One of the most pressing challenges facing higher education institutions today is strengthening global cooperation and deeply embedding the principles of sustainable development into their activities.

From this perspective, Alijon Oripov, Head of Strategic Development and International Rankings Department at the National University of Uzbekistan (nUU), actively participated from May 18 to 25 in the “International staff training week’25” held at the University of Porto, Portugal.

This week-long event brought together representatives from prestigious universities across Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia, providing extensive opportunities for experience exchange, developing collaborative ties, and jointly discussing global challenges in higher education.

During the week, Alijon Oripov took part in seminars on working with international projects and rankings, studied the university’s approaches, promoted academic mobility, and participated in practical seminars on integrating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) into higher education.

A particularly notable discussion was held with Miguel Magalhães, the leading international development specialist at the University of Porto. The conversation focused on the key policies and initiatives that have enabled the University of Porto to achieve high positions in global rankings. Specifically, it covered how the university integrated SDG indicators into its strategic planning processes and which sustainability initiatives—such as carbon neutrality, energy efficiency, and SDG-related research projects—have contributed to enhancing its international rankings.