Market Needs Analysis and Curriculum Design Workshop in Karaganda

The event brought together partners from Kazakhstan, Portugal, and Spain to strengthen the link between higher education and labour market needs. The meeting agenda also included a high-impact session with representatives from more than 20 industrial companies to discuss gaps in the preparation of future specialists and jointly identify solutions to boost young professionals’ competencies and close the gap between university education and industry expectations.

On the opening day, the Consortium presented the goals, objectives, and expected outcomes of the meeting, setting the stage for discussions on higher and postgraduate education in Kazakhstan and academia–industry cooperation. Partners from Kazakhstan presented and discussed the national system of higher and postgraduate education and its monitoring, the Academia–Industry Collaboration Portal (AICP), and the country’s experience in university–company cooperation to develop professional competences in teachers and students.

⚙️The following day was dedicated to visits to leading industrial companies, such as Natige Milk Factory LLP, Kaztsentrelektroprovod (KCEP), and QazTechna. The Consortium moderated the meetings with these manufacturers, facilitating dialogue on aligning training with industry needs. These visits also allowed the partners to gather feedback from industry on satisfaction with the quality of specialist training.

📝On the third day, the Consortium led an interactive session where project partners, based on the collected industry feedback, identified gaps in STEAM education to better respond to labour market needs. A key outcome was the definition of a set of online courses to be developed under Work Package 4 to help close these gaps and strengthen the connection between higher education and the evolving demands of industry.

🌍 Beyond the technical programme, there was space for intercultural sharing, offering participants the opportunity to become acquainted with Kazakh traditions and culture, which enriched collaboration and mutual understanding across the consortium.

The workshop concluded with the iPEER Awarding Ceremony, which honoured engineering educators from Karaganda Buketov University to recognize their their contributions to excellence and innovation in professional development.

🔔Stay tuned for more updates from the EDUFUSION Project as we continue to advance innovative solutions for engineering and STEM education.

#EDUFUSION #CurriculumDevelopment #EngineeringEducation #CapacityBuilding #HigherEducation #TrainingModules #InnovationInEducation #Consortium #IndustryEngagement #SkillsForJobs #InterculturalExchange