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Two university faculty members from Uzbekistan are learning about the U.S. higher education system and sharing insights from their disciplines with students, faculty and staff this fall at the University of North Georgia (̨��swag).

Ravshan Shamsitdinov, dean of the history faculty at Andijan State University, and Erkin Shodiev, a senior teacher of accounting at Tashkent State University of Economics, embraced the chance to give guest lectures at ̨��swag and bring home educational strategies to Uzbekistan.

The Uzbek faculty members are taking notes on curriculum, the academic credit system, and teaching strategies used by ̨��swag faculty. Both are hopeful the experience will provide a foundation for future partnerships with ̨��swag.

"We want to build long-lasting collaboration of both students and faculty in Uzbekistan and the United States," Shodiev said.

Their time at ̨��swag is sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan and administered by the (FEP) that has 29 Uzbek faculty at various U.S. universities for four months this fall.

Sheila Schulte, ̨��swag associate vice president of international programs, is grateful for the way the FEP expands the scope of traditional connections between ̨��swag and international faculty. 

This program assists these two individuals and Uzbekistan as a whole. It allows for a broader and deeper view on how ̨��swag can positively affect Uzbekistan's education system and how these scholars can impact our students, faculty and staff.

Sheila Schulte

̨��swag associate vice president of international programs

"To be competitive in a global society, we must expand and improve the quality of all levels of the educational system of Uzbekistan: kindergartens, secondary schools, higher education and research institutions," he said.

Shamsitdinov is giving lectures in history, political science and international affairs classes at ̨��swag and a pair of lectures at Indiana University.

Dr. Timothy May, associate dean of ̨��swag's College of Arts & Letters and a professor of Central Eurasian history, serves as Shamsitdinov's FEP mentor.

May has enjoyed learning from Shamsitdinov and comparing notes.

"He's served in multiple diplomatic positions around the world," May said. "He brings unique insights and is sharing some of those in classes at ̨��swag."

Dr. Bill Black, ̨��swag associate professor of accounting, is Shodiev's mentor. The Uzbek faculty member successfully defended his dissertation from Tashkent State University of Economics online in late August, and Black helped him celebrate the milestone by taking him to an Atlanta United soccer game.

Black has enjoyed mentoring Shodiev, sharing his knowledge of forensic accounting, and gleaning from Shodiev's experience.

"This is a great opportunity for me to learn more about a different culture," Black said.