Sustainable Development in Action: DKU Students Participate in the Nexus Simulation

Almaty, Kazakhstan (3 June, 2025) – As part of Sustainable Development Week at the Kazakh-German University (DKU), representatives of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) conducted the Nexus Game for students of the Faculty of Economics and the Faculty of International Relations.

The participants were divided into two groups, each representing countries located upstream and downstream of a river. Under the guidance of facilitators Botagoz Smagulova (Environmental Management Program Specialist, CAREC) and Aisha Mukhamedrakhim (Environmental Management Program Assistant, CAREC), the participants, acting as ministers and prime ministers, sought to provide their countries with essential resources while facing climate-related challenges such as droughts and floods.

During the simulation game, participants gained a deeper understanding of the interconnection between water, energy, and food security. Confronted with climate challenges, they searched for effective solutions to sustainably supply their populations with the necessary resources.

Throughout the game, representatives of the two countries actively sought to support one another by sharing resources and demonstrating a willingness to cooperate and practice good neighborliness. The students showed strong strategic awareness and systems thinking in managing key resources. They also paid special attention to environmental protection by prioritizing the development of green technologies.

Key takeaways from the participants included:

• Decisions in one sector affect others.
• The problems of one country affect its neighbors. Therefore, countries need to act in a coordinated manner.
• Preserving ecosystems is essential to avoid future financial losses.
• It is important to think not only about national income but also about maintaining environmental health and investing in green technologies.
• The game enabled participants to immerse themselves in a simulated world and step into the roles of ministers and prime ministers, feeling the responsibility for their country and people.

Background Information

The Nexus Simulation was developed by the Centre for Systems Solutions in collaboration with the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis and the “Sustainable Energy for All” Initiative. The history of its implementation in the Central Asian region began in 2018 within the framework of the European Union (EU) project “Nexus Dialogue in Central Asia” implemented by the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC). The game represents a facilitated process of playing 5 different scenarios for developing the territories upstream and downstream while addressing water needs of population, industry and agriculture and taking into account climate change challenges. From 2021 to 2025, the game was promoted by CAREC with the support of the EU and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). CAREC continues its mission to disseminate the game across universities, academies, basin organizations, and media in Central Asia.

Additional information: Ludmila Kiktenko, Environmental Management Program Manager, CAREC, lkiktenko@carececo.org

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