On February 8 of this year, the opening ceremony of the Institute  for Advanced International Studies at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy was held.

Delegates from the Senate and the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Investments, Industry and Trade, other ministries and departments of the Republic of Uzbekistan, ambassadors of foreign nations, the heads of international organizations and leading public and private companies, mass media representatives as well as faculty and students of UWED took part in this event. 

Opening the event, Durbek Amanov, the first vice-rector for academic affairs of the University of World Economy and Diplomacy noted that the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan to open the Institute is aimed at transforming the UWED into country’s leading institution in the field of international relations and area studies based on the best research practices of the world’s leading scientific centers.

First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Furkat Siddikov noted that an academic international and interdisciplinary research institute is being formed in our country for the first time, and it will become a part of the global network along with other world professional research centers and international research institutes.

During the event, memorandums of partnership and cooperation were signed with foreign organizations, such as the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (Germany), the School of Global Studies of the University of Sussex (Great Britain) and the Rasanah Center (Saudi Arabia). An agreement was reached with the Center for Governance and Markets at the University of Pittsburgh (USA) to establish cooperation and determine joint research themes.

The main specialization of the Institute is to conduct interdisciplinary research on relevant issues in the areas of international relations, world economy, international law, area studies, as well as preparation of analytical reports, forecasts, and recommendations on topical issues of modern world politics and economics.

The Institute will organize fundamental and applied research studies on such regions as Afghanistan and South Asia, the Asia-Pacific, Europe and Americas, and topics that include modern global and sustainable development, energy geopolitics, economic diplomacy, international law, as well as anthropology and conflict studies.

To this end, the Institute conducts research, produces publications and academic lectures, organizes conferences and media appearances aimed at increasing the knowledge, awareness and relevance of current policy issues among politicians, scientists and general public.

This “think tank”, comprised of 8 research centers and a laboratory, employes experienced and highly qualified specialists and experts in international relations, including diplomats, 3 doctors of sciences and 5 candidates of sciences, including previously employed in international organizations, such as at the UN, and universities of the USA, Great Britain, Japan, etc.

In a short period of time, the staff of the Institute published more than 10 articles in the media and scientific journals, including in the leading foreign journals such as The National Interest and The Diplomat (USA). In addition, experts of the Institute took part in international conferences organized in 7 foreign countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Germany, Great Britain and the USA). Also, the Institute has already prepared and submitted 4 projects for international and national research grant programs. A preliminary agreement was reached with the WHO office in Uzbekistan and the British Embassy in Tashkent to support research projects of the Institute.

The Institute plans to expand contacts with promising national and international institutions and experts, as well as with international organizations, in order to conduct joint research projects, including on the basis of attracting foreign research grants.