Ministry of Ecology, environmental protection and climate change of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Education for a Green Future: Green Skills and Sustainability Careers Discussed at Eco Expo

As part of Eco Expo Central Asia 2025, a parallel event titled “Green Skills and Jobs of the Future: Education for Sustainable Development” was held. The event was organized by the Central Asian University of Environmental and Climate Change Studies (Green University) in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Regional Office for Central Asia.

Amid accelerating climate change and environmental degradation, the demand is growing for professionals with so-called “green skills”—competencies that enable individuals to contribute to an environmentally sustainable economy. This makes education a key factor in preparing a workforce capable of ensuring a sustainable transition across various sectors—from science and technology to social policy and natural resource management.

The goal of the event was to foster dialogue among scientists, international organizations, and educational institutions on how education should be structured to prepare the next generation of professionals for a “green” transformation. The discussions focused on integrating sustainability thinking into curricula, expanding partnerships, implementing innovative approaches, and promoting experiential environmental learning.

The session was opened by the rector of Green University, who emphasized that developing environmentally oriented education is not only a contribution to sustainability but also a chance for Uzbekistan to become a regional leader in training professionals for the green economy.

The first speaker was Dmitry Gorshkov, Regional Coordinator of IUCN for Central Asia. He presented the mission and strategic goals of the organization’s new office in the region. According to him, one of the top priorities is building partnerships with universities and research institutes, as well as developing expert capacity in nature conservation and climate adaptation.

Professor Pauli Haatainen from Tampere University of Applied Sciences (Finland) spoke about the critical role of educators in the green transition. He highlighted the importance not only of updating curricula but also of evolving teaching methods to foster sustainable thinking, critical resource awareness, and an understanding of global environmental interconnections among students.

The third presentation was given by Dr. Mukhira Kurbanbaeva, Head of Laboratory at the Research Institute of the Environment and Nature Protectional Technologies. She spoke about the development of smart traceability systems for waste management—Smart Traceability—and how technology can make waste handling more transparent, efficient, and aligned with sustainable development principles.

The final part of the session was devoted to a panel discussion and questions from the audience. Participants discussed the need to create a single platform for the exchange of experience between universities, international organizations and the private sector, as well as the reduction in the scale of applied approaches in the field of environmental education. At the final event, the Green University announced the launch of initiatives to develop a National Map of Green Skills and Road Professions of Uzbekistan, which will become a strategic document in the field of education in recent years.

This side event demonstrated strong interest in green careers and the need for a systemic approach to preparing future specialists. Education is becoming an integral part of climate resilience, and the quality of knowledge and skills acquired by today’s students will directly shape the environmental stability of tomorrow.