As part of an intergovernmental agreement, our institution is coordinating a consortium that includes Lumière Lyon 2, Rennes, and Le Havre Normandie universities to bring a major project to life: the creation of the Uzbek-French University (UFU) in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.
The very first academic year started on Monday, October 5, in Uzbekistan, in the presence of Virginie Laval, president of the University of Poitiers, Lydie Ancelot (vice president for Academic Affairs) and Stéphane Mottet (vice president for International Affairs).
This first cohort of the French as a Foreign Language (FLE) program consists of about twenty Uzbek students enrolled in this Master’s degree accredited to French standards, taught by faculty from Poitiers and Lyon.
Planned for 2027: the scheduled launch of a Master’s in Energy led by the University of Poitiers, followed by the rollout of other strategic degree programs.
Why is this project strategic?
While the Uzbek student population is growing rapidly, barely 300 students are currently studying in France (including about 30 who have been hosted in Poitiers since 2022).
The UFU addresses two key challenges:
- Developing a high-quality master’s degree program offered directly on site.
- Promoting bilateral academic and scientific mobility.
Jointly governed by the two countries, this new institution aims to bridge the gap between the academic world and local socioeconomic needs.
A long-term partnership dedicated to education, research, and innovation.