International Grant Projects in which the Institute of Technology and Innovation Management in Kulob has been a member and actively participates.

       Since February 1, 2024, the Association of Entrepreneurs of Khatlon Province has been participating as an associated partner in the implementation of the project “Open Food Innovation University – OFINU,” funded by the European Union's Erasmus+ program.

The consortium includes the Tajik Technological University, the Institute of Innovative Technologies and Management in the city of Kulob, the Isfara branch of the Tajik Technological University, as well as two universities from Uzbekistan and two from the European Union. The leading project partner is the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU). The project is coordinated by the LBTU Center for Continuing Education, which has over a decade of experience in developing and implementing projects related to the modernization of higher education in Central Asia.

The aim of the project is to develop and implement a new form of education in participating Central Asian universities. The education will be delivered in a modular format, allowing external students—learners of specific educational modules who seek professional knowledge in food sciences—to study alongside full-time students. This includes professionals in the food industry or those who aspire to become such specialists. To support this, a legal framework will be established and strengthened, educational modules developed, academic staff of partners trained, and necessary infrastructure for learning provided.

External students will take part in specific modules together with full-time students and, upon completion, earn corresponding credits, gradually accumulating them to qualify for a higher education diploma. This model allows people already engaged in the labor market to pursue education, increase their competitiveness, and enhances the employment potential of full-time students.

The project also involves associated partners — five food industry enterprises and one business association (including in Tajikistan: the Association of Entrepreneurs of Khatlon, Dushanbe Dairy Plant JSC, and Orion Rustam LLC), which participate in the development and piloting of the educational modules and delegate staff to take part in the trial sessions. Although the associated partners have been selected, other interested food producers are also welcome to join.

For additional information, please contact: Institute of Innovative Technologies and Management in Kulob (Habibullo ABDULLOZODA, email: habibullon@gmail.com).

The OFINU project will run from February 2024 to January 2027.

The project is funded by the European Union. However, the views and opinions expressed are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.