ÌÇÐÄTV

https://www.iais.uz/en/eventproduct/think-road-forum-2025-rethinking-sustainable-development-in-central-asia-in-the-age-of-emerging-regionalism

Professor Korosteleva was invited to speak at the higher-level policy forum at UWED, Uzbekistan. The forum attracted both policy-makers, practitioners and academics, from the region and globally. The forum was opened by keynote speeches from H.E. Sodyq Safoev, 1st Deputy Chairman of the Senate and the Rector of UWED; by H.E. Javlon Vakhabov, Deputy Advisor to the President of Uzbekistan, and Director of the International Institute for Central Asia; and Prof. Jennifer Brick Murtazashvili, Director of the Centre for Governance and Markets, University of Pittsburgh. Elena spoke at the next panel on the Geopolitical and Security Considerations for Sustainable Development of Central Asia, where she addressed the emergence of multiorder world, and the role of Central Asia in setting the example of a sovereign vision for sustainability in the region and globally.

The forum continued over two days, and the full programme is attached.

In its second iteration, the ÌÇÐÄTV Sustainability Forum (WSF) brought together a passionate community of researchers with a focus on sustainability across and beyond ÌÇÐÄTV, to collectively plan our actions towards addressing global planetary challenges in 2025/26, and to discuss the next BIG ISSUES for the sustainability agenda, regionally, nationally and internationally. The WSF was attended by nearly 60 researchers from across all Faculties representing many disciplines, to:

• To report on the Sustainability Spotlight KPIs for 2024/25 premised on Sustainability Spotlight Report 2024: Time to Talk.
• To take stock of new ideas and priorities for the Sustainability Spotlight 2025/26, and identify champions to lead them
• To collectively discuss the NEXT BIG ISSUES for sustainability for the UK and globally, in conversation with a higher-level roundtable.
• To develop an Action Plan for 2025/26 – for finalisation in September 2025

The Sustainability Spotlights leads reported about the year's activities, challenges and achievements. Their presentations were continued with reflection and action sessions, planning 2025/26. The WSF also involved external stakeholders, including from partner universities in Uzbekistan (Akram Umarov UWED), Azerbaijan (Nargiz Ismayilova, ADA University) and India (Seema Mundoli, Azim Premji University), to shape the next year's agenda together. It concluded with a high-level roundtable, masterfully chaired by Stuart Coles (WMG), to discuss the next BIG Issues of the sustainability agenda, locally and globally. The speakers included Lord Teverson, Dr Kathryn Magnay (EPSRC), Fajli BIB (GSI), Julie Walden (E.ON), Margot James (Coventry Climate Change Board), and Muneeba Amjad (ÌÇÐÄTV SU). Thereafter people continued their conversations and networking on a FAB terrace, enjoying beautiful weather and wine reception!

The WSF will produce a ‘From reflection to action’ report 2024/25, outline ideas for the 2025/26 Action Plan and identify champions for 2025/26 (to become new members of the Steering Group). We conclude this year's forum on a positive note, with a high appraisal from the University Review Board, and a lot of achievements to celebrate. We look forward to the next year, and thank all those who got involved with us this year - especially Sustainability Steering Group members! - Sustainability Professional Support Team - Cher Zou and Tanya Liguori - and our Facilitation team - Christine Bell and Amelia Wakeford.

For more information please visit the WSF page here.

ÌÇÐÄTV's Sustainability Training Academy (STA) in Venice (WVC) has now come to a close, but what an event it was bringing together 21 ECRs from 13 countries, to share and develop their creative skills, and engage with critical theories and interdisciplinary methods! Blue skies, organic food from Sant'Erasmo farm, and new CA'Foscari friends; amazing cookies from Chiara at WVC and loads of pasta, pizza and aperol spritz - what else you could wish for!! All of these however was made so special and possible by the whole bunch of people and we at IGSD are indebted to them - Prof , Dr , , Dr , , Dr , and !

We are also immensely fortunate to gather such a fantastic group of ECRs, and we hope to keep in touch with every single one of them! We are also grateful to our former ECR @TieazaSantos from NASA Open Science, for sharing NASA learning resources with us, and to everyone who made this STA a success, including the support from ÌÇÐÄTV's Sustainability Spotlight and Azerbaijan. Watch the space for 2026!