Rutgers Hosts Delegation to Advance First Executive MBA Program in Uzbekistan
Rutgers University recently welcomed three senior faculty leaders from the Graduate School of Business and Entrepreneurship (GSBE) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, as part of a groundbreaking initiative to develop the first Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) program in Uzbekistan in collaboration with Rutgers Business School (RBS).
The three visiting faculty were Ikboljon Kasimov, Marat Kholmukhavedov, and Bohkram Kholbaev, joined by Professor Shen Yeniyurt, Vice Dean for academic programs, and Professor Farrokh Langdana, Director of the Rutgers Executive MBA Program. Also participating in meetings during the visit was Vladimir Bogachev of the American Councils for International Education (ACIE), whose organization oversees the grant initiative supporting the collaboration.
The visit marks a significant milestone in an ongoing partnership aimed at strengthening executive education and fostering academic and economic ties between the United States and Central Asia. The project is supported through a competitive grant awarded by the American Councils for International Education (ACIE) and funded by the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Professor Yaw M. Mensah, Vice Dean for Strategic Partnerships at Rutgers Business School, is Principal Investigator (PI) on this grant project, and Rutgers was the sole recipient selected for this inaugural grant program.
The GSBE faculty spent time on the Rutgers campus engaging in intensive workshops, classroom observations, curriculum planning sessions, and discussions with Rutgers faculty and administrators. A special trip was made to the historic Kirkpatrick Chapel on the Queens campus, constructed in 1873, which was facilitated by Bernadette (Bernie) Cariaga, Rutgers EMBA alum and Rutgers employee.
A second delegation is scheduled to return to Rutgers again in September as both institutions continue refining the program for future implementation.
This visit follows a March 2026 trip to Uzbekistan by Professors Yeniyurt and Langdana, where both groups worked closely to assess local needs, explore opportunities for collaboration, and begin designing a world-class executive education program tailored to Uzbekistan's rapidly evolving economy.
The proposed EMBA program will combine the strengths of Rutgers' internationally recognized Executive MBA curriculum with GSBE's deep understanding of Uzbekistan's business environment. Designed for working professionals, the program will feature a flexible, hybrid format and focus on leadership, entrepreneurship, corporate finance, and will also address strategic sectors important to Uzbekistan's economic development, including logistics, agribusiness, digital innovation, and supply chain management.
“This partnership represents an exciting opportunity to share Rutgers Business School's expertise in executive education while collaborating with colleagues in Uzbekistan to build a program that reflects local priorities and global best practices,” said Langdana. “Together, we are creating a model that will prepare business leaders to navigate increasingly complex economic and global challenges.”
Rutgers Global has played a key role in facilitating the partnership by coordinating logistics and supporting the exchange of faculty and administrators between the two institutions. Johanna Bernstein, Assistant Dean for Faculty Engagement at Rutgers Global, noted, “The university's extensive experience hosting international academic delegations and leadership programs is helping to ensure a productive and immersive experience for our visiting scholars.”
The project reflects Rutgers University's broader commitment to global engagement and international partnership development. By working together to establish Uzbekistan's first executive MBA program, Rutgers and GSBE are creating new opportunities for leadership development, faculty collaboration, and knowledge exchange that will benefit both institutions and contribute to strengthening U.S.-Uzbek educational and commercial ties.
