On 16 January 2025, a working meeting was held between the Minister of Science, Higher Education and Innovation of the Kyrgyz Republic and National Coordinator of the Erasmus+ Programme in the Kyrgyz Republic.
The meeting marked one of the first official discussions of the newly appointed Minister with international cooperation stakeholders in the higher education sector. The parties focused on the current state and future prospects of cooperation in higher education, with particular attention to the contribution of Erasmus+ initiatives to institutional development, international engagement, and capacity building of Kyrgyz universities.
During the meeting, progress achieved through capacity-building projects was highlighted, including improvements in academic programmes, governance practices, and digital competencies within higher education institutions. The parties also discussed the growing participation of Kyrgyz universities in international project coordination, which reflects increasing institutional maturity and confidence in engaging at the European level.
Academic mobility was another key topic of the discussion. The meeting reviewed recent trends in inter-institutional cooperation between Kyrgyz and European universities, emphasizing the importance of staff and student exchanges for enhancing teaching quality, research collaboration, and intercultural dialogue.
Special attention was given to advanced learning opportunities for Kyrgyz students, including participation in competitive international study programmes, as well as to the advisory support provided through national expert mechanisms that assist the Ministry in aligning higher education reforms with strategic policy priorities.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their mutual interest in deepening cooperation and expanding the involvement of Kyrgyz higher education institutions in European initiatives. The dialogue underlined a shared commitment to further enhancing quality, competitiveness, and international integration of higher education in the Kyrgyz Republic.
