WARSAW, May 10. /Dunyo IA/. Poland’s Minister of Science and Higher Education Marcin Kułasek, stated in an interview with the Polish portal “Perspektywy” following his visit to Samarkand that Uzbekistan has become one of the key destinations for the development of international academic cooperation, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

According to him, the visit was related to his participation in the “European Union – Central Asia” Congress and the III Poland-Uzbekistan Rectors' Forum. The Minister emphasized that cooperation with Uzbekistan is part of Poland's strategy to develop engagement with selected partner countries.

He noted that Uzbekistan is viewed as a vital partner for the EU and Poland in Central Asia, pointing to its demographic and educational potential. The country is home to over 38 million people, with more than 1.4 million students currently enrolled in over 200 higher education institutions.

Marcin Kułasek added that Uzbek universities are actively open to international cooperation and the country's authorities emphasize the development of education as a foundation for future growth.

He reported that Uzbekistan shows interest in cooperation in the fields of agriculture, medicine, energy, engineering, and social sciences. Interaction is planned to be developed through programs such as “Erasmus+”, “Horizon Europe” and “NAWA” (Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange).

One of the key outcomes of the visit was the signing of a letter of intent between the Polish and Uzbek ministries, signed with Minister Kongratbay Sharipov. Additionally, the launch of an academic exchange program for Uzbekistan, Türkiye, Vietnam and Republic of Korea was announced through NAWA. This program is aimed at developing scientific cooperation and supporting the academic mobility of students, doctoral candidates and researchers.

Minister noted that the “Poland–Uzbekistan” Rectors' Forum was held as part of the broader “Central Asia – European Union” Congress. Following the forum, approximately 70 agreements were signed between Polish universities and regional partners. These agreements provide for the creation of joint programs, student and faculty exchanges and the implementation of scientific projects.

The politician emphasized that Poland seeks to strengthen its role as a bridge for cooperation between the EU and Central Asia in the fields of science and education. He also stated that the country is focused on attracting talented international students, primarily at the master's and doctoral levels, with a particular emphasis on the quality of training.