British Council to hold several events in Uzbekistan

The aim of the initiative to strengthen international partnership in higher and vocational education, present the outcomes of successful partnership projects; discuss international practice in education reform, internationalizing education and equipping young generation with skills required by changing market.

Among key participants of the initiative –representatives of the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Centre for Secondary Specialized Education of Uzbekistan, British Embassy, European Training Foundation, TEMPUS, rectors and pro-rectors of Uzbek and UK universities.

Among key events of the Week:

International Round Table “Enhancing the Quality Culture in Higher Education”, which will take place on November 18 in the International Business Centre (IBC). The Round Table will be attended by the Minister of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan Bahodir Khodiev, the British Council Regional Director Michael Bird, Vice-chancellor of London Metropolitan University Malcolm Gillies, rectors and pro-rectors of universities, representatives of international agencies and international projects teams from Uzbekistan and Europe.

The Round Table will discuss the national and international experience of developing quality culture in higher education institutions. It will also define key directions and concrete steps to enhance the quality of education as a key factor to internationalize higher education in Uzbekistan.

International Conference: “Entrepreneurship, Employability, Enterprise” which will take place on November 19 at the IBC. The Conference is being organized by the British Council and the European Training Foundation with support of the Centre for Secondary Specialized Education of Uzbekistan. The Conference will address the issues of national and international experience of developing entrepreneurship skills and competencies through the vocational education system with the aim of producing a set of steps for developing and enhancing good practice in entrepreneurial learning. The Conference will be attended by the Director of the Centre for Secondary Specialised Education Umidjon Salimov, British Council regional Director Michael Bird, representatives of the European Training Foundation and a number of international organisations including the World Bank, ADB, TEMPUS and UNICEF. As a result of the Conference an action plan on closer links between education and enterprise will be developed.

Other events of the Week will include opening of Quality Assurance Centres in 5 universities in Uzbekistan; the “New Horizons in Developing Quality Culture” Conference organized as part of TEMPUS project at Bukhara State University, guest lectures by leading UK experts in the University of World Economy and Diplomacy and the Academy for State and Social Construction under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the final of the National Enterprise Award which has involved all vocational colleges in Uzbekistan.

Steve McNulty, Director British Council Uzbekistan said:

“The British Council has been operating in Uzbekistan since 1996 and has always aimed to work in partnership with the Ministries of Higher and Secondary Specialised Education and the Ministry of Public Education and these events are no exception. Both address issues of global importance in education and they will provide a great opportunity for experts from Uzbekistan and the UK to share knowledge and experience. I believe that the outcomes of the discussions and consultations will help address issues in both areas.”

Uzbek-British cooperation in the field of education dates back 17 years to when a Memorandum on Cooperation was signed between the governments of the two countries and the British Council office opened in Tashkent in 1996.

The British Council projects in Uzbekistan aim to support national reforms in the field of education, to create opportunities for professional development and to promote the teaching and learning of English.