The Redeiras building at the University of Vigo is hosting this week the second meeting of the international consortium Edufusion NSG (Edu-Fusion Network for Sustainable Growth). This project, funded by the European Union's Erasmus+ program, focuses on the structural transformation and modernization of the higher education system in Kazakhstan.
The initiative, which began in December 2024 and will conclude at the end of 2028, has a budget of nearly one million euros. It is coordinated by the Polytechnic University of Porto (UTPorto), with UVigo being the sole Spanish partner, alongside other European higher education institutions and specialized entities from Europe and Kazakhstan.
Rafael Comesaña, Vice-Rector for Transfer, Innovation, and Social Impact at UVigo, welcomed the participants, who include vice-rectors, deans, and other academic and institutional representatives from various universities in Kazakhstan, as well as European consortium partners. Within the University of Vigo, the project is coordinated by María Isabel Doval Ruiz, a professor at the Faculty of Education and Social Work and researcher at the HC1 group. Alongside Marcos Arias from the COM group, they are involved in activities related to educational innovation and university teacher training.
The meeting, taking place at the Redeiras building today and tomorrow, Thursday, will serve to evaluate progress, coordinate the next work phases, and strengthen cooperation among participating institutions. The primary focus is on updating the competencies of university professors, developing continuous training programs, and incorporating innovative, inclusive, and sustainable pedagogical approaches.
Edufusion NSG aims to adapt university education to contemporary challenges, particularly in engineering and technology disciplines, by promoting active methodologies, digital skills, entrepreneurship, STEAM approaches, and real-world problem-based learning.
The project also emphasizes social, ethical, and environmental perspectives in technical training through interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches. It pays special attention to gender equality, inclusion, accessibility, and the participation of underrepresented groups in higher education. Today's session reviews work packages and quality procedures, while tomorrow will focus on strategic planning, impact assessment, dissemination, and continuity, alongside bilateral meetings to explore new collaborations.
The participation of the University of Vigo in Edufusion NSG reinforces its commitment to international university cooperation, pedagogical innovation, and knowledge transfer. In July 2025, the institution hosted an international workshop focused on the collaborative design of professional development programs for university teachers from Kazakhstan, further consolidating this collaboration.
