From February 16 to 19 this year, the annual conference of the Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA) was held in Washington, D.C. The event was attended by Akram Umarov, First Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED).

The conference, organized under the theme “Leading the Way: Navigating Volatility and New Realities in International Education”, is one of the leading platforms in international education. It brought together heads of higher education institutions, international cooperation experts, and specialists working in strategic management from various countries.

Within the framework of the conference, more than 100 sessions and roundtables were held, dedicated to the development of international education, higher education management in the context of globalization, strategic partnerships, sustainable development goals, and educational integration.

During the event, bilateral meetings were held with representatives of leading U.S. universities and organizations. In particular, discussions took place with the University of Missouri, University of California, Davis, University of Illinois Chicago, George Washington University, University of Wisconsin–Madison, George Mason University, American International Recruitment Council, Texas A&M University, and Johns Hopkins University.

The meetings focused on expanding academic mobility, establishing joint educational programs, implementing research projects, developing faculty and student exchanges, as well as strengthening institutional cooperation.

Additionally, as part of the conference participation, meetings were held with several partner organizations based in Washington, including the Atlantic Council, Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs, and the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies (NESA Center), as well as representatives of the U.S. Department of State.