Confident Steps on the International Stage
On October 3-4, the University of Ghent in Belgium hosted an international training event organized by the Centralized Support Commission for the Erasmus+ program and the network of Higher Education Reform Experts (HERE) through the SPHERE initiative. This training, entitled "Inclusive Internationalization: From Good Intentions to Positive Outcomes," was attended by a special expert from Uzbekistan, our university's Vice-Rector for International Cooperation, Professor Nozliya Normurodova.
The purpose of this event was to support the internationalization of universities and foster effective collaboration with foreign higher education institutions (HEIs) within their respective fields of study. The inclusive internationalization training for higher education reform experts took place at two key institutions—the University of Ghent and the Artevelde University of Applied Sciences. The event also featured discussions from representatives of the Inclusive Higher Education Support Center (SIHO) and other key players with significant experience in the field. During the visit, participants gained extensive insights into how the Flemish higher education system strategically plans and addresses the theme of inclusive internationalization.
Furthermore, participants were introduced to the results of the “Inclusivehighereducation.eu” project, which supports governmental bodies and HEIs across the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) in implementing EHEA principles and guidelines related to social dimensions.
In recent years, internationalization has become a core mission for almost all higher education institutions. In Europe, both political unity and soft power mechanisms strongly back the internationalization of higher education, with compelling motivations driving this agenda. Moreover, academic goals are also pushing for further internationalization, which is increasingly viewed as a tool for development. Institutional quality and global standing are often tied to the degree of international cooperation. Internationalization offers students short-term opportunities to enhance their skills and gain additional knowledge, which is crucial not only for their education but also for their personal growth and ability to become active citizens.
The European Union (EU) continues to promote the European Universities initiative, which supports large-scale transnational cooperation and exchange by facilitating intensive collaboration between HEIs within broad consortia. Internationalization plays a pivotal role in ToshDÖTAU’s efforts to establish a strong global reputation while enhancing the quality of education and research.
One of the central pillars of this strategy is promoting inclusive education, ensuring that everyone has access to high-quality learning opportunities. Professor Normurodova presented detailed insights into the scale and quality of Uzbekistan's efforts in this direction in recent years, also proposing collaborative projects aimed at furthering inclusive education.
During the visit, Professor Normurodova held a meeting with the leadership of the University of Ghent, discussing prospects for establishing bilateral cooperation between the two institutions.