By Waldemar Siwinski
(pictured left)
News of the European Union-Central Asia Partnership announced in the historic city of Samarkand in April was particularly warmly welcomed by the academic community in Poland. It served to highlight Polish universities’ foresight in building cooperation with universities in the Central Asia region, particularly in Uzbekistan.
Where does the interest in Uzbekistan come from for Poland? Central Asia may be geographically thousands of miles away from Poland, but for historical reasons Uzbekistan is not just a spot on the world’s map for Polish people. In the 19th century, many Poles were sent in exile to Central Asia by the Russian tsars after two military uprisings staged by Poles to regain the country’s independence.
During World War II the Polish army formed from Poles released from Russian gulags came together in Uzbekistan. This Polish army later fought on the side of the Allies in North Africa and Italy.
The role of higher education
Poles who liberated themselves from the Soviet grip understand the unprecedented opportunities that higher education offers but also its role in transforming the economic and political system. Also, there are thousands of international students from Uzbekistan at Polish universities.
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