The Fifth Japan-Uzbekistan University Rectors’ Forum was held from October 30 to 31, 2025, at Samarkand State University, hosted by the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Nagoya University served as the coordinating institution from Japan and managed the Forum’s planning, logistics, and operations in close collaboration with the Ministry, fully leveraging the network of its Uzbekistan Office.
The gathering held special significance because it coincided with the opening ceremony of the 43rd UNESCO General Conference, which, thanks to an enthusiastic invitation by the Government of Uzbekistan, was held outside UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris for the first time in nearly 40 years. The Rectors’ Forum brought together 15 Japanese universities and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), alongside 32 Uzbek universities and the El-Yurt Umidi Foundation, which provides scholarships for Uzbek students to enroll in universities overseas.
Welcome remarks, research reports, and working groups
The opening ceremony featured remarks from Rustam Kholmurodov, Rector of Samarkand State University; Kongratbay Sharipov, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Education, Science and Innovation; and representatives from Japan including Hiroshi Masuko, Vice Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), and Kenji Hirata, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Uzbekistan. Nagoya University President Naoshi Sugiyama offered remarks as the coordinating institution, stating that “We hope that the Forum will serve as an opportunity for the further development of higher education and academic research in both countries, paving the way for nurturing the next generation of leaders.”
The first day featured case studies from both nations’ universities and lectures from the El-Yurt Umidi Foundation and JSPS. From Nagoya University, Vice President Norimi Mizutani explained the university’s overarching strategic initiatives, while Disaster Mitigation Research Center Professor Yasuhiro Suzuki introduced work being done on disaster risk management.
The participants then split into three working groups to discuss the various initiatives in greater depth. Vice President Mizutani served as co-chair of one group, where more than 15 participating universities engaged in a lively discussion.
Networking sessions and cultural activities
The second day was set aside for meetings between individual universities through a networking session format. Each Japanese university hosted a booth for rotating 15-minute conversations with Uzbek institutions. Nagoya University met with seven universities, three of which have formal cooperation agreements in place.
The meetings revealed consistent interest among universities with engineering schools in artificial intelligence, information technology, seismology, and disaster mitigation. The engaging discussions led by Professor Suzuki resulted in commitments to continue discussing ways to further advance faculty and student exchange. The meeting with Tashkent State University of Law focused on the excellent training provided by Nagoya University’s Research and Education Center for Japanese Law (CJL).
During the Forum, President Sugiyama met with Gulnoza Ismailova, Executive Director of the El-Yurt Umidi Foundation, to discuss expanding scholarship opportunities for Uzbek students to study at Nagoya University.
Building foundations for future collaboration
Over two days, the Forum provided an invaluable opportunity for dialogue on higher education and academic research collaboration between Japan and Uzbekistan. The participating organizations established foundations for new cooperative efforts in developing the next generation of researchers and leaders in both nations.
