Erasmus+ Information Day 2025

On December 10, 2025, the National Erasmus+ Office in Kazakhstan (hereinafter – NEO KZ) hosted its annual Information Day of the Erasmus+ Programme in Astana, Kazakhstan. The aim of the event was to inform participants about the novelties in the 2026 Call; present recommendations on developing competitive project proposals; exchange of experience and knowledge among participants and establish/strengthen cooperation among higher education institutions (HEI) of Kazakhstan.

The event was held at Esil University in Astana and was attended by 146 participants, including 39 offline participants and 107 online participants from 50 universities and organizations of Kazakhstan.

Before the start of the event, short videos: Testimonials from ICM staff beneficiaries and Testimonials from ICM and EMJM student beneficiaries had been played on the screen with an aim to motivate and expose participants to the Erasmus+ programme. The welcoming remarks were delivered by Rector of Esil University Ayapbergen Taubayev, Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Kazakhstan Johannes Baur and Mira Tursumbayeva, Head of Strategy and Project Management Department, Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The NEO KZ Coordinator Laura Paluanova presented information about the Erasmus+ programme’s new Call focusing on the novelties introduced this year. The event also included presentations from the representatives of universities who succeeded in the previous years’ calls who shared their best practices and recommendations on preparing competitive project proposals.

During the Q&A session, participants put questions to the speakers and received feedback from them. The participants of the event gained deeper knowledge on changes in the Call 2026 and previous experience of HEIs with selected projects. After the panel discussions, HEIs representatives joined the Fair of Erasmus+ projects and a networking session during which NEO KZ Coordinator Laura Paluanova and representatives of universities, each had their own tables to consult interested participants and establish useful contacts with other HEIs. Thus, the Information Day provided a great platform for all HEIs to connect and learn from each other’s experience of being involved in the Erasmus+ programme in Kazakhstan.

Erasmus+ Information Day 2025 was a pivotal event for strengthening higher education collaboration in Kazakhstan. Bringing together Vice-rectors, faculty, and administration to the event provided a space for networking among HEIs and other representatives, and learning about vital updates on the Call 2026, success stories, and facilitated discussions on project development under the Erasmus+ programme. Namely, the event

• Enhanced institutional awareness and preparedness: The 2025 Infoday significantly improved the understanding of EU-funded programmes among Kazakhstani higher education institutions. University leaders, project managers, and academic staff gained clearer insights into application procedures, partnership requirements, and project management practices, resulting in stronger institutional readiness for participation in upcoming calls.

• Strengthened networking and partnership building: The event facilitated meaningful interaction between Kazakhstani universities. This led to the initiation of new academic and research collaborations, the expansion of existing networks, and the creation of potential consortia for future joint proposals under Erasmus+ and other EU initiatives.

• Increased engagement in EU programmes and project development: As an outcome of the Infoday, several institutions demonstrated increased motivation to develop competitive project ideas aligned with European standards and priorities. The event catalyzed the formation of new project teams, the preparation of concept papers, and a measurable rise in the number of institutions expressing interest in submitting applications for the next Erasmus+ calls.

Presentations from the event are available on our website here.

Recording of the event is also available on our website here.