INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: A BUSINESS VISIT TO LEADING UNIVERSITIES OF UZBEKISTAN

As part of the development of international cooperation, a delegation from the Higher

School of Economics of Astana International University, represented by Dean Z.K. Smagulova,

Vice Dean B.Zh. Baltabayev, and EMBA Program Coordinator G.I. Nurzhanova, visited leading

higher education institutions of the Republic of Uzbekistan, including Sharof Rashidov

Samarkand State University, Samarkand Institute of Economics and Service, and Bukhara State

University.

During the meetings, the participants discussed prospects for strengthening partnership

relations in the areas of academic mobility for students and faculty, implementation of joint

educational programs, collaborative research projects, international conferences, and joint

publications in internationally recognized scientific journals.

The visit also enabled the establishment of direct contacts with the Departments of

Digital Economy, Human Resource Management, and Network Economy at Samarkand State

University. As a result of the meetings, preliminary agreements were reached regarding

academic mobility for the 2026–2027 academic year, a draft cooperation agreement with the

Samarkand Institute of Economics and Service was coordinated, and promising areas for future

educational and scientific collaboration were identified.

During a meeting with the Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Tourism, as well as the

Head of the Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management at Bukhara State University,

special attention was paid to practice-oriented education, the implementation of modern

educational technologies, and strengthening cooperation between universities in the field of

Tourism. The delegation had the opportunity to learn about the experience of Uzbek colleagues

in organizing educational processes, conducting research activities, and developing international

cooperation. This exchange of experience contributed to the study of effective practices in

educational program management, support of scientific initiatives, and development of student

potential.

We express our sincere gratitude to the leadership and academic staff of our partner

universities for their warm hospitality, openness to cooperation, and readiness to implement new

international initiatives. We are confident that the agreements reached will serve as a solid

foundation for further strengthening academic ties between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and will

contribute to the advancement of education, science, and the training of highly qualified

professionals.