For WIUT Class of 2026 graduate Nigina Shamsiddinova, studying Economics and Finance opened doors to professional experience, student leadership and a career built around curiosity.

If Nigina Shamsiddinova could share one lesson from her university years, it would be to approach life with the curiosity of a researcher.

“One lesson that I learned at WIUT and still apply today is to consider life as one big research project,” she says.

For Nigina, that means exploring different possibilities, asking questions and refusing to let imaginary boundaries determine what comes next. It is a philosophy that runs through her journey: from concentrating on her studies to gaining experience at Ernst & Young and the Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan, leading a student association and beginning work as a Research Assistant. As she graduates from Westminster International University in Tashkent with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Finance, she reflects on the experiences that helped her discover what she wants to contribute.

During her first years, Nigina focused primarily on her academic studies. Over time, she began exploring opportunities to apply that learning beyond the classroom. Professional experience at Ernst & Young and the Central Bank offered opportunities to encounter the working world. Meanwhile, leading the Economics Students Association gave her a different kind of responsibility: helping fellow students connect their studies with the world around them.

It was a student-led organisation where we tried to connect economics with real life and help other students understand how they could apply the knowledge they gained in the classroom to real-world situations.

The experience became one of the most meaningful parts of her university years. Alongside developing leadership and organisational skills, Nigina found satisfaction in contributing to the wider student community. Economics was something she could help others explore, question and put into context.

When Nigina reflects on what prepared her for employment, she looks beyond subject knowledge. She remembers an environment in which students were treated as equals, an approach she believes encouraged her to become more independent, mature and responsible. She also learned to take everyday tasks seriously, including those that did not immediately seem interesting or important.

“At work, employers expect you to be knowledgeable, responsible, and reliable, and I believe WIUT really prepares you for that,” she says.

Her experience taught her that paying attention to detail and completing a task carefully matter even when its wider purpose is not immediately obvious. Those habits continue to shape how she approaches her work today.

Now working as a Research Assistant, Nigina is continuing to develop academically while exploring subjects that interest her. Her role also gives her opportunities to teach and support students.

“Ultimately, I feel that through both research and teaching, I can contribute, even in a small way, to making the world a little better,” she says.

That desire to contribute connects her current work with her student leadership experience: learning has become a way to support other people’s development as well as her own.

Asked what helped her succeed as a student, Nigina returns to genuine interest in her subject. For her, the motivation to attend a class came from wanting to understand more, discover something new and develop her thinking.

Her advice to students is to stay open to experiences, step outside their comfort zones and question the limits they place on themselves.

“Most importantly, you should believe in yourself, believe that you are capable of achieving great things, and believe that you deserve to pursue and achieve your dreams.”

As Nigina celebrates graduation, her idea of life as a research project feels especially fitting. Congratulations to Nigina and the entire WIUT Class of 2026! As you celebrate this milestone, may the curiosity, friendships and confidence you have gained stay with you and inspire you to pursue your ambitions and make a meaningful difference.