NICOPA is aimed to modernize curricula in precision agriculture using new technologies - Geographic Information System/GIS, big data, remote sensing- through analyzing and updating existing curricula according to educational needs; developing new certified curricula according to the new achievements in the area, the labor market demands and the Bologna Process; to test innovated curricula and to disseminate the results. NICOPA consortium consists of 16 partners plus 4 associated partners with the required expertise, educational skills and business connections. The outputs/results and products are: • Review of the current curricula in precision agriculture through analysis, •Agreement on instructional strategy and guidelines for BA/MSc curricula design including the use of new Educational Technologies • A set of new core curricula and transferable modules including innovative teaching facilities •Updated current two cycle curricula and programs in precision agriculture according to the Bologna requirements and the new developments • Developed, implemented and accredited new practice oriented, student- focused core, and transferable curricula including ECTS • Bringing the Higher Education Institutions of DZ closer to labor market. Besides that innovative teaching facilities: a new equipped laboratory PAL, a class VCR, a Precision agriculture using sensing data Service Office PASO. Focus on the content, agreed structure, new instructional strategy and the use of new educational technologies with regard to the European modernization agenda for higher education will as a whole function as the envisaged impact.

The project aims to support Uzbekistan in development and implementation of study curricula, which serves needs of public and private sector stakeholders of bioeconomy sectors for professionals, who are able to link the potential of natural resources, objectives of bioeconomy related sectors of national economy, and socio-economic interests of the society, and are able to plan, build and maintain bioeconomy policy and bioeconomy innovation ecosystem, in which sustainable use of natural resources is in the focus.Overall aim: To contribute to the development of sustainable and inclusive socio-economic growth in Uzbekistan. Work packages:WP1. Detailed needs analysisWP2. Elaboration of the master study programme in the bioeconomy WP3. Increase of CA universities teaching and technical capacity WP4. Implementation of the master study programme WP5. MSP and the project quality assurance and measurement tools WP6. Publicity, dissemination and exploitation WP7. Management and coordinationMain outcomes and outputs:WP1: D1.1. Report – in depths study.WP2: D2.1. New bioeconomy related master curricula (120 ECTS) elaborated and licensed; D2.2. Set of new bioeconomy related master curricula documentation and materials.WP3: D3.1. 6 study visits held, 18 UZ HEIs teachers and 3 MARU representatives participated (in teach visit); D3.2. Teaching capacities improved – 3 video conference classes developed, scientific data base licences acquired for 3 UZ HEI.WP4, D4.1. Pilot studies provided, at least 24 students participated; D4.2. 3 open master classes provided.WP5, D5.1. MSP quality assurance methodology (QAM); D5.2. External expert assessment of the project progress, quality, results applicability; D 5.3. The results sustainability plan.WP6. D6.1. The website; D6.2. 12 TV and radio broadcasts; D6.3. 36 publications; D6.4. 2 bioeconomy forums, at least 100 participants (in total).

Despite considerable potential to satisfy unmet electricity demand and chart a new way forward in cooperative cross-sectoral management of shared waters, small scale hydropower (SHP) is not extensively exploited in Central Asia (CA). Likewise, vast potential to roll out European SHP approaches in other regions, European technologies have not been widely used due mostly to the lack of adaptation to such contexts; successful test cases are scant as their price point is typically far higher than Asian-manufactured competitors. The Hydro4U project will adapt European technologies to CA, demonstrating viability in a forward-looking cross-border Water/Food/Energy/Climate nexus (WP2) and price-competitiveness through design alterations (WP3) based on a prior analysis of unexploited SHP potential in CA (WP1). Hydro4U will install and assess (WP4) 2 demo plants: 500kW low-head eco-friendly run-of-river plant in KA, 2MW medium-head plant in UZ, both with radically reduced planning and construction costs that do not compromise efficiency. These solutions will be fit-for-purpose based on innovation, modularization, standardisation and radically simplified structural concepts, with longevity, eco-compatibility and socio-political acceptance (WP3). A replication model will be developed to address all SHP potential (WP5). This will demonstrate EU quality standards and create entry points in developing markets for the entire European SHP industry (WP6). Hydro4U brings together a multidisciplinary team (13 partners, 8 countries (DE, AT, CH, LK, ES, BE, CA: UZ, KG, [subsidiary in KZ]) world-renown experts in design of European SHP from industry (GHE, MUHR, HSOL, ILF) to science (TUM, BOKU, KSTU, EV-INBO, SJE, CARTIF), replication (SEZ, CARTIF), exploitation and D&C experts (SEZ), ‘boots-on-the-ground’ R4D institutes (IWMI, TIIAME) with a legacy of achieving practical impact in the water sector in CA, contributing experience from similar projects in CA and worldwide.

Geospatial Science (GISc) integrates three traditional geosciences: Geodesy as the science of precise spatial data acquisition; Geography as the science of studying human and physical aspects; Cartography as the science of making maps. The integration of these sciences is based on the rapidly evolving computer science. The methods of GISc are widely applied in other sciences, essential in decision making for sustainable development.There are several challenges in UZ, where GISc may efficiently support solutions, for such issues as climate change, land degradation, heavy use of agrochemicals, diversion of huge amounts of irrigation water from the two main rivers of the region, water scarcity, the chronic lack of water treatment, e.g. Aral Sea, or the growing threat to air quality. UZ society will benefit from innovations to enhance quality, performance and interactivity of public services, to reduce costs and resource consumption and to improve contact between citizens and government.The wider aim of the project was to support Uzbekistan in sustainable development by GISc. The objectives envisaged with the project was to establish a missing puzzle from the Uzbek educational system after the MSc level has been completed and before the DSc is targeted. The project established an accredited Doctoral School in the field of GISc, developed its programme, defined the requirements, advanced supporting teaching and learning materials in English or Uzbek languages, all developed in accordance with international standards and in accordance with the Uzbek education system.As a support for the new Doctoral programme, a network of activities is conducted to improve the educational and research capacity of the Uzbek society. Among these activities, an international network of the 5 leading Uzbek universities is established. Also, their education capacity is developed by creating a Knowledge Centre at each Uzbek universities containing an e-learning platform with a jointly developed Knowledge Pool. The Knowledge Pool is a database of teaching and research materials, supporting research activity of future PhD students. Furthermore, a Joint Research Centre has been developed, which is equally accessible by all Uzbek universities for improving the research capacity of related PhD programmes. For potential Uzbek PhD students, a scholarship has been offered for 2-month visiting research at an EU university, which has proved to be efficient in adopting the researcher's approach and developing research skills, in general, by experiencing international standards. Also, annual GI conferences have been organized (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021) to provide a platform for presenting research results, which is planned to be continued after the project period as well.

The Green Deal of the European Union stems from the realization that climate change and environmental degradation are an existential threat to Europe and the world. Climate change hits the water sector of Central Asia particularly hard: per capita water availability may reach water scarcity levels of less than 1,000 m³ per person by 2040. A better managed water sector could play a crucial role in the sustainable and green recovery of the region. It could provide a solid basis for economic growth, prosperity and the reduction of social, economic and environmental inequalities. Building human capacity is the first, indispensable step towards achieving economic and environmental sustainability of the water sector. A comprehensive review of water-related academic and research capacity in Central Asia, prepared in 2019 by the World Bank with support by the European Union underlined the need for increasing the quality of curricula content, faculty members, research, innovation and international cooperation. In the framework of the project 5 HEIs from the EU and 11 from Central Asia will cooperate to increase the relevance, quality and responsiveness of MA/MSc curricula on water governance and water diplomacy offered by the latter. Teaching staff of Central Asian universities will receive training in the new curricula. The new programmes, inspired by European best practices and adapted to regional conditions and requirements will help train a new generation of experts, prepared to tackle the challenges faced by the water sector. Increased mobility and the development of a regional programme for continuous training and research support will guarantee sustainability of results. The new, modernized courses would increase the employability of and open up attractive career opportunities for graduates.