TASHKENT, January 11. /«Dunyo» IA/. Yesterday, Tashkent hosted the inaugural ceremony of the “International Student of the Year” Award, recognizing the academic, social, and professional achievements of Uzbek students studying at leading universities around the world, «Dunyo» IA’s correspondent reports.

According to the Agency for Youth Affairs of Uzbekistan, the event was held at the Palace of Youth Creativity. The award was established by the Union of International Students of Uzbekistan (UzSU) with the support of the Agency for Youth Affairs and the El-Yurt Umidi Foundation. The initiative aims to support active and socially responsible youth, strengthen ties between Uzbek students abroad and their homeland, and involve them in projects of strategic importance for the country’s development.

During the ceremony, the official launch of UzSU’s activities in Uzbekistan was announced, marking a significant step in the organization’s institutional development and the expansion of its international network. The program also featured a panel discussion on “The Role of Uzbek Students Abroad in the Development of the Country”, during which participants examined the contributions of international students to Uzbekistan’s economic, social, and intellectual development. The discussion included remarks from Sodik Safoev, First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, and entrepreneur Zafar Khashimov.

The award was presented in four categories. Nozira Davroniy, a student at Barnard College, Columbia University (USA), was named Student of the Year. Asadbek Ismoilov, a student at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Hong Kong), received the award for Contribution to Community and Diaspora Development. Aakib Niyaz, a student at Oxford University (UK), was recognized for Outstanding Representation of Uzbekistan on the International Stage, and Asliddin Akbarov, a student at Università degli Studi di Siena (Italy), received the Innovation of the Year award.

The introduction of this award represents an important step in providing comprehensive support to Uzbek youth studying abroad and engaging them in the country’s socio-economic development.