Uzbekistan and Hungary Discuss Expanding Cooperation in Education and Science in Samarkand

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — As part of the third Uzbekistan–Hungary Rectors’ Forum, Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation of Uzbekistan, Kongirotboy Sharipov, met with Béla Merkely, President of the Hungarian Rectors’ Conference.

The discussion focused on the current state of bilateral cooperation between universities and opportunities for its further development. To date, practical links have been established between more than 50 universities in Uzbekistan and Hungary. The number of educational grants for Uzbek students under the Stipendium Hungaricum program has increased from 30 to 200, which has been recognized as a key achievement of the partnership.

The parties also discussed the creation of joint PhD programs, expansion of academic exchanges for faculty, strengthening cooperation in priority areas—including artificial intelligence and digital medicine, biotechnology and pharmacology, water management and environmental protection, mechatronics and robotics—as well as the establishment of joint research centers.

During the forum, U2U meetings were held between university leaders from both countries, providing a platform for direct collaboration, implementation of joint educational programs, student and faculty exchanges, and the execution of shared research projects.

The forum concluded with a ceremony for the exchange of bilateral agreements between Uzbek and Hungarian universities. The signed documents aim to expand cooperation in education, scientific research, academic exchange, and the implementation of joint educational and innovation projects.

The outcomes of the forum were summarized in reports by the session moderators, highlighting proposals and priority areas for future joint initiatives.