Program
Congress of Universities
Central Asia and European Union
Samarkand
Organizers:
Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Uzbekistan
Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland (CRASP)
Perspektywy Education Foundation, Poland
Partner
NAWA Polish National Agency For Academic Exchange
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Local host: Samarkand State Medical University
Draft program
(as of April 8, 2026)
12 April 2026, Sunday
Arrival of participants in Samarkand, hotel check-in, free time
16.00-18.00 - Poland-Uzbekistan Ministerial Meeting
18.30-21.00 – Official opening dinner («Hanzade» restaurant)
13 April 2026, Monday
Venue: Hilton Samarkand Regency
9.45-10.00 - Registration and Welcome Coffee
10.00-10.30 – Opening of the Congress
- Prof. Kongratbay Sharipov - Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of Uzbekistan; Head of the Uzbekistan Delegation
- Dr Marcin Kulasek – Minister of Science and Higher Education of Poland, Head of the Poland Delegation
- Khudayarov Asilbek Anvarovich – Minister of Health, Uzbekistan
- Prof. Bogumila Kaniewska - President of Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland (CRASP), Rector of Adam Mickiewicz University, Poland
- Prof. Jasur Rizayev - Rector of Samarkand State Medical University, Uzbekistan
- Waldemar Siwiński – President of IREG Observatory on Academic Ranking and Excellence; Congress Co-Organizer
- Toivo Klaar – Ambassador of the European Union to Uzbekistan (video?)
10:30-11:30
Panel Session of Ministers of Central Asia and the European Union
New Axes of Cooperation Between Universities of European Union and Central Asia
Moderator:
- Prof. Komiljon Karimov - Rector of Westminster International University in Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Speakers:
- Prof. Kongratbay Sharipov - Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of Uzbekistan
- Dr Marcin Kulasek – Minister of Science and Higher Education of Poland
- Isamatova Gulzat Tynybekovna - Minister of Education and Science of Kirgistan
- Yeshenkulov Talgat Ilyasovich - Vice-Minister of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan
- Saidzoda Rahim Khamro - Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Tajikistan
- Jumamyrat Gurbangeldiev - Minister of Education of Turkmenistan (tbc)
11:30-11:45 - Signing of bilateral agreements and MOUs
11.45-12.00 - photo session
12:00-12.30 - coffee break
12.30-13.40 – Pannel session - representatives of CA and EU universities
Experiences of cooperation between universities of the European Union and Central Asia - challenges and opportunities
Moderator:
- Prof. Piotr Stepnowski - Rector of University of Gdansk, President of the Conference of Rectors of Universities of Poland (CRUP), Poland
Speakers:
- Prof. Yerlan Sydykov – Rector of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Kazakhstan (tbc)
- Prof. Stefano Pastorelli – Politecnico di Torino, Italy: - Conducting joint projects by EU and Central Asian universities – lessons learned by Politecnico di Torino
- Prof. Carsten Drebenstedt - TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Germany: - Good practices of cooperation between university and industry
- Dr Wojciech Karczewski, Director of the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA), Poland: - Founding Opportunities for Joint EU-CA Research and Educational Projects
- Aziza Abdurakhmanova – Coordinator, National Erasmus+ Office (NEO) in Uzbekistan: - Impact of Erasmus+ in the fields of medicine and engineering in Central Asia and Uzbekistan
- Prof. Marián KOVÁČ – Vice Rector for International Relations, University of Economics and Management in Bratislava (BUEM), Slovakia
- Prof. Mirlan Dyldaev - Rector, Bishkek State University, Kyrgyzstan
13:40-14:40 lunch
Congress Parallel Sessions
14:40-16:20
Session A: Social and Economic Sciences
How can universities in the EU and Central Asia jointly shape ethical, data-driven, and inclusive socio-economic transformation?
Moderators:
- Prof. Piotr Stepnowski – Rector of University of Gdańsk, Poland
- Prof. Anna Tozzi – Rector's Consultant for the Internationalisation, University of L'Aquila, Italy
- Prof. Z. Karshiyev – Director of branch Tashkent University of Information Technologies, Uzbekistan
Speakers:
- Shukhrat Kayumov – Rector of “Cyber university” State University, Uzbekistan: - How digital societies are formed - lessons from rapid transformation in Central Asia (tbc)
- Rector of a university of Central Asia (tbc)
- Dorota Niedziolka/She – Vice-Rectore of SGH Warsaw School of Economics, Poland: - Ethics of AI at universities - between innovation and regulation. Economic implications.
- Pulatov Mukhiddin Egamberdievich – Rector of Samarkand Institute of Economics and Service, Uzbekistan:: - Big Data in emerging economies - from statistical capacity to policy impact (tbc)
- Rector of a university of Central Asia (tbc)
- Jolanta Tkaczyk/She – Vice-Rector of Kozminski University, Poland: - Data-driven economies based on European lessons for responsible digital markets
- Gulchekhra Rikhsiyeva– Rector of Tashkent State University of Oriental Languages, Uzbekistan: - Cultural dimensions of digital transformation – Language and Identity (tbc)
- Rector of a university of Central Asia (tbc)
- Celina Olszak/She – Vice-Rector of University of Economics in Katowice, Poland: - From big data to smart economic governance
- Feruza Madraximova – Rector of Urgench State University, Uzbekistan: - Universities as catalysts of socio-economic change (tbc)
Discussion
14:40-16:20
Session B: Engineering and Technologies
The responsibilities of technical universities in the area of dual-use technologies today – possible cooperation between Central Asia and Europe. University-industry cooperation. Emerging technologies.
Introduction:
- Anders Bjarklev - President of Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Denmark
Moderators:
- Prof. Krzysztof Jozwik - Rector of Lodz University of Technology, Head of Rectors Conference of Technical Universities of Poland (KRPUT), Poland
- Dr. Adham Yusupovich Khudaykulov - Rector of Tashkent Technical University “ToshTech”, Uzbekistan
Speakers:
- Abdullaev Bobur Sagdullayevich – Rector of Inha University in Tashkent, Uzbekistan
- Rector of a university of Central Asia (tbc)
- Teofil Jesionowski – Rector of Poznan University of Technology (PUT), Poland
- Dr. Olimjon Tuychiev – Rector of Turin Polytechnical University in Tashkent
- Rector of a university of Central Asia (tbc)
- Danuta Zawadzka/She – Rector of Koszalin University of Technology (PK), Poland
- Gulamov Abdulaziz Abdullayevich – Rector of Tashkent State Transport University, Uzbekistan
- Rector of a university of Central Asia (tbc)
- Jerzy Lis – Rector of AGH University in Krakow, Poland
- Sadoqat Gafforovna Siddikova – Rector of Bukhara State Technical University, Uzbekistan
- Nematov Sherzod Qalandarovich – Rector of Karshi State Technical University, Uzbekistan
Discussion
14:40-16:20
Session C: Medical Sciences
Big Data and Digitalization in Medicine; Biomedical approach; Personified medicine
Introduction:
- Prof. Marcin Moniuszko - Rector of Bialystok University of Medicine; Board Member of Conference of Rectors of Academic Medical Universities (KRAUM), Poland: - Modern Diseases Require Modern Approaches: Lessons from Poland
Moderators:
- Prof. Tomasz Szczepański - Rector of Medical University of Silesia; Board Member of Conference of Rectors of Academic Medical Universities (KRAUM), Poland
- Prof. Mukhiddin Nuriddin Davlatali - Rector, Abu Ali ibn Sino Tajik State Medical University, Tajikistan
Speakers:
- Shukhrat Abdujalilovich Boymuradov – Rector of Tashkent State Medical University, Uzbekistan
- Rector of a university of Central Asia (tbc)
- Michal Grat – Vice-Rector of Medical Universityof Warsaw, Poland: - The novel landscape of complex liver transplantations
- Kamal Saidakbarovich Rizayev – Rector of Tashkent Pharmaceutical Institute, Uzbekistan
- Rector of a university of Central Asia (tbc)
- Lucyna Wozniak/She – Vice-Rector of Medical University of Lodz, Poland - From molecules to Generations: Advanced Biomarker Discovery for GDM and Women's Health
- Madazimov Madamin Mo’Minovich – Rector of Andijan State Medical institute, Uzbekistan
- Rector of a university of Central Asia (tbc)
- Wojciech Wojakowski – Vice-Rector of Medical University of Silesia, Poland
- Shukhrat Jumayevich Tashaev – Rector of Bukhara State Medical institute, Uzbekistan
- László Matos PhD - Deputy Dean of Education András Pető Faculty , Semmelweis University
16.20-16.50 Closing Session
- Prof. Bogumila Kaniewska - President of Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland (CRASP), Poland
- Prof. Komiljon Karimov - Rector of Westminster International University in Tashkent, Uzbekistan
- Waldemar Siwinski – President, IREG Observatory on Academic Ranking and Excellence; Founder, Perspektywy Education Foundation, Belgium-Poland
- Chairs of the Parellel sessions
16.50-17:30 - Signing of bilateral agreements and MOUs
18:30-21:00 - Congress Gala-Concert (“Zilol-baxt” restaurant)
Participants
14 April 2026, Tuesday
10.00-12:00 – Universities Matchmaking Sessions
Venue: “Silk Road” International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage
Introduction:
- Prof. Kholmukhamedov Mukhsinjon Murodullaevich - Rector of “Silk Road” International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage
Prof. Marek Pawelczyk – Rector of Silesian University of Technology, Chairman of the International Committee of CRASP, Poland
After 12:00 Optional:
- Visits to universities of Samarkand
- Bilateral meetings
- Cultural program
15 April 2026, Wednesday
Optional:
- One day post-conference trip to Bukhara
- Departure of participants from Samarkand
16 April 2026, Thursday
Optional:
- Participation in the International Educational Fair "Education & Profession" in Samarkand
- Departure of participants from Samarkand or Bukhara