Managing New Approaches to Student Entrepreneurship and Sustainability - Local Action Building

ongoing

The MANAS E-LAB (Entrepreneurship Lab) project aims to establish sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems in Kyrgyz higher education institutions (HEIs) by integrating innovative practices from European experience. Through structured collaboration between Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University (Kyrgyzstan, coordinator), Fundación Universidad San Jorge (Spain), Izmir Katip Celebi University (Türkiye), Naryn State University (Kyrgyzstan), and key stakeholders like High Technology Park (Kyrgyzstan), the project will create state-of-the-art innovation hub, update entrepreneurship curricula, and build strong university-business linkages. Key objectives: - Establish one fully equipped innovation hub (Makers Lab named Manas E-Lab) in Bishkek, - Train 50 academic staff as trainers in entrepreneurship education by European partners involving local academic staff and students, - Engage 1000 students in entrepreneurship programs and provide mentorship for 5 student-led startups. - Support the creation of 5 student startups, - Update 4 practice-oriented multidisciplinary curricula (flexible components of the HEIs curriculum that can be operated independently by faculties without the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic), - Ensure project sustainability through university-business partnerships between local HEIs and Entrepreneurs. Target beneficiaries: - University students and faculties, including individuals with disabilities, - Local businesses and entrepreneurs, - Regional stakeholders, - Higher education institutions. Expected outputs: - Innovation hub infrastructure and equipment, - Entrepreneurship curriculum for academic programs and training materials for innovation hub, - Digital platform for mentors, coaches, and entrepreneurship, - Industry partnership framework, - Best practices guide, - Impact assessment toolkit. The project aligns with Kyrgyzstan's National Development Strategy 2040 and addresses key priorities of the Erasmus + prog