Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The Uzbekistan Club of Japanese University Alumni (UJUAC) held its 10th anniversary gathering in Tashkent, bringing together graduates of Japanese universities and educational programmes as well as young specialists preparing to study in Japan.
Seven young people who successfully passed the competitive selection process of the Embassy of Japan in Uzbekistan and are preparing to continue their education at Japanese universities took part in the anniversary event.
The gathering gave them an opportunity to meet alumni with experience studying and working professionally in Japan, exchange views and receive practical advice.
Among the participants was Islombek Akhmadjonov, who graduated two years ago from Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT) with a BSc (Hons) in Business Information Systems.
He will soon begin his studies at the University of Aizu in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan’s first public university specialising entirely in computer science and computer engineering.
After successfully passing the MEXT scholarship selection process, Akhmadjonov will begin as a research student before continuing his education at master’s level.
The scholarship programme of Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology provides round-trip air tickets, tuition-free education and a monthly stipend. For participants who do not speak Japanese, the programme generally also includes intensive language training.
Akhmadjonov’s interest in Japan developed well before he applied to study there. He began learning Japanese independently, while his exposure to the country’s culture and education system became one of the factors influencing his decision to continue his education in Japan.
For his master’s degree, he chose computer science. In the future, he plans to become a highly qualified programming specialist and pursue an academic career, including potentially continuing to doctoral studies.
Seven students preparing to study at Japanese universities were invited to the anniversary gathering. They had the opportunity to speak directly with UJUAC members — alumni who now apply the knowledge and professional experience they gained in Japan in various fields and contribute to Uzbekistan’s development.
Experience of alumni as a guide for a new generation
The importance of such meetings was highlighted by Japanese Ambassador to Uzbekistan Kenji Hirata.
According to him, the anniversary gathering provided an opportunity for graduates of Japanese universities and participants in various educational programmes to come together again, restore previous connections, exchange experience and establish new professional and personal contacts.
The ambassador also stressed the importance of such events for discussing alumni achievements in professional and creative fields and developing new ideas for the Club’s future activities.
UJUAC was established in July 2014. Over the years, the Club has developed into a platform bringing together people who share the experience of studying in Japan. Today, the community has more than 420 members and continues to expand.
One of the Club’s members is Feruza Madaminova, who spent almost six years in Japan. At the International University of Japan (IUJ) in Niigata Prefecture, she earned a master’s degree in international relations in 2017–2019.
From 2020 to 2023, Madaminova continued her studies at the same university through a PhD programme in international relations.
She currently works as a professor at ISFT Institute, teaches at Webster University in Tashkent, conducts research, participates in conferences as a speaker and is the author of academic publications.
“When I returned to Uzbekistan, I felt that I was a highly sought-after specialist and received invitations from several universities. In addition to strong academic knowledge, studying in Japan helped me significantly develop my soft skills.
“The time I devoted to preparing and defending my doctoral dissertation taught me to be mentally strong and patient, and to constantly improve my research and articles so that they would be in demand. In other words, to truly believe in myself,” Madaminova said.
According to her, self-learning skills, which form an important part of the Japanese education system, played a significant role in her professional development.
Madaminova is now actively involved in UJUAC activities, viewing the Club as a space for communication and developing connections between different generations united by the years they spent in Japan, as well as the knowledge and professional experience they gained there.
Mentoring and professional connections
UJUAC’s activities are not limited to regular meetings. The Club organises various events and maintains communication among its members through Facebook and Telegram.
Career development and mentoring have become important areas of the community’s work. Alumni have opportunities to provide professional support to one another, exchange experience and help younger members determine their future educational and career paths.
UJUAC’s 10 years of activity have demonstrated that the Club has become an important platform for communication, experience-sharing and the development of new professional connections among graduates of Japanese universities.
Alumni apply the knowledge and skills they gained in Japan in various fields, from education and science to technology and other areas of professional activity.
In this way, the alumni community contributes to strengthening educational and people-to-people ties between Japan and Uzbekistan and creating new opportunities for cooperation between the two countries.
