Participation in the Regional Seminar on the Development of a Master’s Programme in Water Diplomacy

On 18 December 2025, in Tashkent (Republic of Uzbekistan), faculty lecturers of the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences took part in the regional seminar entitled “Discussion on the Development of a Master’s Programme in Water Diplomacy in Central Asia”. The seminar was organized by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) within the framework of the Blue Peace Central Asia (BPCA) initiative, implemented with the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The initiative aims to strengthen regional cooperation and build human capacity in the field of water resources management.

The event was held in the context of the implementation of the SDG 6 “Clean Water and Sanitation” – ensuring sustainable management of water resources; SDG 16 “Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions” – promoting dialogue, negotiation mechanisms, and institutional cooperation; SDG 17 “Partnerships for the Goals” – strengthening interstate and inter-university cooperation in the Central Asian region.

The seminar brought together representatives of leading universities from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as experts in water resources, sustainable development, public administration, and international cooperation. The discussions focused on the development of an interdisciplinary master’s programme in water diplomacy that responds to current regional and global challenges, including climate change, transboundary water use, and increasing pressure on water ecosystems.

Participants discussed international experience in designing master’s programmes in related fields, the educational and research capacity of regional universities, and the key thematic components of the future programme, ranging from hydrology and water resources management to international water law, socio-economic aspects, and negotiation practices. Faculty lecturers of the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences presented the university’s experience in training specialists in water resources, sustainable development, and natural hazard management. They also actively participated in thematic working groups aimed at harmonizing the curriculum structure and defining the next stages of inter-university cooperation. As a result of the seminar, a shared understanding was reached regarding the importance of establishing a coordinated Central Asian higher education space in the field of water diplomacy. Further steps were identified for the development of a harmonized curriculum and the strengthening of inter-university collaboration, contributing to the achievement of priority SDGs at the regional level.