The University of Seoul announced Thursday it will partner with Uzbekistan's Education Ministry to offer Uzbekistan students the opportunity to participate in its startup program.

On Wednesday, the University of Seoul met with Buzrukhonov Sarvarkhon, the vice minister of Uzbekistan's Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, to discuss ways to collaborate.

Based on the partnership, students from Uzbekistan can participate in the university's startup program. The program offers entrepreneurship training related to finding a new business and ways to develop technological ideas through research.

An exchange program will be created to allow Uzbekistan students and those at the University of Seoul to participate in cultural exchanges.

Further seminars and training sessions, which will be open to Uzbekistan students, will also be held at the university.

“We hope the partnership will allow us to work closely with Uzbekistan, helping foster talented students in the field of urban studies,” said Lee Shin, dean of the university's International School of Urban Sciences.

The university has close ties with Uzbekistan, signing a deal to help build smart farms using technologies developed by its Department of Environmental Horticulture.

BY LEE TAE-HEE [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]