The Delegation of the European Union to Uzbekistan, together with the National Erasmus+ Office in Uzbekistan, hosted the annual Pre-Departure Orientation (PDO) on 1 July 2026 for the 13 Uzbek students selected for the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM) programmes starting in the 2026/2027 academic year. Held at the EU Residence in Tashkent in a hybrid format, the event brought together selected students, Erasmus Mundus alumni, representatives of EU Member States' embassies, international organisations and education experts to prepare participants for their academic and cultural journey across Europe.
Opening the event, Ambassador of the European Union to Uzbekistan Toivo Klaar congratulated the selected students, stating: "As Erasmus Mundus Scholars, you will become an important bridge between Europe and Uzbekistan. The strongest connections between our regions are not built by roads or railways, but by people." He underlined the EU's commitment to expanding educational cooperation with Uzbekistan and highlighted the growing role of Erasmus+ in strengthening people-to-people ties between Europe and Central Asia.
This year's cohort includes 13 students from Uzbekistan who will pursue master's degrees in law and gender studies, economics, environmental sustainability, engineering, cybersecurity, clinical linguistics, cultural entrepreneurship, nuclear applications and European politics. Students will study at leading universities in France, Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands, Finland, Poland, Ireland, the Czech Republic, Serbia and the United Kingdom, with mobility periods at partner universities across Europe. The cohort comprises 7 Erasmus Mundus scholarship holders and 6 self-funded students.
The programme featured remarks from Sara Noshadi, Head of the UNESCO Office in Uzbekistan and an Erasmus Mundus alumna, along with contributions from representatives of the embassies of France, Germany, the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom. Practical sessions delivered by Erasmus Mundus alumni and current students covered studying abroad, building international networks and maximising the Erasmus experience. A dedicated training session on intercultural communication and academic success provided tools for navigating multicultural learning environments.
Since 2015, 154 students from Uzbekistan have received Erasmus Mundus scholarships. The Erasmus+ programme has supported over 16 million participants worldwide, with Erasmus Mundus funding 349 joint master's programmes and awarding scholarships to more than 34,000 students from 179 countries. The orientation reinforced the importance of the growing Erasmus Mundus alumni community in Uzbekistan, encouraging students to remain engaged with the network throughout their studies and after returning home to strengthen long-term cooperation between Uzbekistan and the European Union.