TRIGGER project is targeted to “strengthening of relations between HEIs and the wider economic and social environment” as a multi-country project within one single region –Central Asia, involving three countries (Kazakhstan; Uzbekistan; Tajikistan) from this region. The main problems in these countries are connected especially to low economic growth represented by slow improvement of economics performance; country inequalities; low level of competitiveness and innovation. Main aim of TRIGGGER project is to contribute to economics growth through creating the favourable conditions for better employability of graduates in Central Asia countries. It will be reached through support of HEI preparedness for future challenges especially related to the entrepreneurial and innovative nature of their higher education environment; enhancement of Entrepreneurship Education and Skills Development; establishment/enhancement the Careers, Employability and Enterprise Services; strengthening the relations outside HEIs. TRIGGER is built on two EC initiatives: HEInnovate and EntreComp and consists of six WPs focused on Assessment of the HEI preparedness for future challenges; Enhancing Entrepreneurship Education and Skills Development; Establishment/Enhancement of the Careers, Employability and Enterprise Services; Quality Assurance and Evaluation and Dissemination & Exploitation & Sustainability.The project consortium consists of 11 HEIs from three Central Asia countries, 3 HEIs from three EU countries, one SME and one non-profit organization from the EU.TRIGGER will have significant impact on Central Asia countries especially on HEI teachers, students; administrators; top management; relevant businesses and R&D institutions, other universities; decision makers; educational policy makers at national, regional and community level and representatives of regional and local authorities dealing with education.

he project primarily aims on the modernization of Tajik humanities by developing, implementing and accreditation a trans-disciplinary Master degree program “European studies” at Tajik National University (TNU), and by developing European Studies modules for implementation into existing programs at Tajik State University for Law, Business and Politics Khujand, and State Universities of Khorog and Danghara, thus reaching all regions of Tajikistan. The employability of graduates, and thus the relevance of the humanities themselves, will be enhanced by fundamental methodological modernization. Indeed, the “cultural” and “spatial turns” that has made modern regional studies suitable for globalization should be adapted to the specific needs of Central Asia. After the end of the project the Master program will be taken over by a sub-consortium of NTU, Russian-Tajik Slavonic University and Academia of Science of Republic Tajikistan. The program serves as a methodological template for other degree programs in the region. Tajik ministry of education and Science will support the implementation of the program by joining the consortium.A European Studies Resource Center in Dushanbe and three smaller Resource Points in Khujand, Danghara and Khorog will be founded, and equipped, serving as distance learning and information points for students, teaching staff, researchers and the wider public, thus promoting information about the EU and Europe, people-to-people contacts, intercultural awareness and understanding.As a side-effect ECTS and the Bologna process will be promoted by applying the full scope of Bologna declaration including outcome-orientation, encouraging international mobility, involving students’ body and establishing a QA system.Form European side the Technische Universität Dresden (DE, as grantholder), Tartu Ülikool (ES) and Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci (CZ) will join the consortium.