On June 30, a solemn graduation ceremony was held at the State Council of the Republic of Tatarstan for students of the first international cohort of the joint educational program between Kazan State Medical University (KSMU) and Tashkent Medical Academy (TMA).
A total of 26 graduates who successfully completed the six-year program received diplomas conferring the qualification of “physician.” These diplomas allow them to work legally in both Uzbekistan and Russia. Chairman of the State Council of Tatarstan and Head of the Assembly of Peoples of Tatarstan, Farid Mukhametshin, congratulated the graduates and their families on behalf of the republic’s leadership.
Mukhametshin emphasized the noble and demanding nature of the medical profession and praised KSMU’s educational traditions, international reputation, and academic excellence. He also highlighted the longstanding historical, cultural, and economic ties between Uzbekistan, Tatarstan, and Russia, noting that trade turnover between the regions reached $376 million in 2024. The Consulate General of Uzbekistan in Kazan and the Uzbek national-cultural autonomy actively contribute to strengthening these ties.
He also pointed out that over 320,000 ethnic Tatars live in Uzbekistan, forming the largest Tatar diaspora abroad. These communities have played a significant role in shaping Uzbek culture and education and continue contributing to bilateral relations.
Mukhametshin acknowledged the growing interparliamentary cooperation with the chambers of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan and wished the graduates success in their professional and personal lives. He reminded them of the great responsibility they carry as future physicians, especially in the global context of improving healthcare systems and implementing innovative technologies.
The event’s guest of honor, Nodirjon Kosimov, Consul General of Uzbekistan in Kazan, emphasized the importance of joint projects in enhancing Uzbek-Russian and Uzbek-Tatar relations and expressed his gratitude to the KSMU leadership and faculty for their respectful treatment of Uzbek students. He wished the graduates happiness and success on their professional journey.
Leaders of both partner universities also congratulated the graduates. KSMU Rector and State Council Deputy Alexey Sozinov noted the historical importance of this graduation and highlighted the opportunity for the students to work legally in both countries. He stressed that the main advantage of the graduates is not in quantity, but in the quality of the education they received.
Tashkent State Medical University Vice-Rector for Clinical Affairs, Marif Karimov, expressed confidence that each graduate would find their place in the profession, whether in Uzbekistan or Russia. He read a congratulatory message from Tashkent State Medical University Rector Shukhrat Boymurodov, who praised the program as a symbol of mutual trust and effective academic cooperation between the institutions.
Speaking on behalf of the graduates, student Bonu Umarova reflected on the cultural and personal growth the program offered, stating that medicine is not just a career, but a calling. “Now we have two homes – Kazan and Tashkent,” she said.
Before the ceremony, graduates and their families toured the State Council, the parliamentary center, and the museum of Tatarstan’s parliamentary history. At the end, white doves – symbols of peace and purity – were released into the sky.
This was the first graduating class of the joint program, which was established through a cooperation agreement between KSMU and TMA in 2017. In 2019, the program was launched, offering medical education in Russian with students studying three years in each institution. Upon successful completion, graduates receive diplomas from both universities.
Initially, 32 students enrolled at TMA and 8 at KSMU. In 2022, some transferred to continue their studies in Kazan. Currently, 45 students are enrolled in the joint program. This year’s graduates actively participated in academic and social life, earning recognition at international competitions and conferences.
