HEAR FROM OUR STUDENTS
A Global Mosaic: International Student Experiences
Studying abroad is a life-changing journey, and a university can be crossroads of cultures, friendships, and self-development. Through the eyes of our current International students, we try to explore some very unique perspectives to choice of country of study, student support services, academic excellence, career opportunities.
Mashhura Shakirova
Mashhura Shakirova is a second year Business Management student from Georgia.
Having grown up in Europe, she had experienced diverse cultures but felt a pull toward her family’s Central Asian heritage, being of Tadjik origin. Uzbekistan, with its cultural ties to Tajikistan, seemed like the perfect choice. “My parents wanted me to reconnect with our roots,” she explains. When choosing the country of your study destination, factors like country safety perception, tuition fees can be decisive factors.
WIUT stood out not only for its British-accredited degrees but also for its affordability and high ranking among Central Asian universities. “I attended British secondary school, and kindergarten as well and my obvious choice of was University with British degree,” Mashhura says.
Sometimes, life’s biggest decisions begin with the smallest moments. For her journey WIUT started during a casual trip to Uzbekistan.
“My dad’s friend owns a restaurant here called Lychee,” Mashhura recalls. “One night, we arrived at the restaurant, and I saw this beautiful university building nearby. It gave off British vibes, so I asked if it was a British university.” The answer was yes. Her dad’s friend went on to explain that WIUT was one of the top universities in the country. Without thinking much of it, Mashhura casually remarked, “Maybe I’ll apply here.” What she didn’t expect was her parents remembering that moment long after their trip. “They kept reminding me of what I said,” she laughs. “Eventually, I thought, why not?”
Mashhura’s first encounter with Uzbekistan wasn’t without challenges. Navigating the streets of Tashkent—a city larger than her hometown of Tbilisi—took some time to get used to. Yet, she enjoyed the journey, exploring local markets and sampling traditional dishes like Samarkand pilaf, a delightful twist on the familiar flavors of her childhood. ‘I went to Samarkand twice, which I find amazing city to visit. I also went to Chinorkent, which is a must visit place for anyone visiting Uzbekistan’
‘I think I'm super lucky to be able to share Georgian culture here because I do have my own dance club, which is Georgian Ballet. And I will show you later some of our videos that I taught local girls and boys to dance. And we danced on Clubs Day, we danced on International Students Day, Navruz as well, I danced the local dance as well’.
‘I wouldn’t say I had grand problems related to visa, although I had to fly back to get my visa and come back. Essentially, the University took care of the visa extension. And because I had a late application, I missed an Induction Week, which is a massive campus wide event, therefore, it took me a while to adapt. As an extrovert, I quickly immersed herself in campus life. I jumped in and started swimming,” she recalls with a laugh. ‘Every interaction teaches you something new,’ she says. Balancing studies, a job in HR, and extracurricular activities tested her limits but also strengthened her independence and time management skills.
What is it like at WIUT?
With aspirations to pursue further studies in the UK, Mashhura views her time at WIUT as a steppingstone to a global future. “Studying here has taught me to adapt to different cultures and embrace new ways of thinking,” she reflects. Her dream of becoming a specialist in her field feels within reach, fueled by the foundation she’s building in Tashkent. Describing WIUT as a “small city where you know everybody, it is like having a huge family that you live with” Mashhura found herself surrounded by a supportive community. From engaging lectures to vibrant cultural events, the university became a hub of learning and networking. Also, this country has helped me pursue a better career opportunity. I do already have a work, and I've started my career here, which is also the degree I'm studying.
