Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan (MHSSE), the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Uzbekistan, and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) today launched an initiative aimed at creating new and expanding existing opportunities education for Afghan citizens, with a focus on women and youth.

Expanded vocational education and training programs and short-term courses will help Afghan citizens study a range of disciplines, including the humanities, pedagogy and engineering.

The project will be implemented in cooperation with the Educational Center for the Training of Afghan Citizens in Termez, which has the technical capabilities, as well as qualified human resources with extensive experience in this field. The Center can also mobilize educational and training resources from relevant institutions in Uzbekistan.

A total of 345 Afghan citizens will receive educational grants, as well as diplomas and certificates upon completion of their studies under the project:

145 students from Afghanistan, including 24 women who are currently studying at the Center, will continue their education;

100 Afghan citizens will be trained in a one-year technical and vocational education and training program; 

100 citizens of Afghanistan will take short-term professional courses;

The European Union has committed €1 million to this initiative, which will be implemented by UNDP in 2022.

The Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education is a key partner in the implementation of the project.

“It is very important to provide opportunities for Afghan citizens temporarily residing in Uzbekistan. This will allow young citizens of Afghanistan to acquire skills and specialties to ensure their livelihood,” said Mr. Komiljon Karimov, First Deputy Minister of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

This initiative will create opportunities to further strengthen the capacity of the Center and eventually turn it into an educational center for Afghanistan, which will open doors for the citizens of Afghanistan to access educational services from a wide range of universities, institutes and colleges in Uzbekistan. The center will become a platform for opening the EU Knowledge Center and launching an online distance learning tool in it.