50 Uzbek Educators Complete AI Empowerment Training at HKUST(GZ)
The inaugural AI empowerment training program for Uzbek educators at HKUST(GZ) concluded on Aug 21, with 50 primary and secondary school teachers participating. Despite language barriers, they were highly engaged throughout the program.
This training program marks a significant milestone in the strategic partnership between HKUST(GZ) and New Uzbekistan University, aligning with Uzbekistan's AI Development Strategy 2030.
The program stands as a vivid example of the educational and cultural exchanges flourishing between China and Uzbekistan under the Belt and Road Initiative. It also reflects both sides' shared goals — China's commitment to advancing artificial intelligence capabilities on a global scale and Uzbekistan's strategic effort to draw on external expertise in pursuit of its national development strategy.
The curriculum, developed under the leadership of Professor Lei CHEN, Dean of the Information Hub, ranged from theoretical foundations to practical applications. The program opened with Professor CHEN's introductory lecture on "Introduction to LLM Intelligent Agents", providing a groundwork for understanding the core principles of AI models.
From there, the curriculum unfolded into an intensive and wide-ranging exploration, covering foundational AI architectures, advanced intelligent agents, prompt engineering, and embodied intelligence. Each module was built upon the previous one, forming a cohesive and comprehensive knowledge framework.
Practical application was given equal weight throughout the program, ensuring a steady balance between theory and practice. In the AIGC course, participants designed posters celebrating China-Uzbekistan friendship; the document processing and automation course equipped them with skills readily transferable to daily office tasks; and sessions on AI-generated presentations and automated meeting notes addressed real-world challenges in educational management.
Over the course of the program, participants advanced from "approaching AI" to "engaging with AI" on a technical level — and in the process, gained profound insights into teaching methodologies along the way. They came to see AI not as a distant future concept, but as a practical, present-day tool capable of empowering classrooms and revitalizing teaching.
The faculty team from the Information Hub shared their academic expertise and teaching experience, opening a new frontier in AI education for their Uzbek counterparts.
Mirkhojiddin OTAJONOV, an IT teacher from Specialized High School No 20 in Andijan city, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity, saying he had learned a great deal about the real-world applications of AI tools and was eager to put those skills to use back in Uzbekistan.
Beyond the classroom, participants explored the "SURREALITY" art exhibition on campus, learned about HKUST(GZ)'s strategic vision and pedagogical approach, and visited the GAC Technology Museum to see AI's industrial applications in action. They also toured the Computational Media and Arts Lab, where they experienced the cutting-edge research facilities driving interdisciplinary AI up close.
Sokhibakhon ERGASHEVA from Public High School No 9 in Andijan city found the program immensely valuable. "In the classroom, I learned about AI knowledge, working principles, and case studies. Stepping outside the campus, I saw those same applications brought to life like autonomous vehicles. So it wasn't just about theory, but about seeing how AI is applied in practice."
The participants also had the chance to try their hand at Chinese calligraphy, giving them a tangible feel for Chinese culture beyond what they had seen on screens.
Kurshidjon KHUDOYBERDIEV, a senior lecturer at New Uzbekistan University, emphasized the broader impact of the collaboration. "The cooperation started with these 50 teachers. When they return to their schools, they will bring back the knowledge they have acquired in China. This will significantly enhance Uzbek people's understanding of AI — not just the technology itself, but also the culture and ideas behind it."
As HKUST(GZ) prepares to welcome a second cohort of Uzbek teachers, the partnership with New Uzbekistan University is set to expand into joint curriculum development and talent cultivation, further strengthening educational ties between China and Uzbekistan under the Belt and Road Initiative.
