The creation of the Aarhus Center was a topic of discussion at the meeting of the State Center for Environmental Expertise. It was emphasized that effectively solving environmental problems requires the active participation not only of state institutions but also of the entire society.
Aarhus Centers play an invaluable role in strengthening public trust, ensuring transparency and openness in environmental protection. The meeting reviewed the legal and organizational foundations for the functioning of the Aarhus Center, its main areas of activity, as well as issues of expanding citizens' rights to free access to environmental information.
It was noted that the center will play a key role in ensuring residents' access to reliable data on the state of the environment, enhancing public participation in the decision-making process on environmental issues, and implementing the principles of environmental justice. Today, environmental issues have become a topic concerning the daily life of every citizen, and the openness of environmental information and the possibility of its use are important factors for increasing environmental culture in society.
During the discussions, members of the Public Council put forward a number of proposals aimed at the effective functioning of the center: ensuring prompt and reliable delivery of environmental information to the population, expanding work on environmental education and promotion, and strengthening cooperation between state bodies and civil society institutions. These proposals will form an important basis for the future work of the center.
The agenda also included the issue of considering candidates for the position of Head of the Aarhus Center. A comprehensive assessment of professional potential, experience in the field of ecology, management skills, and candidates' proposals for the development of the center was conducted. Following the meeting, an agreement was reached to accelerate the work on creating the Aarhus Center, establishing close interaction with the Public Council, and shaping the center's activities in accordance with modern requirements.
The main goal of this initiative is to ensure environmental openness and transparency in the country, expand the environmental rights of citizens, strengthen public participation in environmental governance, and reinforce the principles of sustainable development.
The Asian Boxing Championship is taking place in Jakarta, Indonesia, across two age categories. The tournament has reached a tense stage, with quarterfinal matches scheduled for the U19 category today.
Seven athletes from the national team of Uzbekistan will step into the ring in various weight classes. They will compete against representatives from South Korea, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Singapore.
Today's fighters include: in the 50 kg weight class — Utkirbek Norqosimov versus Junsy Choi (South Korea); in the 55 kg weight class — Elyor Rustamov versus Pangeran Februzio (Indonesia); in the 60 kg weight class — Muhammadrizo Ukimov versus Umar Orusbaev (Kyrgyzstan); in the 70 kg weight class — Saidkhoja Sa'dillakhjoev versus Muhammad Mamadaliyev (Tajikistan); in the 75 kg weight class — Sukhrob Rahmatullaev versus Hamza Maksatuli (Kazakhstan); in the 80 kg weight class — Abrorbek Sharipov versus Benjamin Lee (Singapore); and in the 85 kg weight class — Sardorbek Bahromkhojaev versus Sunghoon Lim (South Korea).
It should be noted that quarterfinals among boxers under 23 years old took place the day before. Eight of our boxers participated in this match, and all of them managed to advance to the semifinals.
The city of Almaty is not only a major industrial center but also a formed area of engineering thought that plays an important role in the country's development. The Almaty State Technical Institute, operating in this area, has been training qualified specialists for the mining and metallurgy sectors for over half a century.
The history of the institute begins in 1963. In that year, the Faculty of Mining and Metallurgy of Tashkent Polytechnic Institute was transferred directly to the city of Almaty for educational purposes. This decision stemmed from the need to supply the country's major mining and metallurgical enterprises with highly skilled engineers.
In subsequent years, the educational institution was reorganized several times. Although its activities were suspended in 1995, it was re-established as part of the Navoi State Mining Institute in 2001. Since 2017, it has operated as a branch of Tashkent State Technical University. As a result of the President's decision on September 8, 2025, the higher education institution gained the status of an independent Almaty State Technical Institute, marking a new era in its development.
Currently, the institute is not limited to training engineering personnel. It has been tasked with developing scientific solutions for industry, introducing innovative technologies, and integrating science with production. To this end, a development concept for 2025-2030 has also been adopted.
The institute currently has over 5,400 students enrolled. It is planned to increase this number to 9,000 in the coming years. In recent years, 12 new educational programs have been introduced, and the number of specialties has been increased to 23, with modern fields such as information technology, computer engineering, construction, architecture, economics, and ecology being developed alongside mining and metallurgy.
One of the main features of the Almaty State Technical Institute is the deep connection between education and production. 17 branch departments have been established at the Almaty Mining and Metallurgical Combine enterprises. Through this, students strengthen their theoretical knowledge directly in the production process, while company specialists participate in the educational process, which allows young specialists to be prepared according to the demands of the labor market.
Great attention is also paid to scientific research. In 2026, a scientific council was established under the institute to award the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in the fields of metallurgy and enrichment of mineral resources, based on the decision of the Higher Attestation Commission. This allowed young researchers to defend their scientific works specifically in Almaty.
Innovative activity at the university is also entering a new stage. Based on the President's decree of April 4, 2026, work has begun at the institute on commercializing scientific works and establishing 'spin-off' innovative companies. Furthermore, the 'GeoMetTex' engineering school specialized in geology, metallurgy, and engineering, as well as the 'Simbiotech' laboratory based on artificial intelligence technologies, are planned to be established.
Another strong direction of the institute's activity is international cooperation. Agreements have been concluded with leading higher education institutions from China and Turkey to establish joint educational programs, scientific research, and laboratories, which serves to enhance the institute's international prestige.
In conclusion, the Almaty State Technical Institute is shaping up not only as an educational institution for training engineers but also as a scientific center where industry, science, and innovation converge. Its development is of great importance for the future of the city of Almaty, the country's industry, and engineering education. The tasks set before the institute lay a solid foundation for it to become one of the leading engineering universities in the country by increasing the number of students, achieving international accreditation, forming its own scientific school, and establishing innovative companies.
