Jizzakh Branch celebrates first graduation, opens ADM Academy
Rector of Kazan Federal University, Lenar Safin, visited the branch campus together with Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Ekaterina Turilova, Chief Medical Officer of the University Clinic Rinat Shigabutdinov, and Acting Director of the Institute of International Relations, History and Eastern Studies Airat Kayumov. Dr Safin presented 98 diplomas, 9 of them with honors.
In his welcoming address to the graduates, Lenar Safin noted that behind each diploma lies a challenging yet genuinely fascinating journey. Each of the graduates has already inscribed their name in the history of KFU – a history spanning more than 220 years.
“Our university is one of the largest and most internationally recognized universities in Russia,” he reminded. “In 2022, we opened the doors of our branch here in Jizzakh, and today we are celebrating its first graduating class. Each of you is proof that education at KFU is in demand, valuable and yields real results. You have mastered programs that combine the best Russian academic standards and university traditions with modern economic requirements. And your success is the success of our joint project with Uzbekistan, which today can confidently be called a success.”
The Rector emphasized that the branch’s students are a kind of bridge between the two countries, and between science and practice. Regardless of where they go on to work – in industry, business, education, or public administration – they will always remain part of the large family of Kazan University.
“We will sincerely rejoice in each of your achievements. And, of course, our doors will always be open to you,” said Lenar Safin. “Master’s programs, continuing education courses, joint research projects – choose whatever appeals to you. We will be glad to see you again so that we can move forward together. And today, all roads are open before you. Believe in yourselves, do not be afraid to set ambitious goals, and boldly pursue them. Wear the title of Kazan University graduate with pride! Congratulations on this special day!”
Congratulatory remarks to the graduates were also delivered by honored guests of the event: Head of the Representative Office of Rossotrudnichestvo in the Republic of Uzbekistan Irina Staroselskaya, First Secretary of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Uzbekistan Ilya Matveev, Representative of the Republic of Tatarstan in the Republic of Uzbekistan Aidar Akhtareev, and Honorary Doctor of KFU, President of Sambhram University Ergash Saliev.
The recipients of higher education diplomas were students who completed bachelor’s degree programs in Linguistics, Journalism, Information Systems and Technologies, Automation, Geology, Economics, and Pharmacy.
For several of these fields, the branch has announced admission to master’s degree programs for the 2026/27 academic year. This applies to Linguistics, Journalism, Information Systems, and Economics.
According to Rector Lenar Safin, this step contributes to the further strengthening and development of long-term partnership between Russia and Uzbekistan in education and science, as well as to the formation of a shared corporate culture.
At present, the project of KFU’s first overseas branch, launched in 2022 thanks to the comprehensive support of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia, and the leadership of the Republic of Tatarstan, can be considered a success.
The Rais of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, described the opening of the branch specifically in the Republic of Uzbekistan as symbolic, since the two countries are linked by a longstanding tradition of productive cooperation. In turn, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who personally visited KFU’s representative office in Jizzakh, paid particular attention to creating the necessary conditions for students. The President ordered that an additional building be allocated to the institution and that its material and technical base be expanded.
Today, this structural subdivision of Kazan University, housed in the former Higher Military Aviation School building, fully meets the stated requirements. It offers degrees in mechanical engineering, geology, software engineering, economics, journalism, information systems and technologies, management, linguistics, medical biochemistry, general medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry. In addition, it implements projects in fundamental, applied, and innovative research.
As for the opening ceremony of ADM, it was attended by the Rector of Kazan Federal University and the General Director of ADM, Najmiddin Shamshidinov. During the event, the parties signed an official cooperation agreement and discussed the long-term prospects of the ADM Academy as the key partner in education and training for the automotive industry.
The Rector noted that the establishment of joint educational spaces with representatives of the real sector of the economy can give a new impetus to the economic development of both countries, and that the classrooms themselves can become genuine centers of attraction for young and talented people.
“We are certainly very pleased to have acquired such a strategic partner, with whom we will train specialists in engineering specifically in the field of automobile manufacturing. We possess specific core competencies, and our advanced engineering school Cyber Auto Tech is actively operating, with our automotive giant KAMAZ serving as its key partner. I believe it will be useful to study how this work is organized on our side in order to achieve a synergistic effect,” emphasized Lenar Safin.
For his part, Najmiddin Shamshidinov drew attention to the existing demand for engineering personnel in the region.
“That is why we are working very closely with the university and place great hopes on the specialists that Kazan University will train for us. Undoubtedly, a major advantage for the students will be industrial placements and guaranteed employment,” he said.
ADM JIZZAKH is a modern multibrand automobile plant in the Republic of Uzbekistan, part of the ADM Global group of companies. The plant produces vehicles under the brands Kia, Chery, Haval, Hyundai Truck & Bus, Changan, and TANK. It is also actively expanding the production of electric and hybrid vehicles.
Initially, cooperation with Kazan University involved the opening of dedicated modern classrooms and targeted training of the company’s employees in the Automation of Technological Processes and Production program. 16 plant employees completed this program in the 2025/2026 season.
However, it has now been decided to create a comprehensive joint educational space, where training will be organized according to a dual model: on Saturdays, students attend classes at the branch campus; on Wednesdays, instructors travel to the production site to conduct practical sessions; and part of the curriculum is delivered in an online format.
It should be noted that students in their penultimate year of study will complete their pre-graduation internships directly at the plant. In addition, three-party agreements (branch – student – enterprise) will be concluded with students, guaranteeing their subsequent employment and participation in industrial projects.