DEFA - Erasmus+ EU

Status: Completed 

Coordinator: Kyrgyz State Technical University named after I. Razzakov 

Period: 2023 - 2025

Project website: https://defa.kstu.kg/

About the Project

KSTU named after I. Razzakov serves as the coordinator of the international Erasmus+ project "Development of Financial Autonomy of Universities in Kyrgyzstan" (DEFA). The project aims to develop a flexible and effective model of university financial autonomy that will enable institutions to independently mobilize, manage, and effectively use resources to meet the changing needs of society and the labor market.

Currently, the financial management system of universities in Kyrgyzstan remains centralized and is based on Soviet-era financial planning methods, which limits the ability of universities to respond promptly to changes in the educational and economic environment.

Participants

The project consortium includes 10 universities from Kyrgyzstan and 3 European partners.

From Kyrgyzstan, the following take part:

• Kyrgyz State Technical University named after I. Razzakov — coordinator
• Adam University
• Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic
• International University of the Kyrgyz Republic
• Issyk-Kul State University named after K. Tynystanov
• Osh State University
• Talas State University
• Naryn State University named after S. Naamatov
• Institute of International Higher School of Medicine
• Alatoo International University

European partners:

• Otto von Guericke University (Magdeburg, Germany)
• European Centre for Research and Initiatives CESIE (Italy)
• University of Florence (Italy)

Main Goals

• Developing a model of university financial autonomy in line with Bologna Process standards
• Strengthening the capacity of universities in the area of governance and financing
• Supporting legislative reforms in the field of higher education financial management
• Establishing a skills development center for university financial autonomy
• Enhancing the competitiveness and innovation potential of universities in Kyrgyzstan

Results

• A strategy for university financial autonomy was developed
• A roadmap for the implementation of financial autonomy was created
• Recommendations and regulatory documents for implementing the financial autonomy model were developed
• A Skills Development Center for financial autonomy was established at KSTU
• The financial autonomy model was piloted at partner universities
• A final conference was held with the participation of representatives from the Ministry of Science and the Ministry of Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic