32 people participated in the first UNIWORK training module organised by the Tempus project UNIWORK in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, between 9 and 10 December 2015. Participants were staff from the Career Centres of UNIWORK partner HEIs in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, as well as from the Bishkek Business Club, from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic and from the ENACTUS student association at BAFE.

The objective of the UNIWORK Training Modules is to reinforce the capacities of staff from 12 Central Asian HEI Career Centres (CaCes). This first 3-day training module was centred on the topic of “Networking for Career Centres”. The objective was to increase the knowledge and capacities of the staff of Central Asian HEI CaCes on topics of Networking, in particular on the importance of networking for CaCes, on how they can promote their services within the university community and establish and maintain ties with industry, and finally acquire a better understanding of the structure, organisation and usefulness of Alumni Networks and Career Centre Networks.

Following an official welcome by Mr Shamil Atakhanov, Boardmember of BAFE’s Trustee holders, and Svetlana Sirmbard, Vice Rector of Education at BAFE; trainers from the University of Alicante (Spain), FH Joanneum (Austria) and the University of Sheffield (U.K.) gave lectures and practical sessions on Networking in general, and more in particular on Networking for the Promotion of Career Centre Services, establishing and maintaining Ties with the Industry, Alumni Networks and Networks of Career Centres. These were further completed by representatives from the Central Asian career centres sharing their experience on these topics.

The participants’ feedback from the event was very positive and they will be sharing the knowledge and skills acquired with the rest of the staff in their home CaCes. Furthermore, discussions among the Central Asian career centre staff indicated a strong interest in creating a “Central Asian Network of Career Centres” and within it National Networks for each of the five countries.

 Previous to the workshop a project management meeting was held with the UNIWORK partners in order to review the work accomplished during the project’s first year and prepare for the next activities.

Next UNIWORK Training Module: March 2015 in Kokshetau (Kazakhstan) on “Tools for Engagement through Career Centres”.