The 5th Forum of Rectors of Universities of Uzbekistan and Japan, titled “Harmony of education and society: interdisciplinary approaches to human potential development and innovation”, has begun in Samarkand.

The forum is organized jointly by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT).

The event brings together representatives of more than 15 leading Japanese universities, officials from the ministry, and nearly 30 heads of higher education institutions from Uzbekistan.

The opening ceremony was attended by Sodiq Safoyev, First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Kungratbay Sharipov, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Hiroshi Masuko, Vice Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, Kenji Hirata, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Uzbekistan, and Naoshi Sugiyama, President of Nagoya University. The event was moderated by Rustam Kholmurodov, Rector of Samarkand State University.

During the plenary session, heads of higher education institutions and prominent experts from both countries delivered reports addressing key issues in education, science, and innovation. Discussions focused on the prospects for bilateral cooperation, investment in human capital, the formation of an intellectual society through interdisciplinary approaches, and the development of joint research initiatives.

In the concluding part of the forum, Obidjon Khamidov, Rector of Bukhara State University, will present a report on the working groups’ activities and announce the forum’s resolution.

On October 31, participants will hold U2U meetings, exchange views on new areas of cooperation, and are expected to sign several agreements between higher education institutions of the two countries.

Nazokat Usmanova, UzA