SAMARKAND, November 2. /Dunyo IA/. UNESCO Deputy Director-General Stefania Giannini, on the sidelines of the historic 43rd session of the General Conference taking place in Samarkand, gave an interview to journalists, during which she answered questions from the correspondent of Dunyo IA:

- First and foremost, I would like to congratulate Uzbekistan, and in particular President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, for his strong political commitment to making education a national priority. This commitment has been clearly demonstrated through two significant outcomes of the close cooperation between Uzbekistan and UNESCO.

The first is the establishment of the Centre of Excellence in Early Childhood Education, Care and Development — a very important step forward. The first thousand days of a child’s life are crucial for their future growth and development, and it is truly impressive to see how actively Uzbekistan is advancing in this field. Three years ago — in 2022 — a major international conference on this topic was held in Tashkent. Now we are witnessing the first tangible result at the national level — the inauguration of this new centre.

The second area emphasized by the President is the ratification of the Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education. This means that Uzbekistan is now officially positioning itself as a visible and responsible actor in the international higher education arena. The Convention aims to facilitate academic mobility for students and researchers, ensure the quality of university education, and foster the development of scientific and cultural diplomacy. Altogether, this milestone reaffirms Uzbekistan’s growing role in the global educational landscape in the years to come.

The President also announced another important event to be held here in two years — the World Conference on Skills Development and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). It is essential for young people — both in Uzbekistan and around the world — to acquire the right skills for work and for life. The conference will place particular emphasis on the green transition, digital transformation, and the use of technical competencies to foster a new sense of citizenship — the kind of civic responsibility that modern societies need today. This is a key theme, and UNESCO will serve as an important partner in this initiative.

From early childhood to higher education — including technical and vocational training — Uzbekistan is steadily investing in a comprehensive system of lifelong learning. This fully aligns with UNESCO’s educational vision for sustainable and inclusive human development.