On 13–14 April 2026, the 3rd Forum of Rectors of Poland and Uzbekistan took place in Samarkand – one of the most important academic events strengthening cooperation between Europe and Central Asia. The forum brought together ministers, rectors, and representatives of dozens of universities from both countries, including Kozminski University, represented by Prof. Jolanta Tkaczyk, Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Academic Quality.
The aim of the event was to create a platform for the development of inter-university partnerships, the initiation of joint research projects, and the strengthening of the internationalisation of higher education. The forum was preceded by the first Congress of Central Asian and European Union Universities, organised by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation of Uzbekistan in cooperation with the Perspektywy Educational Foundation and the IREG Observatory on Academic Ranking and Excellence.
The programme of the congress and accompanying events focused on the key challenges and directions of development in contemporary higher education. The topics discussed included, among others, strategies for cooperation between universities, joint research projects, the internationalisation of study programmes, the development of digital and technological competences, data-driven economic transformation, innovation in technical and medical education, as well as academic mobility and European Union programmes.
The 3rd Forum of Rectors of Poland and Uzbekistan also had a strategic and networking dimension. Its outcomes included new agreements between universities, the development of joint study programmes, and new research initiatives. Kozminski University’s participation in the event was in line with the university’s consistently pursued strategy of internationalisation and strengthening its presence in international academic cooperation networks.
The forum was attended by representatives of the most important institutions of the Polish higher education system, including the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA), the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland (KRASP), as well as representatives of leading Polish public and non-public universities. On the Polish side, the event was organised by KRASP and the Perspektywy Educational Foundation, while on the Uzbek side it was organised by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation.
