Future Areas of Cooperation Discussed with KOICA Representatives

Future Areas of Cooperation Discussed with KOICA Representatives

On 21 July, Uzbekistan State World Languages University (UzSWLU) hosted a meeting with a delegation from the Uzbekistan Office of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), led by Deputy Country Director Kim Siyeon.

During the meeting, UzSWLU Rector Ilkhomjon Tukhtasinov expressed his sincere appreciation to KOICA for its continuous support in promoting the Korean language and culture at the university. In particular, he highlighted the establishment of the Korea Education and Culture Center at the Faculty of Oriental Philology through a KOICA grant of USD 1,116,000. The center has been equipped with modern facilities as well as exhibits reflecting the national cultures of Korea and Uzbekistan. It was also noted that nearly 70 Korean volunteers have contributed to the university's activities over the past two years.

The discussions focused on advancing bilateral cooperation to a new level. The parties considered opportunities for professional development programs for faculty members of the Department of Korean Philology at Korean universities, the introduction of modern Korean language teaching methodologies, and the development of next-generation textbooks, digital learning platforms, and educational content with the participation of KOICA experts.

The participants also discussed attracting up-to-date textbooks and teaching materials from Korean universities, organizing internationally recognized preparatory courses for students and faculty members, expanding the administration of the TOPIK examination, implementing joint research projects in Korean studies, translation studies, artificial intelligence, digital education, and cultural studies, as well as publishing collaborative research papers in international academic journals.  

In addition, the meeting addressed the involvement of Korean specialists and native-speaking instructors in practical training sessions and cultural events, along with the organization of an international forum on education, innovation, and culture involving students, researchers, and young scholars.

Deputy Country Director Kim Siyeon noted that new agreements aimed at further strengthening cooperation between Uzbekistan and the Republic of Korea are expected to be reached during the official bilateral meeting and forum involving the leaders of the two countries, scheduled to take place in the Republic of Korea this September.

He also reaffirmed KOICA's readiness to continue cooperation with UzSWLU in introducing artificial intelligence into the educational process, advancing educational transformation, and developing other promising areas of collaboration. Furthermore, he announced the planned visit to Uzbekistan of executives from two leading Korean ICT organizations, IBS and CTC, with KOICA facilitating the establishment of partnerships. Within the framework of this visit, the possibility of dispatching up to 50 IT volunteer specialists to Uzbekistan through KOICA for short-term assignments will also be discussed.

The meeting further noted that a new group of KOICA volunteers, expected to arrive at UzSWLU at the end of July for a four-month assignment, will prepare recommendations for further enhancing the activities of the Korea Education and Culture Center and present them to the university administration.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides exchanged views on expanding mutually beneficial cooperation, implementing joint educational and research projects, and elevating their strategic partnership to a new level.