Emirates National Schools participated in the Central Asian Universities Forum & Strategic Education Partners Meeting in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in October 2024 — a major event held under the patronage of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev that brought together universities and strategic education partners from across the region.
Deputy Director-General Ahmad Al-Bastaki led the school's delegation, underscoring its leadership position among UAE and international schools and expressing gratitude for the Uzbek government's commitment to raising education quality.
UAE–Uzbekistan Education Partnership
The partnership between Emirates National Schools and Uzbekistan's Ministry of Education dates to March 2023, when both parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding formalising cooperation across curriculum development, teacher training, and student exchange.
Under the MOU, Emirates National Schools hosted advanced training programmes for Uzbek teachers in Abu Dhabi. Participants were introduced to modern pedagogical methods and the integration of artificial intelligence and innovative technologies into classroom instruction — priorities aligned with the UAE's broader national education agenda.
Student Exchange Milestones
The collaboration moved beyond teacher training in 2024. During the summer, 30 Emirates National Schools students — drawn from tenth and eleventh grades — travelled to Tashkent for a cultural exchange programme. In September 2024, a reciprocal delegation of Uzbek students visited the UAE, deepening peer-to-peer ties between the two countries.
Both institutions are now in discussions about establishing an annual residential summer programme in Uzbekistan for students from both nations, a move that would further embed the partnership into the academic calendar.
Recognition at the Forum
On the sidelines of the Tashkent forum, Al-Bastaki met with Uzbekistan's Minister of Education, Khilola Oktamovna, and presented her with a commemorative plaque in recognition of the partnership's contribution to advancing global educational standards. The gesture reflected both countries' shared commitment to educational innovation and cross-border cooperation.
The participation of Emirates National Schools at the forum signals the UAE's growing role as a hub for international education partnerships across Central Asia.
