Memorandum of cooperation in the field of knowledge sharing was signed between the World Bank country office in Uzbekistan and the Tashkent Islamic University.

Why Islamic University?

In the morning of 13 September we left the country office for visiting the Tashkent Islamic University. The World Bank team included Loup Brefort, Country Manager, and EXT staff Irina Tsoy and Matluba Mukhamedova. The aim of the visit was to sign a Memorandum on information exchange and knowledge sharing. In fact the WB Bank office represented by Public Information Center (PIC) has had long standing relations with the Islamic University. The students of the University are frequent visitors of the PIC; the WB country office regularly hosts the University students for presentations about the World Bank, its place among other financial institutions, its activities in Uzbekistan and worldwide. The University professors and lecturers are usually invited to the round table discussions on various development issues and presentations of new publications. PIC regularly circulates new publications to the University library and answers the research queries of the teaching staff. Thus, the event of signing a Memorandum on knowledge sharing has become a logical formalizing of the existing ties.

Walking around the university: Past time meets the present.

World Bank, Uzbek university sign cooperation memorandum

Memorandum of cooperation in the field of knowledge sharing was signed between the World Bank country office in Uzbekistan and the Tashkent Islamic University.

 

Why Islamic University?

 

In the morning of 13 September we left the country office for visiting the Tashkent Islamic University. The World Bank team included Loup Brefort, Country Manager, and EXT staff Irina Tsoy and Matluba Mukhamedova. The aim of the visit was to sign a Memorandum on information exchange and knowledge sharing. In fact the WB Bank office represented by Public Information Center (PIC) has had long standing relations with the Islamic University. The students of the University are frequent visitors of the PIC; the WB country office regularly hosts the University students for presentations about the World Bank, its place among other financial institutions, its activities in Uzbekistan and worldwide. The University professors and lecturers are usually invited to the round table discussions on various development issues and presentations of new publications. PIC regularly circulates new publications to the University library and answers the research queries of the teaching staff. Thus, the event of signing a Memorandum on knowledge sharing has become a logical formalizing of the existing ties.

 

Walking around the university: Past time meets the present.

 

At the gate we were met by the Deputy Rector of the University professor Islamov.  The entrance of the university differed not much from the one of any other university in Tashkent, but when we entered the territory we were really surprised. Showing proudly a very peaceful and beautiful garden, full of flowers and fruit trees, professor Islamov accompanied us to the historical monuments of 15 century.  He explained that the idea for the university was promoted by President Islam Karimov, who made available a part of Old Tashkent for the facility, which now sits next to two historical monuments: the Yunuskhan and Sheikh Khovandi Takhur mausoleums.

 

Being established eight years ago, the University filled a unique niche in the country’s educational system. It is a secular educational and training establishment comprising a Secondary school, Academic Lyceum, graduate school for Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees. Also, there are post graduate and doctorate courses and a specialized Council to award candidate and doctorate degrees.

 

However, the real pride of the university is a depository of rare religious books, featuring around 200 ancient manuscripts, some 2,000 volumes in all. Some manuscripts are over 500 years old. There are also handwritten copies of the Qur’an dating back to the 10th-15th centuries. "These are mainly gifts or contributions, but we also buy some of these rarities," depository director Ubaidulla Uvatov says.

 

Signing the Memorandum

 

Before the signing ceremony the WB team had a meeting with the University authorities. The Rector of the University Professor Shukhrat Yavkachev greeted the World Bank team and told about the history of the University and the latest significant events held by the institution. Among them is the series of events on the occasion of the launch of celebrations of Tashkent as the 2007 Capital of Islamic Culture for the Asian region.

   

Thanking the host, Loup Brefort related about his visit to Margilan for the celebration of 2000 anniversary of the city. He also said how impressed he was with the depositary of manuscripts and praised the University for preserving ancient culture and handing it down to younger generation.

 

The Memorandum signed by two parties envisages exchange of periodicals and printed materials between two institutions, WB staff lectures on development issues to the University students, the university teaching staff participation at the presentations, round tables and conferences arranged by the Bank and other joint activities.

At the gate we were met by the Deputy Rector of the University professor Islamov. The entrance of the university differed not much from the one of any other university in Tashkent, but when we entered the territory we were really surprised. Showing proudly a very peaceful and beautiful garden, full of flowers and fruit trees, professor Islamov accompanied us to the historical monuments of 15 century. He explained that the idea for the university was promoted by President Islam Karimov, who made available a part of Old Tashkent for the facility, which now sits next to two historical monuments: the Yunuskhan and Sheikh Khovandi Takhur mausoleums.

Being established eight years ago, the University filled a unique niche in the country’s educational system. It is a secular educational and training establishment comprising a Secondary school, Academic Lyceum, graduate school for Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees. Also, there are post graduate and doctorate courses and a specialized Council to award candidate and doctorate degrees.

However, the real pride of the university is a depository of rare religious books, featuring around 200 ancient manuscripts, some 2,000 volumes in all. Some manuscripts are over 500 years old. There are also handwritten copies of the Qur’an dating back to the 10th-15th centuries. "These are mainly gifts or contributions, but we also buy some of these rarities," depository director Ubaidulla Uvatov says.