CirculEC Project showcased at Erasmus+ Info Day in Ust-Kamenogorsk

Ust-Kamenogorsk, November 20, 2025 — The East Kazakhstan Technical University named after D. Serikbayev (EKTU) hosted the National Erasmus+ Info Day, drawing faculty, project teams, and stakeholders to discuss ongoing initiatives. Among the highlights was the presentation of the CirculEC project, a flagship Erasmus+ effort aimed at embedding circular economy and sustainable development into higher education curricula across Central Asia.

A Regional Vision for Sustainability

CirculEC, funded by the European Union, is designed to accelerate the transition toward climate-neutral and resource-efficient economies by equipping universities with innovative teaching modules and strengthening institutional capacity. Coordinated by EKTU, the project involves a consortium of universities from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Germany, Spain, and Italy.

“CirculEC is not just about new courses; it’s about reshaping the way our students and institutions think about sustainability,” said Madina Yussubaliyeva, a project manager who presented the project during the Info Day session. “We are preparing future specialists who will lead the shift to circular economic models in our region.”

Structured Implementation

The project follows a clear roadmap:

  • Initiation: Establishing academic, financial, and administrative frameworks.
  • Curriculum Development: Creating or updating syllabi in ecological management, sustainable competitiveness, and entrepreneurship, with peer review from EU partners and industrial partners
  • Capacity Building: Training Central Asian faculty at European universities.
  • Piloting: Introducing CirculEC modules in partner institutions, followed by student feedback and adjustments.

Quality assurance and dissemination run throughout all phases, ensuring that results are shared widely and remain sustainable beyond the project’s official timeline.

Tangible Impact

According to project documents, CirculEC is expected to reach more than 1,100 students, including 120 female students, and involve 66 teachers and 22 administrative staff. The initiative delivers 27 new or adapted modules, organize hackathons in each Central Asian country, and secure industry partnerships through MoUs.

“These numbers reflect more than statistics,” noted Zhadyra Konurbayeva, EKTU’s Vice-Rector for Science and Innovation and moderator of the Info Day. “They represent opportunities for students to gain competencies that align with the European Green Deal and the global sustainability agenda.”

Erasmus+ in Kazakhstan: A Growing Footprint

The Info Day also contextualized CirculEC within Kazakhstan’s broader engagement with Erasmus+. Over the past decade, Erasmus+ has become a vital platform for Kazakh universities to internationalize, collaborate, and modernize their curricula. Projects like CirculEC, EduFusion, and DIANA demonstrate how Erasmus+ funding supports not only academic innovation but also social and economic development.

“Erasmus+ is about building bridges,” said L. Paluanova from the National Erasmus+ Office in Kazakhstan during her keynote presentation. “CirculEC shows how European and Central Asian institutions can co-create solutions to global challenges.”

Looking Ahead

The CirculEC project is scheduled to run until 2026, with pilot modules already being tested in partner universities. Hackathons planned across Central Asia encourage students to design practical solutions for waste reduction, resource reuse, and eco-friendly product design.

By presenting CirculEC at the Erasmus+ Info Day, EKTU reaffirmed its leadership in sustainability-focused education and its commitment to preparing graduates who can drive innovation in both academia and industry.

As one student participant remarked after the session:

“It feels like we are part of something bigger — not just learning theories, but contributing to a future where Kazakhstan and Central Asia are active players in the global green transition.”

Date of last changes:
01.12.2025