Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Uzbekistan UK Alumni Networking and Learning & Development Day took place in Tashkent, organized by the British Council and the British Embassy.

Over 200 graduates from British universities attended the event, including Chevening scholarship recipients and winners of the UK Alumni Awards.

The main goal of the meeting was to familiarize participants with new career growth and professional development opportunities, as well as to create a platform for connecting alumni of British educational institutions in Uzbekistan. It is noteworthy that interest in British education in the country continues to grow due to government support and a desire for internationalization.

In the 2020-2021 academic year, over 615 students from Uzbekistan studied in the UK, among whom 115 received scholarships from the National Foundation El-Yurt Umidi. Uzbekistan is home to more than 250 Chevening program graduates, which celebrates 30 years of its presence in the country this year.

The opening ceremony featured speeches by James Rod-Moor, Deputy Ambassador of the UK, and Jamilya Gulyamova, Deputy Director of the British Council. Both emphasized the importance of alumni for the educational sector in Uzbekistan and the significance of cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

A panel discussion on leadership received special attention at the event, featuring leading experts discussing modern challenges and opportunities in business.

Iskandar Sattiyev, a global winner of the UK Alumni Awards in the "Culture and Creativity" category, shared his experience of how studying in the UK inspired him to create a mobile application for learning foreign languages aimed at supporting the youth of Uzbekistan.

Rui Barros Silva, an entrepreneurship manager from London South Bank University, expressed enthusiasm for strengthening connections between business and educational initiatives: "I look forward to discussing educational projects and deepening ties between business and innovation."

James Rod-Moor emphasized: "Alumni are living proof of the high quality of British education and active participants in the global community." Jamilya Gulyamova added: "We are pleased to bring our alumni together to discuss key issues and present the UK Alumni Awards, marking a new phase in our collaboration."

The Uzbekistan UK Alumni Networking and Learning & Development Day was an important step in strengthening ties between Uzbekistan and the UK in the fields of education and professional development. Inspired by the successes of their peers, participants left the meeting with new ideas and hopes for further cooperation.

Dilnoza Abdukharimova

Second Year Student, UzGMU, Faculty of International Journalism