Forum for Uzbek and Silk Road Studies (FUSRS) Public Lecture
Professor Stephen Corbett, Pro Vice Chancellor for Education, Health and Human Sciences at the University of Greenwich and former Special Advisor to the Ministry of Education of Uzbekistan.
Thursday, 7 May 2026 ~ 17:30-19:00 ~ Skyroom, 7th floor, 29 Marylebone Road, University of Westminster, London
Professor Corbett will explore how universities can move beyond traditional mobility schemes towards deeper, more equitable, and mutually beneficial partnerships. Drawing on his experience working in Central Asia, he will reflect on the political and cultural drivers shaping collaboration between the UK and the region, and discuss how meaningful partnerships can support innovation in education, research, and policy.The lecture will consider practical approaches to strengthening UK–Central Asia relations through transnational education, collaborative research, and cutting-edge pedagogical practice, with a focus on enhancing student experience and maximising the contribution of higher education to society in a rapidly changing global landscape.
Professor Stephen Corbett is the Pro Vice Chancellor for Education, Health and Human Sciences (Interim) at the University of Greenwich. He began his career in further education, working with learners with special educational needs before moving into senior leadership roles focused on curriculum development, staff training, and quality enhancement. He later transitioned into higher education, where he led collaborative teacher education networks and national workforce development programmes, and was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship by Advance HE in 2020 in recognition of his contribution to teaching and leadership across the FE and HE sectors. Internationally, he has worked on education reform and capacity building in several countries, including serving as Special Advisor to the Minister for Education in Uzbekistan, and has delivered development programmes in Central Asia, China, and Latin America, as well as holding an Honorary Associate Professorship at the University of Hong Kong.
The Forum for Uzbek and Silk Road Studies (FUSRS) is a joint initiative between Westminster International University in Tashkent and the University of Westminster in London that provides an inclusive and dynamic platform for debate and discussion on contemporary developments in Uzbekistan, Central Asia, and the wider Silk Road and Eurasian regions. The Forum has supported more than 30 collaborative research projects spanning topics such as artificial intelligence and health technologies, sustainability and higher education governance, green and resilient urban development, and other interdisciplinary areas, alongside a wide range of in-person and virtual seminars, workshops, symposia and public research events that engage diverse research communities. Its activities are further supported by the University of Westminster Press Silk Road journal.