DUSHANBE, December 12, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- In the framework of the EU financed TEMPUS IV program, a grant amounting to €2.305 million was awarded to finance three projects involving nine Tajik universities, among which are Tajik State Pedagogical University, Kulob State University, Qurghon Teppa State University, Khorog State University, and Khujand State University, according to the Delegation of the European commission to Tajikistan.

The projects will support curriculum modernization, implementation of ECTS (credit-transfer system) and quality assurance system into the national higher education, as well as exchange of experience and professional training of non-university teachers.

The overall objective of the TEMPUS program is to promote a policy dialogue, institutional cooperation and modernization of higher education between EU and Central Asian countries.  TEMPUS has been effective in establishing international cooperation between Central Asian and EU higher education institutions and introducing the reforms needed for the modernization of Central Asian higher education systems.  The program has also encouraged and reinforced cooperation with neighboring countries, and international contacts have reinforced academic staff and student mobility.  Through TEMPUS projects, teachers have upgraded their qualifications and the overall quality of teaching has consequently improved.

The program is part of the EU long term support to higher education modernization in Central Asia through regional programs with an annual budget of €5 million.  The Ministry of Education provides assistance in disseminating TEMPUS achievements and ensuring the sustainability of projects’ results.  Direct involvement of the Ministry as a partner helps reinforcing the role of the program in modernizing higher education systems, and in disseminating and introducing best practices all over the country.  The Ministry of Education of Tajikistan recognizes the considerable impact of the TEMPUS program in the overall modernization process, including on the improvement of universities` facilities, the installation of modern computer and laboratory equipment, the renovation and development of modern teaching materials and textbooks.

Since 2004 EU Tempus Program had funded 25 projects in Tajikistan for the amount of around EUR 3 600 000.

The new EU Strategy for Central Asia aims to strengthen ties between the European Union and its Central Asian partners.  It has doubled European Union assistance to the region to €750 million for 2007-2013. Tajikistan gets the main share of bilateral assistance (€66 million for 2007-2010) in support to sector programs, technical assistance and grants.  It focuses on social protection, health and private sector development, underpinned by public finance management.  Projects aimed at enhancing living standards continue.  Tajikistan also receives regional and thematic assistance in areas like border management and drug control (BOMCA/CADAP), education (TEMPUS, Erasmus Mundus), water / environment, human rights and democracy (EIDHR), non-State actors (NSA) and SME development (CA-Invest).  The total value of the EU assistance disbursed to Tajikistan since 1992 is over €500 million.