# Innovative Centre

The Innovative Centre, established in 2016 by Mukhammadkhon Soliyev, is an authorized Cambridge Exam Centre (UZ050) located in Uzbekistan, Samarkand. It was founded to provide training and preparation for internationally recognized English and Business exams. The centre offers language, IT, and other core subject programs in Central Asia. The Centre has partnerships with various educational institutions in support of approximately 2,500 students.

## Programs and services

The Innovative Centre offers educational programs and services to prepare students for internationally recognized exams and improve academic skills.

### Language programs

The Centre offers language training programs, primarily English proficiency. As an accredited Cambridge Exam Centre (UZ050) and a partner of the British Council, the Centre offers preparation courses for an English language examinations, which include International English Language Testing System and Cambridge English Qualifications.

### Academic programs

* A-Level courses to prepare students for A-Level examinations, a qualification recognized for university admission in the United Kingdom and other countries. These courses focus on key subjects such as mathematics, physics, and chemistry.
* Advanced Placement (AP) courses to prepare for AP exams, which are widely accepted by universities in the United States for college credit.
* SAT preparation for a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States.

### Information technology (IT) programs

The Innovative Centre offers IT programs that cover topics ranging from basic computer skills to advanced programming and software development.

## Collaborations and partnerships

The Innovative Centre has formed partnerships with both domestic and international institutions. A partnership has been formed with Cambridge English Language Assessment, integrating Cambridge English exams into the curriculum, specifically at the Tashkent Medical Academy.
The Centre has organized regional conferences in Samarkand, featuring contributions from global experts and Nobel laureates, focusing on educational innovation and advancements in language teaching methodologies.
In addition to its academic collaborations, the Centre has initiated community-oriented educational programs. Among these is the provision of free language education to students listed in the "Youth Notebook" program, to support underprivileged students by enhancing their foreign language skills.
The Centre has also introduced mobile groups to improve the skills of foreign language teachers in the region.
The Centre has formalized its collaborations through Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with various institutions, including the Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS) in Tashkent. These agreements facilitate educational exchanges and collaborative academic efforts. The outcomes of these partnerships have included joint projects, faculty exchanges, and the development of new academic programs.

## Achievements

On the 25 February 2020, the centre was involved in a conference organized by Cambridge English, tailored for partner centers, institutions, and educators. This event focused on sharing best practices in English language teaching and assessment.
The centre has also been recognized for its involvement in educational projects, such as the development of a language learning platform by students from the centre, which was valued at €50,000. This platform was designed to enhance language education through the use of technology.
The Innovative Centre also serves as a research hub to conduct studies in various areas of education.

## Facilities

The Innovative Centre in Samarkand is developing a "smart library" to provide educational resources to young people, supported by a 300,000-euro investment. According to Muhammadjon Soliyev, head of the regional branch of the Agency for Popularizing Foreign Languages under the Cabinet of Ministers, this library will be equipped with modern educational materials, smart resources, and electronic media. The facility will offer over 20,000 books and digital programs, with modern computers for accessing electronic resources. The library will serve more than 40,000 people annually, providing opportunities for learning English, mathematics, and IT. The project also involves collaboration with international partners.

## Leadership

Mukhammadkhon Soliev, the founder and director of the Innovative Centre, was the first in Uzbekistan to obtain the Cambridge DELTA diploma. Soliyev has helped guide the development of the Innovative Centre’s language education and international examination preparation programs.
The Innovative Centre has introduced educational initiatives, including early childhood language education programs. The centre has implemented foreign language instruction in kindergartens based on international standards. Additionally, the centre has organized summer camps focused on foreign language learning for primary school students, a pioneering effort in Uzbekistan.