Tashkent, May 20. The French Embassy in Uzbekistan is pleased to announce that the first Forum of French-Uzbek university cooperation “French-Uzbek University: Prospects and Development” kicked off in Tashkent today to last through May 20. The forum is an important step towards the creation of the Franco-Uzbek University, the official opening of which is scheduled for 1 September 2025.
This meeting marks a decisive step in the development of the strategic partnership between France and Uzbekistan in the field of higher education, research and innovation. It is a continuation of the intergovernmental agreement signed on 12 March 2025 during the state visit of President Mirziyoyev to France.
The forum opened in the presence of Anne-Marie Descôtes, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, and Odil Abdurakhmonov, the Advisor to the President of Uzbekistan in charge of Youth, Science, Education, Health, Culture and Sports. Accompanied by Her Excellency Aurélie Bouchez, the Ambassador of France to Uzbekistan, they officially launched the Franco-Uzbek University in the presence of many leading figures from the academic and institutional circles.
The twenty-member French delegation included Virginie Laval, Rector of the University of Poitiers and Head of the French Consortium, Pedro Lages dos Santos, Rector of the University of Le Havre-Normandie, Lydia Coudroy de Lille, the Vice-Rector for Research at the University of Lyon 2, and Claire Le Page, a representative of the University of Rennes. They were accompanied by faculty members and researchers involved in the future programs of the Franco-Uzbek University.
On the Uzbek side in the in the discussions were present a large number of rectors, vice-rectors and faculty members from the partner universities of the consortium. The aim of the forum is to lay the foundations for the first education programs: a graduate degree in French as a Foreign Language (FLE), preparatory courses in Mathematics and Physics, and the gradual launch of graduate degrees in Bioinformatics, Renewable Energy, Transport and Logistics between 2025 and 2027. During its opening, the Franco-Uzbek University will have a temporary location at the Tashkent Technical University.
The forum is also a key opportunity for dialogue and coordination between the French and Uzbek consortia. It is expected to expedite the exchange of educational and scientific content, as well as strengthen the dynamics of bilateral university cooperation. The presence of Joanna Golas, the President of the France-Uzbekistan International Chamber of Commerce, also underlines the importance of this project for the private sector, which sees the Franco-Uzbek University as an answer to the challenges of training and employment of young people in Uzbekistan. The French Embassy welcomes the enthusiasm of the academic community of both countries and will continue to actively support the implementation of this project, which will benefit the youth of France and Uzbekistan.
