As part of the development of international scientific and analytical cooperation, a delegation led by Dr. Etsuko Yaguchi, President of Toyo University (Japan), paid a visit to Uzbekistan. The Japanese delegation also included two other representatives of the university, Nami Hirahata and Makiko Lida.

The main objective of the Japanese experts’ visit was to thoroughly study Uzbekistan’s unique civil society institution—the mahalla system—as well as the experience of applying modern analytical methods in working with youth at the local level.

As part of the visit program, the foreign guests visited the “Oltinkol” Mahalla Citizens’ Assembly (MCA), where they learned firsthand about the activities of the mahalla institution, the work of youth leaders, and the established system of targeted population support.

The program continued at the Institute for the Study of Youth Problems and Training of Prospective Personnel under the Youth Affairs Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Representatives of the institute presented the foreign guests with a system of comprehensive research and analytical work conducted with youth across mahallas nationwide.

During the meeting, it was emphasized that the social and applied research conducted by the institute, alongside the monitoring of youth needs and socioeconomic conditions, serves as an informational and analytical foundation for developing practical solutions at the mahalla citizens’ assembly level.

Dr. Etsuko Yaguchi highly appreciated Uzbekistan’s model of working with youth on the ground and specifically highlighted the importance of scientific analysis of social development within the mahalla system.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the parties expressed mutual interest in continuing the exchange of experience and conducting joint academic, social, and analytical research.