Concluding Conference of the LESLIE Project in Bukhara: Summarizing Results, International Dialogue, and New Scientific Collaborations

On October 19–20, 2026, Bukhara State University is hosting the SLM2026 international scientific conference, marking the concluding stage of the large-scale international project LESLIE ("Land Management, Environment & Solid Waste: Inside Education and Business in Central Asia"), co-funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ (CBHE) program. 

The conference brought together leading experts, researchers, and practitioners from Europe and Central Asia. Over the years of dedicated work, the consortium has transcended traditional academic partnership, evolving into a cohesive team of like-minded professionals committed to modernizing higher education in Sustainable Land Management (SLM).

The practical outcomes and educational initiatives of the LESLIE project directly support the global agenda. The implemented activities and research make a substantial contribution to achieving key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 4 ("Quality Education") - through the introduction of innovative educational modules and flexible micro-credentials.

• SDG 13 ("Climate Action") and SDG 15 ("Life on Land") - through advancing sustainable land management, improving environmental monitoring, and optimizing solid waste management across Central Asia.

Plenary sessions and keynote presentations highlighted critical environmental and educational trends:

• Project Coordinator Professor Javier Rodrigo Ilarri from the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV, Spain) delivered a keynote address detailing the strategic outcomes of the LESLIE project and perspectives for their institutionalization. 

• Significant expert contributions were made by international speakers from partner universities in Italy (UNICAS) and Cyprus (UCY), who shared advanced European practices in circular economy, environmental monitoring, and micro-credentials implementation. 

A crucial indicator of the project's research success was the presentation of joint scholarly outputs. Particular attention was drawn to new publications by faculty members and researchers from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. Among them, a notable collaborative paper co-authored with Zulfiya Kainazarova from Green University (Green Academy University) focuses on integrating green economy principles and sustainable development into regional educational and practical frameworks.

The LESLIE project has demonstrated high efficiency and impactful results:

• The International SLM Hub has been established and is operating successfully as a digital platform fostering collaboration between higher education institutions, business, and government bodies. 

• Interdisciplinary modular educational resources and curricula tailored to address Central Asia's climate and technological challenges have been successfully developed. 

  

The SLM2026 conference in Bukhara affirms that the established foundation, robust international networks, and academic achievements will continue to drive the region's sustainable development long after the official conclusion of the project.

The project partners for the LESLIE project express their gratitude to the European Union for financial support under the Erasmus+ CBHE program (Project No. 101129032).