CPI Follow up Workshop in Uzbekistan
“Open for YOU”
2019 September 25-27, My first visit to Uzbekistan, a country of history and people
Lee Sooji (KERIS Senior Researcher)
It was all dark. When I arrived at Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport, my first impression was dark and quiet. Passengers from my flight were all exhausted, including me, because it landed past midnight in Korean Time. However, it was not that much dark and quiet outside the airport due to the headlamps and smartphones of everyone waiting for his/her partners. Ms. Gulnoza, the organizer of the workshop, waited for my colleague, Ms. Jang of the National Library of Korea and myself with warm-hearted welcome on her face.
On the first day, the workshop began with the official announcement of Ms. Techabaeva ALIMDJANOVNA, director of the National Library of Uzbekistan.
I shared my knowledge and experiences regarding Library Automation, Digital Libraries, and RISS with the participants from the National Library of Uzbekistan and nearby institutions, followed by the progress of the Center Union Electronic Catalogue of Uzbekistan by Mr. Gaziev ANVAROVICH, center director of the Union Electronic Catalogue, and the current status of KOLIS-NET of National Library of Korea by Ms. Jang.
There was a guided tour of reading rooms and special collections, and one of them was “Window on Korea,” supported by the National Library of Korea. Students were enthusiastic for learning Korean language and culture, and they kept asking us, “What is the most popular textbook for Korean language learners?” “Would you recommend book(s) for us to start learning Korean Language?” Ms. Jang of the National Library of Korea promised them to support more textbooks on the shelves.
Taekwondo performance and ARIRANG played with a traditional Uzbekistan string instrument started the second day. Taekwondo master and music player had participated in CPI program for 6 months in Korea, and kept their experiences and expertise after retuning back to Uzbekistan. There was also a short contest of “who is the best Korean Speaker?” and I was so much impressed by their continuous effort on practicing Korean language, from literature to scholarly areas of study. Traveling to historical city of Samarkand was another touching experience. As a center of ancient Silk Road, the major trade route between China and the Mediterranean Culture, Samarkand still remains a cultural heritage of the history of Central Asia.
CPI and its Follow-up Worskshop is one of the best practices enhancing the relationship
between each recipient country and Korea, in terms of culture,
communication and education in order to pursue consistent partnership for the future.
