The First Senior Officials’ Meeting on Education (ASEM SOM1) took place in Bucharest with the participation of delegations from 53 Asian and European countries, representatives of the European Union, and the ASEAN Secretariat.

The Republic of Kazakhstan was represented by Acting Director of the National Center for Higher Education Development of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr. Alibek Madibekov. In his address, he presented Kazakhstan’s experience in developing lifelong learning, digitalization of higher education, implementation of micro-credentials, modernization of academic programs, and outlined future plans to strengthen international cooperation.

ASEM is the largest interregional platform for strategic cooperation between Europe and Asia. Its education agenda focuses on enhancing academic mobility, harmonizing qualification recognition mechanisms, and supporting the development of national education systems. A key component of this framework is the ASEM Lifelong Learning Hub — an official international network of universities, research organizations, and public institutions established in 2004 to promote evidence-based educational policy and exchange of best practices.

During the meeting, the chairmanship of the ASEM Lifelong Learning Hub was officially transferred from Ireland to the Kingdom of Thailand. The new secretariat will operate at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.

Another important outcome of the meeting was the decision to expand the structural framework of the ASEM LLL Hub. One of the key developments is the establishment of a Regional Hub for Central Asia at L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University in Astana, Kazakhstan. The center will serve as a coordination platform for research initiatives, advancement of micro-credentials, strengthening cooperation between universities in Central Asia and partner institutions across Europe and Asia, and promoting lifelong learning policies in the region.

The establishment of the regional center and Kazakhstan’s participation in ASEM SOM1 reinforce the country’s role as an active contributor to international educational initiatives and create additional opportunities for research development, international partnerships, and engagement in the global education agenda.