EYUF, "El-yurt umidi" foundation has recently announced that they are going to open the 1st contest for 2024.
I think the reason the contest for this year was delayed for like two months would be that EYUF is now working with the Presidential Administration of Uzbekistan, who knows.
Whether the contest begins or not, I just wanted to share some tips and advice as a finalist of El-yurt since I haven't really shared anything related to it so far.
Firstly, for those who don't really have an idea of what the El-yurt umidi foundation is, I would recommend checking the website,
eyuf.uz (it works a bit slower, but you can get authentic information about the organization), plus the Telegram channel
@elyurtumidifoundation
So, for the first documentation process, I found it pretty easy last year, since they only require you to complete and submit around 6 documents.
If you make your papers in good quality, you are going to easily pass the first, documentation section. Plus, you will write an essay in the Uzbek language, describing the exact reasons why you are going to study in that country, or more broadly, why at that University/college. Then you need to explain why you are applying for EYUF - I mean, they know that you are applying for it because you will study for free, or you can get your visa easily, or even you will work at some high-position jobs here in Uzbekistan, but you need to be specific, clearly explain what you can bring from that country to develop Uzbekistan. Is it really worth investing more than $200,000 just for your education instead of giving that money to some remote villages to reconstruct their schools, or build kindergartens or even to help children with serious illnesses?
If you pass the documentation process (it will be announced on the official social media websites of El-yurt itself), there will be a TEST as the second step. Last year, when I applied, we were given 20 questions from Uzbek language and philology, some logical questions, then 15 and 15 from IQ and Analytical thinking.
I myself got 74/100, probably the highest score in my own field of journalism, by preparing only for the IQ part with this
book.
Then, the final and most difficult part, the Interview. An Interview with 10-14 officials of Uzbekistan who work at, for example, top universities of Uzbekistan, ministers and etc. The interview was more difficult than I expected, I was given like two questions about Journalism which I had really no idea about, and missed, and thought I would lose the contest, but didn't. Try to learn more about Uzbekistan's history, especially the history of the place you live - for example, I was given a bunch of questions about writers in Fergana and Kokand Khanate, plus they wanted me to describe Uzbekistan in English for like a minute. I would personally recommend learning about the Jadids as well, because technically what El-yurt is doing now is the continuation of what the Jadids started.
Next, learn more about your own field of study, university, professors at your university. Try to be persistent in your own choices and keep the eye-contact well.
Lastly, do not believe/try to use people who are trying to sell their courses for EYUF preparation, but ask for help from the stipend winners, leaving my account here:
@imkhnr, if you have any questions, try to reach out to EYUF officials directly, and lastly this free program run by
Asadbek aka for EYUF preparation can also help you:
@eyufapply
Best of luck, everyone!
@withmohinur