Tashkent Student Wins Minister's Technology Grant

Ravshanbek Isoqov, a student at Webster University in Tashkent, has won a grant from the Minister for Development of Information Technologies and Communications of Uzbekistan.

The Minister’s Grant enables 10 young people to gain free access to courses offered by the IT Park as well as support in finding employment at an IT company in Uzbekistan. According to the IT Park website, the contest required each participant to write a story about their life, share “why they want to become IT-specialists, and how it will improve their lives.”

Just trust yourself – because even if we think we are not smart enough to apply, we should apply anyway. You can get success.”

Around 1,400 people submitted their stories, and Isoqov was among the 10 chosen. “In my story I focused on my father," said Isoqov in response to why he felt his story was selected. "I explained that he was the cause for me wanting to join this field.”

Isoqov is a business administration freshman in Tashkent, but he has a passion for programming and information technologies that began several years ago. “In the beginning I didn’t know about programming, I saw a lot of Marvel movies, which used 3D animation," said Isoqov. "My father told me that it is made by computers, and all of it was developed by programmers. I started becoming interested in programming. He said, programming is important everywhere. I started to study math, English.”

I want to unite business with IT, that’s why I am studying business administration at Webster."

Isoqov shared that his dream is to become a data scientist. “This is one of the most [in-demand] jobs. I became interested in it after listening to lectures of businessmen like Bobir Akilkhanov.” 

He is choosing to take the backend course at the IT Park to study Python. The cost of tuition will be covered by the Minister’s Grant. Ultimately, Isoqov’s ambitions are even greater. “[Data science is] needed everywhere to solve problems. I want to start my career at one of the giant companies or I want to create my own company, like Epam.” He believes that his major will help him reach his goals: “I want to unite business with IT, that’s why I am studying business administration at Webster."

Isoqov shared that he became involved with the IT Park as a volunteer at their annual InnoWeek event thanks to Shokhista Rakhimova, Webster's campus career development coordinator. He subsequently learned about the grant and applied, despite no  expectation to win. “I didn’t even know about my achievement," said Isoqov. When they called me and said, ‘you won,’ I didn’t trust them [at first]. Before, I had applied for so many grants and most of them I failed.”

He would like to share these words of encouragement with his peers: “Just trust yourself – because even if we think we are not smart enough to apply, we should apply anyway. You can get success.”