International cooperation within the framework of the project “ERASMUS+”

Within the framework of the Erasmus+ project “The Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE)” - “Bridging environmental concerns, societal needs, and good governance in Central Asian education and employment sectors” (ESGCA), a group of specialists consisting of teachers from the State Energy Institute of Turkmenistan and the Yagshygeldi Kakayev International oil and gas university made a business trip to the city of Bratislava (Slovakia) from April 5 to 12, 2025. The purpose of this trip was to participate in short-term trainings on the development of a master’s program covering ecosystem and social challenges, as well as good governance issues. Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (STUBA) was selected as a partner institution for the implementation of this program.  This time the seminar was called “Practical applications of ESG in Sustainable Industry, Higher Education and Water Management”. Recall that the ESGCA project, envisaged in the Erasmus+ program for 2021-2027, which aims to improve educational programs in the field of ecology and sustainable development for the countries of Central Asia, has a significant impact on improving the quality of higher education in the region. Its key objective is to integrate environmental issues with societal needs and good governance principles. The participants of this project are leading universities from Italy, Romania, Slovakia and a number of countries in the Central Asian region. The first training took place in Sibiu (Romania) from March 22 to 28, 2025. In the course of trainings, participants learned about advanced teaching methods, innovative approaches in creating educational programs, as well as current global trends in the field of ecology and management. The teachers discussed how to combine theoretical knowledge with practical skills needed to train specialists who will be able to work in the field of ecology, social management and sustainable development. The Erasmus+ program is an excellent platform for exchanging experience and establishing partnerships between universities and educational institutions in Europe. This exchange not only contributes to the professional development of the participants, but also to the strengthening of international ties in the field of education and science. This cooperation not only improves the quality of educational programs, but also strengthens international ties between higher education institutions, creating a platform for further knowledge exchange and joint scientific research. In addition, the project plans to organize further meetings and trainings that will facilitate the ongoing exchange of experiences and the introduction of the latest educational practices. This will also open up new opportunities for students and teachers in Central Asia, helping to strengthen sustainable development in the region. In addition to the training program, an excursion was organized to the Slovnaft oil refinery complex located in Bratislava, Slovakia. This oil refinery complex is the part of the MOL group of companies and it was built in 1957. The oil refinery complex is actively implementing the concepts of “green production”, which includes the use of environmentally friendly materials, optimization of energy and water consumption, and reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. Teachers received information about the company’s strategies to minimize environmental impact, which is of great importance for educational institutions training future professionals in the field of ecology and sustainable development. The ESGCA project continues its work and will influence the development of higher education in Central Asian countries, ensuring a future generation of specialists ready to address global environmental and social challenges.

The State energy institute of Turkmenistan

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