Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University is implementing the international MECAS project

           KORKYT ATA KYZYLORDA UNIVERSITY IS IMPLEMENTING THE INTERNATIONAL MECAS PROJECT (Development of Master Curricula in EcoInformatics for the Impact on the Aral Sea Basin) under the Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education programme (ERASMUS-EDU-2025-CBHE-STRAND-2), Grant Agreement No. 101237042.

The project aims to develop and introduce an innovative master’s programme in EcoInformatics to address environmental challenges in the Aral Sea Basin. It is being implemented by a consortium of universities from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Portugal, Italy and Spain.

From 7 to 11 September 2026, the University of Beira Interior in Covilhã, Portugal, hosted the second Training of Trainers programme (Training of Trainers 2) and a MECAS project management meeting.

Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University was represented by:

- D. M. Abdrasheva, Member of the Management Board and Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs;

-  Sh. M. Umbetova, Project Leader and Research Professor;

-  B. R. Shayanbekova, Acting Associate Professor in the Department of Water Management and Land Use.

The University of Beira Interior (UBI) is a public university located in Covilhã, central Portugal. It is one of Portugal’s leading young innovative universities and is actively involved in Erasmus+ projects, research and technology transfer programmes.

During the training, held at the UBImedical research and innovation centre, participants completed 10 of the 17 courses planned under the project:

-   Numerical Ecology;

-   Environmental Applications of Citizen Science;

-   Use of GIS in Environmental Monitoring of Water Bodies;

-   R Programming in Ecology;

-   Terrestrial and Airborne Remote Sensing and Spectrometry;

-   Advanced Spatial Analysis in GIS;

-   Ecosystem Assessment and Management;

-   Physicochemical Environmental Monitoring;

-   Geographic Information Systems in Ecology;

-   Introduction to Google Earth Engine.

The programme combined lectures, practical sessions, laboratory work and group projects. These activities helped participants develop skills in learning by doing and build a foundation for the future MECAS educational ecosystem.

Participants also visited the UBImedical research and innovation business incubator and the New Hand Lab creative incubator in Covilhã.