Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Today, a video conference meeting on priority tasks in the social sphere is being held under the chairmanship of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The head of our state also expressed dissatisfaction with the activities of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation.

The vocational education system is not developing due to the increase in the number of authorized persons responsible for this area. It is necessary to establish cooperation between employers and technical schools.

Enrollment in higher education has increased dramatically and the private sector has entered the field. But not enough attention is paid to quality.

Thus, not all universities have the same atmosphere for students’ independent work. Most colleges and technical schools, as well as universities, do not focus on employer demand. If, on the one hand, there are not enough textbooks and literature, then the existing ones do not meet modern requirements.

Over seven years, more than 6 trillion soums have been allocated for science and innovation. It is noted that the formula “costs - research - product” does not work in science.

In general, some rectors have been shown to lack initiative, drive and self-sacrifice. Therefore, a new Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation has been appointed, tasked with bringing about radical changes to vocational and higher education.

The same shortcomings exist in higher education. For example, dozens of bachelor’s degree programs do not meet labor market demands.

Many universities have switched to a credit-module system, but it is necessary to create a system that reveals the student’s abilities.

This year, 122 new major projects will be launched. This means that in the coming years, 10 thousand engineers and technologists who can work with complex equipment will be needed.

However, the training of such specialists in universities does not exceed 20 percent.

In this regard, it is necessary to intensify the activities of the El-Yurt Umidi Foundation. It was noted that only 9% of students who went abroad studied in the field of engineering or technology.

A system will be created to seamlessly connect colleges, technical schools and universities with employers.

Last year, the State Testing Center was reorganized into the Agency for the Assessment of Knowledge and Qualifications. However, the agency is still limited to testing applicants.

Therefore, a new system for determining professional skills and their assessment will be introduced in vocational and higher education.

In general, employers have a great need, students have potential and desire. Thus, a system will be created that will seamlessly connect colleges and technical schools, as well as universities with employers.

Now the head of the project office will simultaneously manage the Republican Council for the Development of Professional Knowledge and Skills. The Labor Research Institute under the Ministry of Employment will also be attached to the project office.

Together with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, in 2024 they will be responsible for creating a system for training specialists in in-demand professions - modern designers, technologists, architects, engineers, and power engineers.

A new training system will be introduced in technical schools

Starting from the new academic year, training in technical schools will be launched on the basis of a new system that ensures the integration of the educational components “Academic” and “Working Profession”. 
Wherein:

- educational programs, textbooks, knowledge assessment criteria and requirements for teachers of 1-2 years of college or technical school will be similar to those of universities;

- a “credit system” will be introduced in technical schools, and “credits” collected for mastering a subject will be recognized in universities.

That is, students who have accumulated a sufficient number of “credits” over two years of study at a college or technical school will have the opportunity to continue their studies in the second or third year of university under the “2+2” or “2+3” program.

Now, after two to three years of work and experience, college and technical school students can take an exam and receive a qualification equivalent to a bachelor’s degree.

The meeting instructed to organize dual education for 50 thousand college and technical school students.

First of all, this work will begin in the fields of textiles, construction and building materials, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering.

From now on, knowledge and skills assessment processes will be gradually transferred to non-governmental organizations.

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation has been instructed to reduce the number of undergraduate courses by 40% and update the educational programs of these courses based on the programs of universities included in the TOP-300.

The need to translate advanced textbooks on exact and fundamental sciences from foreign languages was noted.

Specific criteria for determining the status of universities will be developed

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation was tasked with studying 116 universities, developing a program for their expansion and defining specific criteria for assigning them the status of a “national”, “state” university, academy or institute.

It was noted that the El-Yurt Umidi Foundation will be transferred to the jurisdiction of the Presidential Administration, and a new system of studying abroad will be introduced.

From now on, when sending young people to study abroad at the expense of the fund, priority will be given to the training of qualified and high-quality engineers and technologists.