Khorog, September 18, 2025 — The Europe Today: The University of Central Asia’s (UCA) School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPCE) has inaugurated a new Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) workshop in Khorog, the capital of Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO). The launch coincided with celebrations marking Tajikistan’s 34th Independence Day.
Equipped with modern machinery, the facility is the first of its kind in Tajikistan, offering specialized training in the maintenance and repair of large vehicles and heavy equipment—skills in high demand across the country’s mountainous regions, particularly in infrastructure and transportation.
The project was established with the support of the German government through the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), under the Towards Rural Inclusive Growth and Economic Resilience (TRIGGER) initiative.
Senior officials, including First Deputy Governor of GBAO Sharifkhon Safarzoda and Mayor of Khorog Rizo Nazarzoda, attended the inauguration. Safarzoda emphasized the importance of the initiative, noting the shortage of skilled technical specialists in the region.
“This initiative demonstrates the power of partnerships between UCA, government and development partners, and the community. The workshop creates new opportunities for our youth,” said Dilovar Butabekov, Director of SPCE.
Guests later toured the facility under the guidance of Farrukhsho Fraidonov, Country Head of SPCE Tajikistan.
UCA’s SPCE is the leading provider of short-cycle professional education in Central Asia, operating 17 learning centers, including five in Afghanistan. Its programs span digital skills, entrepreneurship, tourism, trades, and international qualifications such as ICDL and Cambridge Assessment English.
