Thematic Cluster Meeting on Erasmus+ CBHE Projects in the Field of Sustainability: Green Deal Held in Tashkent

On 22 October 2026, the Thematic Cluster Meeting on Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) Projects in the Field of Sustainability: Green Deal was held at Kimyo International University in Tashkent.

The meeting brought together representatives of Erasmus+ CBHE projects, higher education institutions, national authorities, international partners, and other stakeholders to exchange experiences, showcase project achievements, and explore opportunities for further cooperation.

The Cluster Meeting opened with welcoming remarks by Professor Akmal Allakuliev, Rector of Kimyo International University in Tashkent; Mr. Roberto Aparicio, Programme Manager in charge of the Agriculture Sector at the Delegation of the European Union to Uzbekistan; Mr. Behruz Mirzayev, Head of the Department of Renewable Energy Sources, Environmental Diplomacy and Green Economy at the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Uzbekistan; and Ms. Aziza Aburakhmanova, Coordinator of the National Erasmus+ Office in Uzbekistan.

Key topics addressed during the Cluster Meeting included:

• The impact of Erasmus+ CBHE projects at individual, institutional, national, and regional levels;

• Project achievements and innovative approaches presented through thematic exhibitions;

• Regional cooperation among Central Asian countries and university–industry partnerships;

• Long-term sustainability of project results beyond the grant period;

• Synergies between Erasmus+ and other EU-funded initiatives, featuring the Technical Assistance for the Sound Management of Hazardous Chemicals project, funded by the European Union and implemented by FAO, and TiBeRIUM – Titanium and Beryllium for European Resilience and Innovative Utilization of Minerals, supported under the European Union's Horizon Europe programme.

Ms. Gulnara Isaeva, National Coordinator of the Erasmus+ Programme in the Kyrgyz Republic, joined the Cluster Meeting online and delivered a presentation entitled “Erasmus+ CBHE Projects in the Kyrgyz Republic: Building Green Capacity, Together with Central Asia”, highlighting regional cooperation in green capacity building.

The programme also featured an interactive workshop led by Professor Asiya Tureniyazova from Nukus State Technical University, a member of the National Team of Erasmus+ Higher Education Reform Experts (HEREs) and Erasmus+ CBHE MECAS project coordinator. The workshop focused on identifying practical solutions to challenges encountered during project implementation.

The National Impact Study (NIS) team also contributed to the Cluster Meeting by introducing the ongoing national study on the impact of the Erasmus+ Programme in Uzbekistan, outlining its objectives and expected contribution to assessing the Programme's impact.

The meeting also featured thematic exhibitions showcasing the achievements and results of Erasmus+ CBHE projects, including GREENDT, SPHERE, GDCAU, and GreenEngine, alongside the EU-funded Technical Assistance for the Sound Management of Hazardous Chemicals project. Participants also had the opportunity to explore GreenEngine project installations featured in the Art Engineering 2026 exhibition.

The Cluster Meeting provided a valuable opportunity to reflect on the contribution of Erasmus+ CBHE projects to the modernisation of higher education, environmental sustainability, and green transformation in Uzbekistan and the wider Central Asian region.