Webster Tashkent Celebrates Third Anniversary and Navruz

March 20 marked three years since Webster’s campus in Uzbekistan was established by decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. To celebrate, the administration held a mass festivity on March 28, the first day of Spirit Week, which was also great chance to celebrate Navruz. Navruz, often referred to as Persian New Year, is celebrated across Central Asia, and involves folk dances, music, games and special foods.

The organizing team made the celebration as rich as possible: students prepared booths that highlighted the cultures of Uzbekistan’s regions, such as foods, clothing, textiles, and traditions. Several other countries were also represented in this cultural fair. Professionals were invited to perform Uzbek folk dances and songs in the campus yard.

“We managed to get more than 700 students engaged,  undergraduate and graduate," said Aziz Nishanov, student affairs coordinator, and one of the main organizers. "We had guests from other universities, representatives of foreign embassies in Uzbekistan, and other visitors. The aim of the celebration was to raise the spirit of our students, so that they can feel themselves part of a united family.”

View more photos of the event on Instagram. 

Dmitriy An, studying management information systems, was one of the students who organized a booth representing the Autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan. This is a region of Uzbekistan from where the freshman hails. “The preparation was a little bit difficult, but we did it. I think we represented our culture well,” said An. Having started his studies just this January, An explained he was glad for the opportunity to socialize. “I learned a lot of interesting things from different cultures, and I met so many different people. I met some new friends. As a [Spring intake undergrad] it was really useful, too.”

The aim of the celebration was to raise the spirit of our students, so that they can feel themselves part of a united family.”

Azalia Khakimova, a media studies sophomore, also organized a booth. “My favorite [booth] was Germany because that was the one I prepared! I also liked Italy and France, because they represented their countries with great detail: food, drinks. It was so cozy, I felt like home,” said Khakimova.

Khakimova also explained that the Navruz celebration built the campus community. “It was such a great event because so many students were involved and they were free to present their homeland, or countries they are interested in. There were many cities or regions of Uzbekistan represented.”

The festivities were opened with words of congratulations by the campus acting rector and executive director of the Center for the Implementation of Educational Programs of WUT. After that, professionals performed the traditional dances lazgi and Andijan polka, supported by Webster students. One of the students performed a solo women’s Uzbek folk dance.

Traditional games from Uzbekistan followed, including “Kim oladi yo shuginaniyo”, in which participants take turns attempting to pick up a hat off the ground with their teeth, without bending their knees. The students who wore folk clothing had a chance to show off their style in an amateur catwalk.

The organizers of the event were university staff and student leaders. As Nishanov explained, students took ownership of the process. “I am proud of our students for managing the different booths representing Uzbek regions and other countries," said Nishanov. "People who visited the fair acted warmly, which tells me we are on the right track. The atmosphere and environment we created with the whole team made me proud of everyone involved.”

The day’s program also includes a special event for Webster students: a panel discussion by three representatives of UN agencies in Uzbekistan, then a screening of the beloved Uzbek film “Novda” with English subtitles.

Spirit week includes sporting activities, events related to the arts culture, and community-building activities. The last events will take place on Friday.

Three years after establishment, Webster Tashkent has nearly 1,800 students in undergraduate and graduate programs. International students at WUT represent 40 countries of the world. Approximately 40 percent of faculty were hired from outside Uzbekistan.