Abdukarim Rustamov
Abdulkarim Rustamov is a double WIUT graduate. He majored in Economics with Finance for undergraduate degree, and Business Intelligence and Analytics for master’s degree. Abdulkarim is a qualified ACCA member, with GMAT 90th percentile and IELTS band 8.5.
WIUT was a sharp turning point for my development.
Independent learning was the biggest skill the university has taught me. Course structures, assignments and the overall culture present at the university create every opportunity to achieve virtually anything. Flexibility of lessons meant that I could study, engage in sports, work part-time, and get extra qualifications, all at the same time.
That drive saw him complete nine ACCA papers in a single year while still in his second year of university. In his third year, he secured an internship at the Central Bank of Uzbekistan as part of a competitive scholarship programme.
He worked at AKFA Group during 2020-2022 and ACCA skills also greatly helped him in his job and discovered how vital networking is in professional life. ‘WIUT gave me access to some of the best networking opportunities in Uzbekistan,’ he says. ‘And that makes a huge difference.’
Currently, he is a lecturer at Millat Umidi University. And becoming a teacher was no accident. Mentorship played a big role in Abdulkarim’s journey, especially the guidance of lecturers like Zohidjon Askarov and Abdumalik Djumanov. ‘Overall, I observed all my teachers and all of them explicitly or implicitly taught me skills and lessons that have helped me become the teacher I am today,’ he says. Their teaching styles and philosophies still influence how he teaches today.
Abdulkarim is also a strong advocate for the ACCA qualification. ‘ACCA, in my own definition, is the IELTS of accounting and Finance. Recognised in over 180 countries, ACCA equips professionals with essential skills in accounting, tax, finance, and business strategy.’ And yes, it’s costly but he sees it as an investment that pays dividends. Plus, WIUT students get a discounted path, with exam exemptions that save time, money, and stress.
Despite all he has achieved, Abdulkarim stays hungry for growth. ACCA requires ongoing professional development, and he is constantly learning through courses, conferences, and workshops. His advice for current students? - ‘Do not relax just because university feels comfortable. Push yourself. Try different subjects, find what you love, and even if you must go into debt for a course, do it. The knowledge stays. The debt fades.’
Looking ahead, Abdulkarim hopes to return to WIUT one day, not as a student, but as a professor. ‘I am proud to be a part of this community and would like to come back to WIUT as a professor, after my doctoral studies, hopefully,’ he says.
