The international CirculEC project, supported by the European Union’s Erasmus+ program, aims to integrate circular economy and sustainable development principles into university curricula in Europe and Central Asia. The project involves 15 academic partners from Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Spain, Italy, and Germany, according to the country’s International Information Center.
Turkmenistan is represented by the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan, the Turkmen State Institute of Economics and Management, and the Turkmen State Institute of Finance. The project aims to integrate sustainable development principles into core curricula, rather than as a separate topic. The goal is to develop students’ practical skills in resource management, environmental management, and new business models.
The D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University coordinates CirculEC. European partners include the University of Santiago de Compostela, the University of Naples Federico II, and the FHM University of Applied Sciences. This collaboration aims to adapt the curricula of Central Asian universities to international standards, taking into account the regional labor market needs.
The project will be implemented from 2023 to 2026. The initiative includes developing new educational modules, providing advanced training for faculty, and introducing pilot courses into undergraduate and graduate programs. Monitoring events and online meetings were held in 2025 to assess progress and share experiences.
CirculEC is focused on training specialists to implement sustainable management and production solutions and develop eco-entrepreneurship. The project aims to update educational approaches and develop applied skills in demand in the economy.
