Faculty for Professional Retraining Opens in Samarkand with EU and UNESCO Support

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 3 December 2025, a ceremonial opening was held in Samarkand for the Faculty of Professional Retraining and Advanced Training at the Institute for the Development of Vocational Education, modernized with support from UNESCO and the European Union.

The event was attended by representatives of the European Union, UNESCO, the Agency for Vocational Education, the Department of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, as well as officials from the Samarkand regional administration.

Guests were introduced to the renovated buildings, modern classrooms for teacher training, and state-of-the-art equipment provided under the project.

The faculty specializes in upskilling vocational training instructors and teachers of specialized subjects at professional educational institutions in Samarkand and neighboring regions, focusing on the service sector. Training courses are based on curricula totaling 144 hours.

The educational program covers state policy in vocational education, the use of information and communication technologies, media literacy, development of modern professional skills, and mechanisms for evaluating trainees’ knowledge. The faculty has already conducted advanced training for industrial training instructors in engineering disciplines.

In 2025, a 150-seat training workshop, transferred to the faculty by the Samarkand College of Tourism and Cultural Heritage, was fully renovated and equipped as part of the UNESCO-supported project and EU assistance, serving as a “Practical Training Base.”

From 2026, the updated Practical Training Base will enable advanced training courses not only in engineering but also in service sectors such as tourism, hotel management, restaurant service, culinary arts, and hairdressing.

Additionally, the facility will annually provide effective practical training opportunities for over 650 students from the Samarkand College of Tourism and Cultural Heritage.