On October 13, 2025, a monitoring meeting was held at the Tajik State University of Commerce within the framework of the project “Circular Economy (CirculEc): Development of innovative educational programs and modules on the circular economy and sustainable development”, funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ program “Capacity Building in Higher Education”.

          The aim of the CirculEc project is to develop innovative curricula and modules on the circular economy and sustainable development for existing undergraduate, graduate and continuing education programmes.

          This project involves 11 Central Asian universities from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan, as well as three European universities, and is designed to train over 1,100 students. It will develop and implement 27 new educational modules and update 27 existing educational programs.

          The event was attended by more than 50 professors and experts from project partners from higher education institutions in Central Asia (Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan) and Europe (Spain, Italy), employers, as well as faculty and students from the Tajik State University of Commerce, who discussed the results of implementing circular economy and sustainable development principles in educational programs.

          The event was opened by the meeting's moderator, the university's Vice-Rector for Science and International Relations, Jamshed Mashokirov, and then the floor was given to the university's Rector, Professor Nazarzoda Khairullo Kholnazar.

          Khairullo Kholnazar welcomed guests to our sunny country, independent Tajikistan, including the Tajik State University of Commerce, and considered holding such a fruitful meeting important for the development of scientific research cooperation and friendly relations between the countries.

          The university's rector, in particular, noted that significant work has been undertaken at the Tajik State University of Commerce to implement the instructions and directives of the Founder of Peace and National Unity – Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, particularly regarding the formation and development of an innovative and green economy, as well as sustainable development. Given Tajikistan's favorable climate, with 280-330 sunny days per year, the potential for solar energy as a renewable energy source is highly beneficial and cost-effective. In other words, sunny Tajikistan's potential is twice that of developed European countries, which widely utilize solar energy. With this in mind, the Tajik State University of Commerce has built and commissioned two solar power plants with a total capacity of 19 kW.

          The power plants consist of 35 monocrystalline solar panels with a capacity of 560 W each, capable of generating more than 220 kWh of electricity per day.

          It is worth noting that these power plants were built and commissioned as part of a collaboration between TSUK and the domestic company Tajikhydroelectromontazh, which is considered one of the leading companies in the energy and construction sectors in the Republic of Tajikistan.

          Then, Dr. Nakatzoda Mokhbonu, Coordinator of the National Erasmus+ Office in Tajikistan, and Madina Yusubalieva, Project Coordinator from the D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University, delivered virtual remarks. Specifically, it was noted that the Tajik State University of Commerce has made a significant contribution to the implementation of the CirculEc project – "Circular Economy and Sustainable Development."

          Oksana Bezler, a representative of the Karaganda University of Kazpotrebsoyuz, spoke about the progress of monitoring the integration of educational modules at the project's partner universities and praised TSUC's contribution as a leader in developing innovative educational programs on the circular economy and sustainable development.

          In her speech, Zarina Kadirova, professor at the Department of Economics and Business Organization, noted that as part of this project, a competition on circular economics and sustainable development has been announced, in which students can actively participate with their projects.

          Professor Zarina Kadirova also presented information on the development of innovative educational programs and modules on circular economy and sustainable development and the results of their implementation at the Tajik State University of Commerce. Specifically, she noted that this project resulted in the development and implementation of new educational modules and the updating of existing educational programs.

          It was noted that within the framework of the CirculEc project, a “Green Economy Center” was created at the university.

          At the end of the event, participants exchanged views on the issues of the circular economy and sustainable development.