workshop titled "State of Play Analysis and Validation for Stakeholders in the Central Asian Region (Kazakhstan)" was held. The event was organized to discuss key aspects of the circular economy and sustainable development in higher education institutions, as well as to analyze stakeholder engagement in this process within the framework of project 101129169 CirculEC.

The goal of the workshop was to bring together and unite experts from different sectors to discuss the current issues of sustainable development and the circular economy in Central Asia. Particular attention was given to the role of higher education institutions in promoting these concepts and integrating sustainable approaches into the educational process. During the meeting, participants reviewed practical examples of implementing sustainable development principles in educational institutions and discussed the challenges universities face in realizing these initiatives.
One of the key segments of the program was a discussion about the role of stakeholders in supporting and developing the circular economy. A detailed analysis was presented, highlighting key participants in the process, their influence, and interests, which helped to better understand the existing structure of interaction and identify potential growth areas for collaboration.
The event concluded with a Q&A session, where all participants had the opportunity to ask questions, share experiences, and discuss possible ways to further develop partnerships in the region. The workshop brought together representatives of higher education institutions, sustainable development experts, and other stakeholders, fostering a constructive dialogue and exchange of knowledge.
Such events not only strengthen cooperation between institutions and experts in the field of sustainable development but also help find new solutions to current environmental and social challenges in the region. The workshop left a positive impression on the participants and set the direction for future joint initiatives.

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On September 25, 2024, information day for the project "Development of innovative curricula and modules in Circular Economy and Sustainable Development" was held at the university. The event brought together students interested in sustainable development.

During the Information Day, participants learned about the project's goals, which are aimed at creating modern educational programs that help students develop knowledge and skills in the field of the circular economy. Students actively asked questions and discussed ideas for improving the courses.

Dean of the Faculty Gimranova G.I., as a member of the project team, emphasized: "Our goal is to make education not only relevant, but also practice-oriented. We are creating programs that will promote the development of environmental responsibility in students".

"We strive to create educational programs that will help our students become leaders in the field of sustainable development and innovation", said Zariya Aitova, a member of the project’s working group.

The event concluded with announcements about further implementation of the project and the creation of student initiatives that promote the principles of sustainable development.

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Federico II University welcomed with great enthusiasm colleagues from ten universities and research institutes in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan as part of the new Erasmus+ CirculEC project. The project, which will end in 2026, aims to develop an innovative university Master’s degree focused on the strategic themes of sustainable development and the circular economy, with a multidisciplinary approach that combines skills and knowledge from different areas of expertise.

The first meeting in Italy with Asian colleagues was held on Monday, 29 April, at 10.30 am, at the TeMA Lab of the Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering. The meeting saw the participation of very representative institutional figures, including the Kazakh rectors of Alikhan Bokeikhan University and Ualikhanov University, two vice-rectors from the East Kazakhstan Technical University and the Tajik State University of Commerce, and some faculty deans of the universities involved.

“The collaboration with the universities of Central Asia represents an extraordinary opportunity, for our University and our DICEA Department, to transfer not only know-how but also visions and ways of approaching scientific research”, declared Professor Carmela Gargiulo, scientific manager of the project together with engineer Gerardo Carpentieri. “This project will allow us to exchange knowledge and skills in a strategic sector such as sustainable development and to strengthen ties with a rapidly growing geographical area”.

The Asian partners have already expressed their willingness to start further collaborations with the Federician community, expanding the synergy in research, training and third mission. The event represents a further step forward in the internationalization path of Federico II University, which confirms itself as a point of reference in the international academic panorama, always attentive to promoting valuable cultural and scientific exchanges.

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The event began on April 22 at FHM in Bielefeld (Germany), continuation in Santiago de Compostela (Spain) and Naples (Italy).

Participants: Central Asian delegation from four countries (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan).

The aim of this international project meeting is, in addition to getting to know the project participants in real life for the first time, above all to pass on the basics of circular value creation in research and teaching as well as from the economic perspective in Europe to the Central Asian partners.

The following objectives will be pursued during the project period from 2023-2026:
- Integration of circular economy concepts into university coursework in Central Asia
- Organizing events and workshops at universities in Central Asia on the circular economy, such as lectures, panel discussions or hackathons, to get students and teachers interested in this topic.

The program in the two days in Germany started with a general presentation of the Fachhochschule des Mittelstandes and its activities in relation to Circular Economy in research and teaching. This program included a workshop to work out the transferability of a course “Circular Economy” in Bielefeld for course programs in Central Asia. On the second day, the participants were given an insight into existing FHM research projects in the field of circular value creation. Here they had the opportunity to talk to a practice partner: Marc-Philip Lamm from the bakery Lamm in Bielefeld was on hand to answer questions on the topic of sustainable and circular value creation in his own company. After an overview of the EU project “Linear 2 circular”, the participants had the opportunity to try out the tested tools and methods for themselves. The second joint day was rounded off with a presentation by Armando Garcia Schmidt from the Bertelsmann Stiftung, who gave the participants an understanding of the political and legal situation in Europe and Germany on the topic of the circular economy.

The event concluded with an idea phase in a design thinking format to integrate what they had heard into their own projects and learn from the wide-ranging input. The participants worked according to the prevailing motto in the field of the circular economy: “If we could build an economy that uses things instead of consuming them, we could build a future.” (Ellen MacArthur, Ellen MacArthur Foundation).

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Last Thursday 25th and Friday 26^th of April we have had in the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of the USC the visit of a delegation of 11 universities from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. This visit has been carried out in the framework of the CirculEC project funded by the Erasmus CBHE programme of the European Commission. The aim of the project is to enable these 11 Central Asian Universities to improve training in circular economy and sustainability. The first day of the visit focused on training the attendees on Circular Economy and Sustainability and the different aspects of this topic, which ended with a participatory session to identify the needs of the universities and the subsequent debate. On the second day, a visit was made to the Water Technology Centre, CETAQUA - VIAQUA where the participants had the opportunity to attend the explanations given by Teresa Alvariño, director of the Centre, on the operations and projects of CETAQUA. Also in attendance was Ana Botas, manager of VIRATEC, Clúster Gallego Soluciones Ambientales y Economía Circular (Galician Cluster for Environmental Solutions and Circular Economy) with whom a productive debate on potential forms of cooperation for mutual learning took place. The visit ended with the summary of the visit and the closure of the event.

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Subject: Launch of the International Workshop Series on Implementing Circular Economy Disciplines

We are thrilled to announce an upcoming series of transformative workshops designed to integrate Circular Economy disciplines into academic curriculums. This prestigious event will embark on a journey starting in Bielefeld, then moving to Santiago, and concluding in Napoli. Spanning two days at each institution, our aim is to foster a rich exchange of experiences among EU partners on the successful incorporation of Circular Economy (CE) principles into educational frameworks.

Event Overview:

- Title: International Workshop Series on Circular Economy

- Locations: Bielefeld, Santiago, Napoli

- Duration: Two days per institution

Objective:

The primary goal of this series is to empower professors from the Central Asia region with the necessary skills to effectively implement changes within their curriculums, ensuring the success and sustainability of Circular Economy education projects. This initiative is a stepping stone towards creating a more sustainable and resilient future through education.

Join Us:

This series is a unique opportunity for educators, sustainability advocates, and policy makers interested in the practical implementation of Circular Economy concepts within higher education. Together, we can pave the way for a sustainable future through collaborative learning and shared experiences.

Understanding the importance of accessibility to the event, Project partners will provide live streaming of the workshop series. This will be complemented by a video recording made available post-event, ensuring educators worldwide can benefit from this initiative"

Stay Connected:

Follow us on social media and check our website regularly for the latest updates, registration information, and specific dates related to the workshop series. Join the conversation and be part of our growing community committed to sustainability education.

[https://www.facebook.com/people/Circulec/61557848549316/]

[https://twitter.com/Circulec]

We look forward to welcoming you to this enlightening journey through Circular Economy education.

Warm regards,

CirculEc Project Team

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The workshops are designed to bridge the gap between current academic offerings and the pressing need for sustainability through the principles of Circular Economy. Participants, including professors from the Central Asia region, will engage in a comprehensive learning experience, sharing the innovative practices of EU partners in embedding CE concepts into their courses.

1. Masterclass on Circular and Sustainable Economy:

The centerpiece of this initiative is the "Masterclass on Circular and Sustainable Economy", which aims to provide educators with the tools and knowledge to integrate CE principles into their teaching.

2. Empowering Educators for a Sustainable Future:

CirculEc is committed to leading the charge in sustainability education. By equipping educators with the knowledge and tools to teach Circular Economy concepts, we are investing in a more sustainable and resilient future," said Madina Yussubaliyeva, Project Coordinator of CirculEc project. "This workshop series is just the beginning of a global movement towards incorporating sustainability into every aspect of education in Central Asia."

About the CirculEc Project:

The CirculEC (Development of innovative curricula and modules in Circular Economy and Sustainable Development) project is aimed to build the capacity of the human capital in the HEIs of Central Asian countries on a circular economy in order to provide staff, students and wider public with skills and competences aligned to the needs of local labour markets and environmental challenges CA countries face.

Project will update current disciplines that HEIs have in the circular economy adapted to the needs of each country (KZ, TKM, TJ, UZ).