On 29 October 2024, the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED) welcomed a high-level delegation led by His Excellency Ambassador Nico Schermers of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Central Asia. Ambassador Schermers, accompanied by Senior Officer for Political Affairs Sergey Solodovnik, engaged in a dialogue with UWED’s First Vice-Rector Akram Umarov, Deputy Director of the Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) Shakhboz Akhmedov, and Research Fellow Odilbek Manabov. This gathering marked a significant milestone in advancing academic ties between UWED and Dutch institutions, laying a solid foundation for future collaboration.

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Schermers expressed a keen interest in strengthening educational links between the Netherlands and Uzbekistan. He emphasised the effectiveness of grassroots, or “bottom-up”, communication approaches, highlighting that partnerships driven by genuine engagement often yield more substantive and sustainable outcomes. According to Ambassador Schermers, these bottom-up initiatives, driven by active academic and research exchanges, stand in contrast to conventional top-down approaches, which can sometimes result in formal, ceremonial outcomes lacking in long-term impact. This viewpoint resonated with UWED officials, who are also committed to fostering organic academic ties that go beyond formal agreements.

Both sides acknowledged that initiating professor exchange programmes could serve as a practical and impactful first step toward building a more dynamic partnership. By facilitating direct collaboration among academics, these exchanges would not only enrich the educational experience but also enable both institutions to benefit from each other's expertise and insights. The UWED delegation expressed particular interest in Dutch methodologies in international relations and public policy, viewing them as a valuable resource for UWED's curriculum and research agendas.

Further demonstrating his commitment to enhancing academic engagement, Ambassador Schermers delivered an insightful guest lecture for UWED students. This lecture provided a unique opportunity for students to gain firsthand insights into critical issues in international relations, particularly from a Dutch and European perspective. Ambassador Schermers encouraged students to think critically about the challenges facing Central Asia and Europe, inviting them to consider how collaborative international efforts can address shared global issues such as climate change, security, and economic development. His interactive style fostered an engaging dialogue with the students, who expressed deep interest in the topics discussed.

In addition to addressing the students, Ambassador Schermers met with Hamza Boltaev, Head of the Centre for Afghanistan and South Asian Studies at IAIS, to explore specific areas of collaboration. Their conversation centred on the shared challenges and opportunities within Afghanistan and South Asia, with both parties recognising the need for collaborative research on pressing issues such as regional stability, security, and economic development. Ambassador Schermers and Mr Boltaev discussed the possibility of future workshops and joint research initiatives focusing on Afghanistan, South Asia, and their implications for broader regional stability, signalling a strong interest in developing long-term projects of mutual benefit.

This visit by the Dutch Ambassador not only marks a promising step towards enhanced academic cooperation between UWED and Dutch institutions but also reflects a broader commitment by both Uzbekistan and the Netherlands to foster knowledge exchange and shared research initiatives. By focusing on practical, bottom-up approaches to partnership, this engagement aims to deliver impactful outcomes that will resonate within both academic communities.

Moving forward, UWED and the Embassy of the Netherlands plan to explore a range of collaborative opportunities, which are anticipated to contribute to the development of a vibrant academic partnership, one that will provide students and faculty alike with invaluable international perspectives and drive innovative research with real-world applications in the years to come.