A meeting with French investor and education cooperation initiator Ms. Catherine Witterdik, awarded the “Tourism Advocate” medal (2020) for her outstanding contribution to tourism development in Uzbekistan, and Rector of Bukhara State University, Professor Obidjon Khamidov, played a crucial role in advancing international cooperation to a new level.
During the meeting, participants thoroughly discussed issues of transparency and openness in education, integration of foreign languages — especially French — with other academic disciplines, and the expansion of international academic exchanges and institutional partnerships.
Based on the experience of leading European universities, the following priorities were highlighted:
integrating the French language not only into philology but also into management, economics, politics, logistics, and international relations;
implementing modern, practice-oriented programs such as LEA (Applied Foreign Languages);
enhancing students’ international competitiveness and preparing them to engage on the global academic stage.
It was also emphasized that institutional cooperation agreements are a key factor in ensuring sustainable development in education and expanding international opportunities for both students and faculty members.
This meeting marked an important step in strengthening the international reputation of Bukhara State University and fostering collaboration with French institutions such as Sciences Po Paris (ranked 367 globally) and École de Management de Normandie, particularly in management, political studies, social sciences, and tourism.
Special attention was given to the work of Professor Miriyam Mark-Germain, who shares her extensive experience and teaches students and faculty at BukhDU’s French Philology Department. Participants assigned specific tasks to Department Head O. Bobokalonov and Head of International Cooperation Sh. Sharofiddinov to ensure the effective implementation of international partnerships, emphasizing that such cooperation is of strategic importance for the development of education in both countries.
