Project 101237042 - MECAS - ERASMUS-EDU-2025-CBHE "MECAS: Development of Master curricula in EcoInformatics for the impact on the Aral Sea basin."

It is planned to open a new master's degree in EcoInformatics at 5 project partner universities: NSTU, TIIAME, UrSU, KazSU and KSU.

Project 101237740 - DIANA - ERASMUS-EDU-2025-CBHE "DIANA: Empowering Women through the Development and Implementation of Rural Tourism Entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan."

By developing the entrepreneurial skills of self-employed rural women and improving their digital literacy, the project supports the Green Economy, modernizing the economies of Central Asian countries, making them more competitive and innovative. Sustainable growth and employment are ensured through more responsive education and business responses to the needs of the private sector in the agro-ecotourism industry.

Expected Results

• Development of the "Entrepreneurship in Rural Tourism" course (4 modules, 5 ECTS) and its integration into the educational programs of partner universities.
• Preparation of a roadmap for improving educational programs and a guide to supporting women in rural areas.
• Training at least 140 students (undergraduate and graduate) and 280 women from rural regions, ensuring gender balance (at least 50% of women, including ≥20% of women in vulnerable situations).
• Developing at least 70 entrepreneurial projects (10 in each university) aimed at meeting the needs of rural markets and achieving sustainable development goals.
• Supporting students and women through business centers.
• Presentation of 7 best projects at an international conference in Samarkand.

DIANA

On February 1-3, 2026, a kickoff meeting of partners was held at Sh. Ualikhanov Kokshetau State University, attended by the NSTU team consisting of the project's local coordinator, Head of the Computer Engineering Department Asiya Tureniyazova, and the project's trainer-researcher, Lecturer of the Department of Economics Alima Shamuratova.

A. Tureniyazova made a presentation on the role of NSTU in the project, the composition of the team and the upcoming tasks.

The next training for the team members is scheduled for late June 2026 at UNIVERSIDADE PORTUCALENSE INFANTE D HENRIQUECOOPERATIVA DE ENSINO SUPERIOR, Portugal, and in October 2026 at HOCHSCHULE WISMAR University, Germany. Currently, work is underway to study the demand of training participants to develop a training course for trainers.

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MECAS

The launch meeting of the project participants was held online on November 21 and in a hybrid format on December 10, 2025, in the TIIAME conference hall, where participants from NSTU, TIIAME, UrSU, and Kyzyl-Orda University gathered. Project objectives, the role of each partner, upcoming activities, and reporting deadlines were discussed. The project logo and booklet were approved, agreements were reached on upcoming tasks, and the roles of teams in project management, quality assurance, etc., were discussed.

On December 11, 2025, at the National Erasmus+ Day in Tashkent, on behalf of the European Union Delegation to Uzbekistan, the MECAS project coordinator Asiya Tureniyazova was presented with a certificate of recognition confirming the grant award.

On March 24-27, 2026, a training and project management meeting for the faculty of partner universities was held at the Politecnico di Torino (POLITO), Italy. MECAS project coordinator Asiya Tureniyazova, team members Rashid Oteniyazov, Timur Berdimbetov, and Kuatbay Tleuov participated in the training.

Professors from POLITO, Italy, and the University of Beira Interior, Portugal, presented the courses offered for the Master's program in EcoInformatics. Project Coordinator A. Tureniyazova reviewed the work performed and discussed with partners the upcoming tasks, work with stakeholders, and the dissemination of project results.

On April 3, 2026, a meeting was held at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of the Republic of Uzbekistan between the winners of the Erasmus+ 2025 competition and employees of the ministry, as well as the Ministry of Ecology and Environmental Management.

Certificates of recognition for achievements were presented to the winners of the Erasmus+ 2025 competition. 2 certificates of recognition were presented to Asiya Tureniyazova, Head of the Computer Engineering Department at Nukus State Technical University, and the MECAS and DIANA Project Coordinator.

A. Tureniyazova presented the projects and answered questions from ministry representatives, who, in turn, expressed their wishes regarding the projects.

A representative of the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan confirmed the relevance of the MECAS project and the high demand for specialists in such an innovative, integrated field as EcoInformatics, and expressed readiness for cooperation within the framework of the project.

Representatives of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of the Republic of Uzbekistan noted the need for close cooperation with the ministry when selecting topics for future projects for Erasmus+ CBHE to avoid duplication, non-compliance with national priorities, and accreditation requirements for new specialties. An exchange of views took place, and recommendations were presented for developing successful applications and managing existing projects.

Participants noted the usefulness of such meetings for the development and implementation of Erasmus+ projects.