European Union Education Fair 2023 in Uzbekistan

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVES 

Uzbekistan is witnessing a rapid transformation characterised by sustained economic growth, a booming demography, a quick opening to the outside world, following a period of relative isolation, and a rapidly developing higher education sector. With around half a million enrolled students, more than 80 higher education institutions, most of them involved in international projects, and strong political support from the State for the international mobility of students including grant programs, the country becomes attractive to European universities and is a breeding tank for foreign students recruitment. Many European universities are already working in Uzbekistan, including through Erasmus + projects, and hundreds of students are every year enrolling in European higher education institutions. There is however still a large potential to increase Uzbek students' mobility to Europe and the local appetite in this regard is high. 

In this context, the European Union Education Fair 2023 (EU EDUFAIR), organised on 9-13 October 2023, will provide an excellent opportunity for universities from all over the European Union, under the Team Europe banner, to engage young people, students and higher education institutions from Uzbekistan. The fair will increase the local knowledge of education opportunities in Europe, highlight the funding opportunities, through Erasmus + projects or grants programs funded by EU Member States or the local Government, and stress the role the EU plays in the reform process of higher education in Uzbekistan.

The fair will be organised in three major cities of the country, Tashkent (9th October), Samarkand (11th October), and Namangan (13th October), and hosted by the national universities. 

Potential applicants starting from high school graduates and seeking to study abroad bachelor programmes, as well as undergraduate students aiming to obtain master’s degrees abroad or potential Ph.D. students will attend the fair. The EU EDUFAIR will promote networking, between European universities and potential students and between European and Uzbek HEIs. It will also ensure strong visibility to the Erasmus+ programmes and its funded projects and will be an opportunity for the local universities to contact the European universities in order to explore institutional cooperation within Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) projects and International Credit Mobility (ICM) partnerships.

The Fair is a highly visible presentation of education opportunities in the European Union supported by the EU Delegation and EU Member States, and will benefit from a large communication campaign organised locally.

The European Union Education Fair is organised jointly by the EU Delegation in Uzbekistan, European Union member states, and the National Erasmus+ Office (NEO) in Uzbekistan, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and local universities. It is held on the occasion of the European Year of Skills – 2023, and the Year of Human Care and Quality Education of Uzbekistan

Participation at all events in Tashkent, Samarkand, and Namangan is free of charge. However, all participating organisations and higher education institutions are expected to cover related expenses including transportation, accommodation, visibility, promo materials, etc. 

EU universities will be offered two options: 

1) B2B format with a specific booth/stand where the participating universities could distribute the promotional materials and interact directly with the interested students

2) Slot for presentation for each EU university. The participants will present their universities during a fixed time in front of an audience (one presentation per university per city).

The National Erasmus+ Office will be instrumental in facilitating contact meetings with local universities to promote Erasmus+ cooperation opportunities. 

All clarifications regarding travel and accommodation will be provided by BCD Travel  (azat.aytpaev@bcdtravel.uz or asal.ibragimova@bcdtravel.uz; https://bcd-travel.uz/)

Registration deadline for EU universities: 15 September 2023

Let us know if you'll be attending!