Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Namangan region and Austria’s IMC Krems University of Applied Sciences plan to expand cooperation in vocational and dual education, including the training of specialists for the hospitality and tourism sectors.
A delegation led by Heinz Boyer, founder of IMC Krems and chairman of its supervisory board, arrived in Namangan region. The information service of the Namangan regional administration reported on the visit.
Namangan Regional Governor Shavkatjon Abdurazzakov received the Austrian delegation.
During the meeting, the sides discussed the training of specialists and hotel management trainers in line with international standards, as well as the application of Austrian experience in the vocational education system.
As part of the visit, Heinz Boyer and Udo Christian Brendl, the university’s head of research and innovation, visited Vocational College No. 1 in Chartak district.
The guests reviewed the institution’s educational programmes, facilities, training workshops and laboratories.
Educational programmes based on Austrian experience are planned to be introduced at the college, with further development of the dual education model.
The sides also paid particular attention to strengthening cooperation between educational institutions and industry.
According to Abdulakhad Gafforov, head of the Vocational Education Department, schools specializing in international hotel management are being established in Namangan under an agreement with the Ministry of Preschool and School Education, based on Austria’s dual education system.
The visit to Vocational College No. 1 was part of this work.
The talks also covered further cooperation with Austrian vocational education organizations, joint educational initiatives, exchanges of teachers and students, international internships and the development of practice-oriented education.
The Austrian delegation also visited the Axsikent Archaeological Park, where it reviewed ongoing development work and the creation of open-air museums.
Heinz Boyer noted the impressive scale of the Eternal City project and said he believed the area could become a tourist center in the future.
A separate working meeting with representatives of IMC Krems was held at the Oydin Plaza hotel. It was attended by Namangan regional deputy governor Khondamir Akhunbabayev, Heinz Boyer and Udo Christian Brendl.
The participants again discussed personnel training for the tourism industry, the launch of joint educational programmes and the integration of education with practical training.
The cooperation was preceded by a working visit by an Uzbek delegation to Austria from 27 September to 2 October.
The delegation included A. Kholikov, director of Vocational College No. 1 in Chartak district. During the visit, the sides exchanged experience in vocational education and signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at expanding cooperation.
The agreements reached provide for further development of practical and dual education, exchange of experience and the training of qualified specialists for the tourism and hospitality sectors in Namangan region.
