The delegation of Abai University visited Okayama University from August 28 to September 1, where they participated in the 9th Conference of the Japan ESD Society (Japan Society for Education for Sustainable Development). They also took part in a meeting of the international network ATECCE (Asian Teacher Educators for Climate Change Education), where global climate change issues were discussed.

Today, global climate change has become a major challenge. The concerns of scientists are well-founded. According to the World Meteorological Organization, in 2025, the global temperature was 1.43°C higher than the average level recorded between 1850 and 1900. Moreover, the years from 2015 to 2025 were among the 11 hottest years on record. This is a fact that should concern not only specialists but the general public as well.

The ATECCE network goes beyond simply educating teachers about climate change. It is a project aimed at integrating climate education into school curricula and teacher-training programs, while also facilitating the exchange of experience among specialists from Asian countries.

The university delegation was led by Doctor of Geographical Sciences and Professor Kulyash Kaimuldinova and Acting Associate Professor Karlygash Muzdybayeva. The delegation presented Kazakhstan’s experience in teacher training and integrating climate-related topics into school subjects.

Cooperation between Kazakh National Pedagogical University and Okayama University in the field of climate change education began in March 2021 within the framework of the international project “Promoting Teacher Education for Climate Change Education.” Another advantage of this partnership is that it brings together higher education institutions from nine Asian countries. In turn, this creates opportunities for sharing experience and strengthening cooperation among universities.

During the “Teachers’ Exchange Session,” A. Askerbekova, a second-year doctoral student in the Geography Education program, delivered a presentation on integrating climate education into school practice. The presentation focused on approaches to studying climate change together with students. The views and perspectives of scholars from Abai University were also presented.

At the international conference, experts from more than 12 Asian countries shared national approaches to climate education and put forward various proposals. The important issue of adapting a common model to the specific conditions and needs of each country was also given considerable attention.

Abai University Media Center