International Conference "Digital Bridges: Increasing the Potential of Migrant Workers through the Development of Digital Skills, Financial Literacy, and Leadership"

On May 19, the International Conference "Digital Bridges: increasing the Potential of migrant workers through the Development of digital skills, financial literacy, and Leadership" was held at the NOVOTEL Bishkek City Center hotel within the framework of the project "E-QUALITY - Digital education for social and financial inclusion and gender equality"  implemented with the financing of the program of external activities of the European Union and the Delegation of the European Union to the Kyrgyz Republic.

The purpose of the conference was to bring together experts, practitioners, and stakeholders to discuss and demonstrate innovative digital tools created within the framework of the E-QUALITY project to improve the digital skills, financial literacy, and leadership qualities of migrants. The Conference aimed to stimulate dialogue, exchange of experience, and cooperation between participants, expand their knowledge of best practices for the inclusion of migrant workers and support the development and dissemination of effective strategies and practices in this area.

The conference was opened by Preslav Dimitrov, Prof. Dr., Coordinator of the "E-Quality" project, Bulgarian Chamber of Education, Science and Culture, Rasul Abazbek uulu, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic, and S. Sirmbard, Head of the expert group of the "E-Quality" project, Rector of Adam University.

The first session was opened by S. Sirmbard, head of the expert group of the E-Quality project, Rector of Adam University, who told how the project was implemented and the results of the project and its products were presented. Preslav Dimitrov, Prof. Dr., Project Coordinator, shared policy recommendations on the "E-Quality" project for the possibility of promoting digital, financial, and vocational education and adult education in Kyrgyzstan.

Rasul Abazbek uulu, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic, also took part in the panel discussion on the first issue, G.Mamyrova, Head of the Department of Primary Vocational Education of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic, N. Suerkulova, Chairman of the International Bureau for Quality Assurance InAQA Public Foundation, National Coordinator of the E-QUALITY project, M.Abykeeva, and A.Shaidyldaev, project experts.

The second session was opened by Z. Suekulova, Ch. Imanalieva, A. Shaidyldaev, experts of the "E-Quality" project. They presented the electronic educational platform "AcademyInAQA" and its mobile application, which was developed within the framework of this project. The AcademyInAQA platform has a cyber mentor based on artificial intelligence, which supports students throughout the learning path 24/7. Zh. Zhumalieva, an expert on GOOG LLC, told about its capabilities in more detail.

Session No. 3: Innovative Mix: a variety of digital tools to support migrant workers began with a presentation by I. Zimin and S.Koryakin on the development of an information system for socially vulnerable groups in the Kyrgyz Republic using IT for human development. Ch. Cholponbekov presented the online platform MURAS: for the promotion of creative products of women needlewomen, which was developed within the framework of the project, and two businesswomen who are already using the Muras platform told about their experience and showed the product they are promoting. E. Postnova, O. Domashova, experts of the "Sustainable Development" Foundation told about the online platform Green Skills Lab for the development of green skills of young people of Kyrgyzstan. S. Bychkov, the developer, presented a digital training game on the basics of financial literacy: "Budget Bilim", created by Shumkarbek Adilbek uulu, aimed at improving financial literacy. A. Abdymomunova, and A. Osmonova, project experts, demonstrated the electronic course "Electrical Engineer", which is available on the "AcademyInAQA" platform.

The panel discussion with questions and answers was led by S. Sirmbard, head of the expert group of the E-Quality project, Rector of Adam University.

This conference was one of the final stages of the project "E-QUALITY - Digital Education for Social and Financial Inclusion and Gender Equality", implemented with the financing of the program of external activities of the European Union and the Delegation of the European Union to the Kyrgyz Republic.