On 2-3 October 2024, the UNESCO Chair was opened at “Silk Road” International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage in the framework of the first international conference “Topical issues of study and preservation of the tangible and cultural heritage of the Silk Road”.

Head of the UNESCO Office in Uzbekistan S. Noshadi, First Vice-Rector of our university, Professor D. Nasimov, Vice-Rector T. Zou, Director of the Silk Road Research Institute, Professor M. Yusupova and more than 100 scientists from the USA, Italy, the Netherlands, Central Asia, the Middle East and other countries took part in the opening of the Chair.

Professor T. Zou, Vice-Rector of our university at the international conference, gave a presentation on the functions and tasks of the UNESCO Chair. In his speech, the professor touched upon such issues as the preservation and utilisation of cultural heritage along the Silk Road, improving the living standards of local residents, developing tourist villages and combating gender inequality. 

In this chair, our university professors B. Safarov, T. Zou and M. Siddikova are carrying out joint activities. The main goal of the chair is to develop research, education, training and public relations in a unified system.

The UNESCO Chair, established on the initiative of the Rector of our university and the UNESCO office in Uzbekistan, is headed by Professor T. Zou, Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation. 

The Chair was established at “Silk Road” International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage and organised a platform on tourism and cultural heritage in cooperation with Beijing University of International Studies, UNESCO, IICAS and other research institutes.

The Chair currently employs high level, internationally recognised researchers and academics, and is establishing and developing partnerships with reputable research institutes around the world.