From 26 to 28 August 2026, DVV International brought together 25 experts from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan for the regional workshop “Adult Education in the Context of Digitalisation and Migration: From Challenges to Solutions” in Kyrgyzstan. The participants shared their experiences and developed practical approaches to educational work with labout migrants.
Labour migration shapes the region
For millions of people in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, working abroad is a key source of income and makes a significant contribution to their families’ livelihoods. Remittances also play an important role in the economies of their countries of origin. According to the World Bank, in 2025 they accounted for around 58 per cent of GDP in Tajikistan, 18 per cent in Kyrgyzstan and 14 per cent in Uzbekistan.
Russia remains the main destination country for labour migrants from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Kazakhstan is another important destination, particularly for workers from Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. At the same time, migration routes are becoming more diverse, especially for migrants from Uzbekistan. Alongside established destinations, opportunities for regular employment and organised labour migration are increasingly emerging in countries including South Korea, Türkiye, the Gulf states, Germany and the United Kingdom. At the same time, substantial internal migration takes place from rural areas to urban centres, alongside migration between Central Asian countries.
Higher incomes and better employment prospects abroad remain the main drivers of labour migration. Demographic developments also play a central role. Central Asian countries have young and growing populations, with hundreds of thousands of young people entering the labour market each year. At the same time, ageing populations and shrinking workforces in parts of Europe and East Asia are likely to sustain demand for foreign workers.
Education throughout the migration cycle
Alongside the opportunities migration can offer, labour migrants face numerous challenges. These include limited access to quality employment, a lack of or mismatch between qualifications and labour-market needs, difficulties in having qualifications recognised, language barriers and inadequate protection in destination countries.
Ongoing digitalisation adds another dimension to these challenges. Gaps in digital and transferable skills can make it more difficult for migrants to find reliable employment, use digital recruitment and administrative procedures, and adapt to changing occupational requirements.
Against this background, adult learning and education (ALE) is becoming increasingly important. It can support people throughout the migration cycle: in preparing for departure, through language courses and vocational training, in adapting and developing professionally in destination countries, and in the event of return and reintegration in their countries of origin. Educational programmes can help migrants access new career opportunities, expand their qualifications and acquire the digital competencies required for self-determined participation in increasingly digital labour markets and societies.
A curriculum for practice
Against this background, DVV International’s country offices in Central Asia will develop a new regional curriculum for adult educators working with labour migrants. The curriculum is intended to strengthen their capacity to address the specific learning needs of people preparing for migration or returning to their countries of origin after a period abroad.
During the workshop, participants discussed the curriculum’s target groups, core content areas and possible formats for implementation. In doing so, they laid the foundation for its further development and application across Central Asia.