Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Uzbek citizens who studied at universities in Japan over the years gathered for a meeting to discuss what ideas they can offer for the development of the education system. For the first time, a seminar organized in such a unique format was held with the support of the Japanese Embassy in Uzbekistan.

The meeting venue was the International Digital University (IDU), whose founder Ibrohim Khurramov also studied in Japan. He also became the first speaker at the seminar, telling why he considers knowledge of the Japanese language to be an important factor for the well-being and development of Uzbek citizens.

Ibrohim himself went to study at the International University of Japan (IUJ) in 2013 for an MBA (Master of Business Administration) course, becoming the winner of the grant program. He already had a diploma from the University of Westminster in Tashkent and a job at the Ministry of Investment and Trade of Uzbekistan. Japan, according to Khurramov, has become a school not only of education, but also of business.

- The Japanese education system provided an opportunity to earn money while you were studying. Once you stop studying, you have no right to work. And this encouraged our children - even those who did not particularly plan to study - to acquire new knowledge here. Moreover, guys from various regions of Uzbekistan, knowing Japanese and studying at one of, say, Japanese colleges, earned 2-2.5 thousand dollars. Thus, even just coming to Japan with the desire to earn money, they received an education, then got a good job, and completely new prospects opened up for them,” said Ibrokhim Khurramov.

He believes that, if desired, almost every young Uzbek citizen has such a chance. Thus, Japan becomes the best alternative for smart labor migration, which today is more aimed at other countries. Ibrokhim emphasizes that the Japanese and Uzbek languages have common roots and belong to the Altai group of languages, which makes it easier for Uzbek people to learn Japanese. Moreover, they speak it with virtually no accent, which surprises the Japanese themselves, and adapt well to the conditions of the Land of the Rising Sun.

– In Japan, young Uzbeks get a safe country, work, study. And most importantly, here you learn to be honest, hardworking and loving your homeland. And when you return to Uzbekistan, you understand that the existing problems do not burden you, but on the contrary, they give you the opportunity to be useful. Because in Japan every person needs to be useful to society, shares Ibrokhim Khurramov.

Another speaker of the seminar was Jasur Salikhov, rector of the Central Asian University for the Study of Environment and Climate Change (Green University).

In 2002, he completed his master’s degree in MBA from Japan’s Waseda University. Since then, his fate has been inextricably linked with academic life. And the lessons of Japan, Zh. Salikhov believes, had a significant impact on his formation as a person.

– Staying in Japan must be perceived as integrated – both studying and being here are important. I believe that time spent in this country can positively influence all aspects of a person’s life - the Japanese way of life and upbringing, elements of social life, including respect for nature and the environment, play a role here, - says the rector of Green University.

Despite the wide range of former graduates of Japanese universities, the meeting was dynamic and very productive. Many met for the first time at this seminar, others had already communicated within the framework of UJUAC (Uzbekistan Japan Universities Alumni Club).

As noted by the Ambassador of Japan to Uzbekistan Hatori Takashi, this first seminar provided an opportunity to learn interesting ideas for expanding cooperation and stimulating the study of the Japanese language, as well as education in Japan. Moreover, these proposals were made from those who studied in different years in Japan and today have achieved outstanding professional results in the field of education in Uzbekistan.

Such meetings, according to the Ambassador, are planned to be held at least twice a year to exchange interesting ideas, to bring former graduates of Japanese universities closer acquaintance with each other, as well as with the Japanese, including those who receive education at universities in Uzbekistan.