A two-year Knowledge Exchange (KE) programme led by the University of Westminster has culminated in a dynamic week-long trip to the Westminster International University of Tashkent (WIUT), Uzbekistan. The visit brought together students from Westminster Business School (WBS), colleagues and local communities for a week of global collaboration, community engagement and student-led learning.
The trip involved nine undergraduate and postgraduate students from Westminster and ten second-year undergraduate students from WIUT. Together they created practical workshops on Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Microsoft Excel for 11 participants from a local community, majority of whom were teachers from a local school. These workshops offered key lessons on how to use Excel and AI and covered a range of topics from practical AI skills for everyday use to data entry and formatting.
To support inclusion and accessibility, each Westminster student was paired with a WIUT student, supporting navigation of language and cultural differences while promoting peer learning. Students gained insights into the lived experiences of participants, understanding how skills like Microsoft Excel and AI could open new doors in their workplace and personal lives.
Students received positive feedback from the community participants, with many expressing a renewed sense of confidence and feeling valued. As a result, students built meaningful professional connections and facilitated community learning, all while developing valuable leadership, communication and digital skills.
Focus groups held during the programme reflected on the wider implications of the initiative, exploring how sharing knowledge across borders can help Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) deliver on their commitments to social responsibility, public community engagement and sustainable development.
The students were accompanied by Senior Lecturer in Law and Project Lead Sobia Razzaq; Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Lead for the School of Finance and Accounting Dr Sudha Mathew; Course Leader of Accounting and Finance MSc Dr Kumari Juddoo; Knowledge Exchange Project Coordinator Sheena Patel and Dr Sheeja Sivaprasad, Principal Lecturer in Finance.
Haifa Mohammed, a second-year student on the Accounting and Finance BSc Honours course, said: “I decided to join the KE programme because I wanted to step outside of my comfort zone to share my knowledge of AI and Excel and learn about the culture in Uzbekistan.”
A WIUT student added: “This experience pushed us into real-world problem solving. It taught us how to collaborate, adapt and apply knowledge in meaningful ways.”
Sobia Razzaq said: “This collaboration between Westminster and WIUT served as a model for international Knowledge Exchange, demonstrating how business schools can act as drivers of social impact not by simply teaching theory, but by empowering students to apply learning in ways that matter to society. Looking ahead, the initiative lays the foundation for continued student-centred exchanges, collaborative research and global engagement. It also provides a compelling case for why KE should remain a key strategic focus within higher education.”
Grounded in the Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME), the programme directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4: Quality Education, 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and 17: Partnerships for the Goals. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
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