DUSHANBE, February 12, Asia-Plus - Ten participants of the Community Connections program “Professors of Journalism” have returned from 20 days in the United States. 

A press briefing in honor of Tajikistan’s sixth Community Connections group, “Professors of Journalism” was held at American Councils office in Dushanbe on February 12.  

Speaking to journalists, Mahmoudjon Shoyev, lecturer of journalism at Tajik National University, said that they had taken training courses at universities in the United States.  According to him, methods of teaching journalism in Tajikistan are not inferior to methods used in the United States.  At the same time, he noted that curriculums of U.S. universities provide more time (70%) to practical lessons that allows graduates to obtain a certain experience.  

Shoyev also pointed out rich educational and technical supplies of universities in the United States.   “But there ought not to forget that in the Unites States, students pay for studying and practical training that allows the US universities purchasing such supplies,” Shoyev said.  

“However, lecturers at our universities are not inferior to their U.S. colleagues,” Shoyev stressed.   

Abbos Afsahzod, lecturer at Russian-Tajik Slavic University, said, “What I liked the most is that practically there no any barriers between students and professors in the United States, and professors are ready to support students at any moment,” said Afsahzod, “I would like to establish such relations with students.”  

Mirzojalol Shojamolov, a teacher with Khorog State University, noted that he plans to create an electronic version of student newspaper that will be brought out by students themselves.  

The Community Connections Program is made possible by the support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).  The USAID-funded Community Connections Program provides an important opportunity for citizens of the United States and Tajikistan to work together to address common professional challenges while expanding their social and cultural understanding.  As business and professional communities of both countries rapidly become integrated, opportunities for positive relations between American people and the people of Tajikistan are increasingly important. The Community Connections Program offers community-based, three-to-five week practical trainings in the United States for business and professional organization leaders from Tajikistan.