This past week, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology welcomed senior delegates from the Republic of Uzbekistan, marking the signing of a new international agreement aimed at advancing education, sustainability and global collaboration.
The delegation represented the State Center of Environmental Certification and Standardization under the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Attendees included Yunusov Nodirjon, General Director; Abdulgaziev Tolegen Nuralievich, Deputy Director; and Djuraev Tokhir Tulkunovich, Board Member. They were joined by leaders from Olds College and the College’s Board of Governors to celebrate the milestone.
The agreement lays the foundation for collaboration in several key areas, including the development of a long-term institutional partnership, the design and delivery of Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) programming that will allow a large group of students from Uzbekistan to study at Olds College and the advancement of knowledge exchange in sustainable agriculture and environmental practices.
“This is a meaningful step forward in our efforts to provide students with immersive, applied learning experiences,” said Dr. Debbie Thompson, Interim President of Olds College. “We’re proud to be working with our partners in Uzbekistan to create opportunities that benefit learners and industries in both countries.”
A key component of the agreement includes the launch of a six-month ESG training program, which will be delivered in three phases. It will begin with three months of remote learning, with instruction delivered from Olds to students in Uzbekistan, followed by two months of in-person training held in Uzbekistan and concluding with one month on-campus learning at Olds College.
“This partnership reflects the kind of global thinking and shared purpose needed to address tomorrow’s challenges,” said Thompson. “We are committed to staying at the forefront of change by continually evolving our curriculum, integrating new technologies and driving innovation in agriculture, sustainability and beyond.”
The agreement builds on a Memorandum of Understanding signed in November 2024, further reinforcing Olds College’s commitment to global partnerships that foster innovation, hands-on learning and student success.
