May 30–31, 2023, the National Erasmus+ Office in Kyrgyzstan participated in the XVII International Conference “GIS in Central Asia” (GISCA’23) and in dedicated trainings organized under the Erasmus+ GeoTAK and DEvision projects at the Kyrgyz State Technical University named after I. Razzakov (KSTU).
The conference brought together over 100 participants from Central Asia, Europe, and Asia, including representatives from universities, research institutions, and industry partners. GISCA’23 served as a key platform to share knowledge, strengthen international academic networks, and explore geospatial approaches for sustainable development.
During the official opening ceremony, welcoming remarks were delivered by Mr. Mirlan Chynybaev, Rector of KSTU; Prof. K.E. Abdrakhmatov, President of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic; Ms. Gulnara Isaeva, National Erasmus+ Coordinator in Kyrgyzstan; Prof. Josef Strobl (University of Salzburg, Austria); and Prof. Luis Ángel Ruiz (Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain), the coordinator of the Erasmus+ GeoTAK project.
The GeoTAK project (“Development of Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Programmes and Strengthening Research Networks in Geoinformation Technologies in Armenia and Kyrgyzstan”) is funded by the European Union Erasmus+ Programme and is being implemented during 2021–2024. The project is coordinated by the Polytechnic University of Valencia (Spain) with KSTU as the national coordinator. In Kyrgyzstan, partners include Osh Technological University named after M. Adyshev, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic, and the State Cartography and Geodesy Service (Goskartografia) under the Ministry of Agriculture.
GeoTAK aims to develop interdisciplinary postgraduate education in geoinformation technologies (GIT) and to strengthen research and innovation collaboration among universities, government, and industry. As a result of the project, three PhD programs were developed at KSTU and the first cohort of doctoral students has already been admitted.
Training sessions held within the framework of GeoTAK and DEvision during the conference focused on curriculum development, digital tools for geospatial analysis, and strategies for preparing highly qualified specialists for the digital transformation of the region.
GISCA’23 reaffirmed the vital role of EU-funded initiatives in building academic excellence, promoting innovation, and supporting sustainable socio-economic development in Central Asia.
