In early 2021, the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent in cooperation with American Councils for International Education (American Councils), will launch the “American Window” initiative throughout the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The initiative will provide the communities where Windows are located with modern resource libraries and dynamic conference spaces, and will offer electronic and paper-based books, a diverse array of educational and cultural resources in English, computer labs with internet access, guest speaker series featuring visiting American experts, and extracurricular activities such as English language movies and speaking clubs. Each American Window will also serve as a hub for EducationUSA, a free advising center that provides consultation service to prospective undergraduate and graduate students who wish to study in the United States.
Construction of the first American Window at the Barkomol Avlod Center in Qarshi, Qashqadaryo began on September 30, 2020. Barkomol Avlod Centers are youth extracurricular activity spaces located in all 13 regions of Uzbekistan, administered by the Ministry of Public Education. At 230 sq meters (2,475 feet), Qarshi will be home to the largest American Window in Central Asia managed by American Councils. The new space will include a computer lab,a library, a conference hall, and an EducationUSA classroom. Modern glass walls and U.S.-themed designs will be featured throughout the facility. The Qarshi American Window is expected to open to the public in early 2021.
American Councils reopened its Tashkent office in 2018 and currently manages a diverse portfolio of 13programs in the country including the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX), the English Speaking Nation: Secondary Teacher Training (ESN:STT) initiative, the Uzbekistan Business Leaders (UBL) exchange, and Central Asia University Partnership Program (UNiCEN).