How can universities strengthen their financial autonomy to better meet the needs of students and society?
During project DEFA Kyrgyz higher education institutions have been actively supported in advancing their collective mission to promote financial autonomy through a series of targeted seminars and training workshops. These dedicated spaces for dialogue, learning, and strategic planning have significantly enhanced the capacity of Kyrgyz universities to navigate the complexities of financial autonomy.
The seminars and workshops have proven to be key in strengthening inter-institutional collaboration and establishing the foundation for sustainable financial practices across the country’s universities. They have had a significant impact by:
- Reinforcing the role of the HEIs: by fostering dialogue, the HEIs have been empowered to take a leading role in coordinating financial autonomy initiatives and advocating for institutional reforms.
- Facilitating the dissemination of the Financial Autonomy Model: the workshops enabled pilot universities to share their experiences and best practices, accelerating the adoption of the autonomy model among other HEIs.
- Supporting legislative development: the active participation of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic ensured that insights from the workshops informed the development and revision of national policies, ensuring the sustainability of the framework DEFA has built.
Most importantly, these sessions have fostered a shared sense of ownership among participants, empowering them to play an active role in the ongoing transformation of Kyrgyzstan’s higher education system.
After the meeting and workshop held at the Issyk-Kul State University in Karakol in June 2024, the last international meeting within the project was the workshop “Experience of implementing the financial autonomy model in universities of Kyrgyzstan: challenges and prospects”, held from 11 to 13 March 2025 at the International University of Kyrgyz Republic in Bishkek.
During the workshop in Bishkek, Kyrgyz partner presented their progresses with the implementation of the DEFA financial autonomy model, while the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic outlined the policy adjustments which were necessary in order to better support financial independence for universities. Project sustainability was also discussed, as financial autonomy is to be integrated into long-term university development plans.
European project partners contributed to further training of Kyrgyz universities staff by sharing valuable insights and experiences from their respective higher education systems and institutions:
- Otto-Von-Guericke-Universitaet Magdeburg navigated participants through the complex regulatory framework that governs the self-governance of universities in Europe. It was explored how laws and regulations define the boundaries of action for academic institutions, with particular attention to the tools for monitoring and evaluating performance. The session offered an in-depth overview of the challenges and opportunities related to autonomous management, emphasizing the importance of an approach based on reliable data and relevant performance indicators.
- University of Florence made participants analyse a concrete model of resource management, through the examination of case studies and calculating financial KPIs to directly address the issues related to the economic sustainability of universities. Furthermore, an overview of the different dimensions of university performance was provided, through the analysis of indicators related to organization and internal processes.
Both sessions contributed to providing participants with a comparative view of university autonomy models, offering insights and useful tools for improving the management of their own institutions.
The success of DEFA is a testament to the power of international cooperation. CBHE has provided the essential framework and resources for European and Kyrgyz universities to collaborate, share best practices, and co-create solutions tailored to the local context. This approach not only facilitated the exchange of expertise but also ensured that the strategies developed could be adapted to the specific needs of Kyrgyz universities.
As Kyrgyz universities continue their journey toward full financial autonomy, the knowledge, tools, and networks developed through DEFA will serve as critical assets – enabling institutions to manage resources more effectively, foster innovation, and better meet the evolving needs of students and society.
DEFA serves as a model for how the CBHE programme can support higher education institutions in other countries facing similar challenges. Its success highlights the potential of capacity-building initiatives to strengthen institutional resilience, promote policy reform, and foster sustainable development within higher education systems worldwide.
DEFA may have reached its final stages, but its impact will continue to grow as more universities adopt DEFA’s principles and practices. For universities, policymakers, and stakeholders interested in exploring the tools, strategies, and resources developed through the DEFA project – including the need analysis reports, the Model Implementation Guide and the description of the Skills Development Centre set up through the project, we recommend checking the DEFA project factsheet. The resources developed remain available to inspire and guide other higher education systems on their journey toward financial autonomy and institutional sustainability.
For more information contact Alessia Valenti: alessia.valenti@cesie.org.
About the project
DEFA – Development of financial autonomy of universities in Kyrgyzstan is a project funded by the program DG EAC, Erasmus+, KA2 Capacity Building Higher Education. It has the objective of implementing a reform of the financial management systems of Kyrgyzstan universities that favors greater university autonomy, competitiveness and innovation.
Partners
- KSTU – Kyrgyz State Technical University named after I. Razzakov (Kyrgyzstan, Coordinator),
- DA MFA KR – Uchrezhdeniye Diplomaticheskaya Akademiya Ministerstva Inostrannykh Del Kyrgyzskov Respubliki Imeni Kazy Dykambayevicha Dikambayeva (Kyrgyzstan),
- IUK – International University of Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyzstan),
- IUK – Issykkul State University Named After K.Tynystanov (Kyrgyzstan),
- OshSU – Osh State University (Kyrgyzstan),
- TalSU – Talas Mamlekettik Universiteti (Kyrgyzstan),
- NSU – S. Naamatov Naryn State University (Kyrgyzstan),
- AU – Adam University (Kyrgyzstan),
- ISM – International School of Medicine Institution (Kyrgyzstan),
- AIU – Ataturk-Alatoo International University (Kyrgyzstan),
- AVUZ – Association of legal entities “Association of Universities of the Kyrgyz Republic” (Kyrgyzstan, Partner associato)
- MES KR – Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyzstan, associate partner)
- OVGU – Otto-Von-Guericke-Universitaet Magdeburg (Germany)
- CESIE (Italy),
- UNIFI – Universita Degli Studi Di Firenze (Italy)
For further information
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Contact Alessia Valenti: alessia.valenti@cesie.org.
