As the tourism industry rapidly grows in Uzbekistan, there is increasing need for English proficiency. Through the Central Asia University Partnerships Program (UniCEN), administered by American Councils for International Education and funded by the U.S. State Department through the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent, the University of Wyoming (UW) partnered with three Uzbekistan universities to improve English language learning for the tourism sector. Beginning in September 2020, UW assisted Bukhara State University with methods to improve grading rubrics, performance measures, syllabus design, and how to launch student clubs for English. UW faculty supported Tashkent State University of Economics adoption of the credit hour system and reviewed their English curricula. Working with the Samarkand Tourism Academy, UW created a library of videos, links, and activities for English-language learners.
To enhance English as a Second Language in Uzbekistan, UW created a four-part webinar series on professional development, with an additional 10 hours of language support classes. Uzbekistani professors reported that their understanding of university systems and policies greatly increased. UW professors developed ways to make ESL lessons more applicable to the geographical and cultural landscape in Uzbekistan. As a result of the partnership, UW and its partners created an ESL for tourism textbook to improve English teaching and further the development of English within the tourism in sector Uzbekistan for years to come.
