On April 22, 2026, the International Student Eco-Conference titled “Green Future Forum: Students Leading Sustainable Change” was held at the Electronic Library of the Clinical Simulation Center of the International Higher School of Medicine (IHSM) in Bishkek.
The event was organized by IHSM in collaboration with the student eco-club “Go Green IHSM” within the framework of the Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education project “GREEN and Digital Universities for Sustainable Development of Kyrgyzstan (GREEN KG)” (Project No. 101126755). The project is coordinated by the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic and aims to strengthen the capacity of higher education institutions in sustainable development, environmental awareness, and digital transformation.
The conference was held on Earth Day, a globally recognized date that underscores the importance of environmental protection and collective responsibility. This added symbolic significance to the forum, reinforcing its focus on sustainable development and ecological awareness.
The conference opened with welcoming remarks from:
- the Rector of IHSM,
- the National Coordinator of the Erasmus+ Programme in the Kyrgyz Republic,
- and a representative of the Diplomatic Academy under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The forum highlighted the ongoing efforts of the Erasmus+ GREEN KG project, which aims to support the transformation of higher education institutions in Kyrgyzstan into environmentally sustainable and digitally advanced universities.
In her remarks, the National Coordinator of the Erasmus+ Programme in the Kyrgyz Republic emphasized the importance of integrating sustainability principles into university systems and empowering students to take an active role in addressing environmental challenges.
By bringing together students, faculty, and stakeholders, the forum contributed to raising awareness of environmental challenges and strengthening the culture of sustainability within universities. Students from various universities participated as part of official delegations, presenting their ideas and initiatives aimed at creating more sustainable campuses and communities.
The program included two thematic sessions featuring student presentations focused on:
- climate change and environmental risks,
- public health and green healthcare,
- sustainable campus initiatives,
- waste management and plastic reduction,
- environmental education and youth activism,
- and the intersection of technology and sustainability.
The diversity of topics reflected the interdisciplinary nature of sustainable development and highlighted the active role of students in addressing global and regional environmental challenges.
A special highlight of the event was the “Go Green IHSM” exhibition, where student eco-projects and initiatives were showcased. Participants also engaged in networking, discussions, and a cultural program, further strengthening collaboration and knowledge exchange.
The event demonstrated the growing impact of the Erasmus+ GREEN KG project in Kyrgyzstan by empowering students as key drivers of sustainable change and supporting universities in their transition toward greener and more innovative development models.
