On 3 July 2025, the Delegation of the European Union to Uzbekistan and the National Erasmus+ Office in Uzbekistan jointly organised a Pre-Departure Orientation (PDO) meeting for the 13 students from Uzbekistan selected for the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM) degrees for the academic year 2025/2026. Held in a hybrid format in Tashkent, the event brought together scholarship awardees, Erasmus+ alumni, representatives of EU Member State embassies, invited trainers, and international education stakeholders.

The PDO meeting was designed to equip the selected students with essential guidance and practical advice before they embark on their academic journey across Europe. The orientation focused on preparing students for academic integration, intercultural adaptation, and engagement with diverse university environments. The event also aimed to foster a sense of connection within the growing Erasmus+ alumni network and to reinforce the programme’s shared values of openness, cooperation, and excellence in higher education.

EU in Uzbekistan

In his welcoming remarks, Mr. Mindaugas Kacerauskis, Chargé d'Affaires a.i. of the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan, highlighted the strength of the partnership between the European Union and Uzbekistan in advancing academic mobility and cooperation. 

Erasmus+ is not just about studying in Europe - it also strengthens partnerships between European and Uzbek universities, it also promotes our values, culture, understanding a sense of European identity and, of course, our European life style, - Mindaugas Kacerauskis, Chargé d'Affaires a.i. of the EU Delegation in Uzbekistan

The orientation featured contributions from distinguished speakers, including Ms. Sara Noshadi, Head of the UNESCO Office in Tashkent and an Erasmus Mundus alumna, and Professor Alisher Faizullaev, a renowned academic and former ambassador, who inspired students to embrace their new academic environments with ambition and responsibility.

Throughout the event, students had the opportunity to hear from previous EMJM alumni who shared their personal experiences and practical insights. Embassies of EU Member States including Germany, France and Italy also contributed by offering useful country-specific information and cultural orientation. In addition, professional trainers led interactive sessions focused on intercultural communication and strategies for academic success abroad.

The Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM) programme is an EU-funded initiative that supports outstanding students through fully funded, high-quality, international study programmes delivered by consortia of universities across at least two European countries. It offers students a unique opportunity to obtain joint or multiple degrees while building cross-cultural competencies and academic networks.

In 2025, awardees from Uzbekistan will pursue studies in a wide range of fields such as cybersecurity, law, engineering, environmental economics, vaccinology, and digital technologies. Their destinations include academic institutions in France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Austria, and Poland. The selected scholars represent Uzbekistan’s next generation of global professionals, committed to bringing new knowledge and skills back to their home country.

The Pre-Departure Orientation meeting underscored the EU’s continued support to Uzbekistan’s education sector and its commitment to empowering young leaders through global education opportunities.