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UPGRADING EDUCATION QUALITY THROUGH THE REFORM OF HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND THE SYSTEM OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES
А. V. Sadykova
In accordance with Order of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan “Concerning the Implementation of the System of Evaluating the Rating of Higher Educational Institutions” (No. 371 of December 29, 2012), the system of evaluating the rating of higher educational institutions has been implemented in the Republic of Uzbekistan since 2013, which will encourage the improvement of the quality of teaching and scientific activity, and expansion of international cooperation in the area of education. This rating includes such indicators as: (а) the share of foreign teachers and foreign students; (b) the number of programs of student exchanges with foreign educational establishments; (c) the share of teaching staff with degrees of foreign higher educational institutions; (d) the citation ratio according to international indices, etc. In order to meet all the above requirements it is necessary to establish contacts and partnership relations with higher educational institutions of the CIS and the non-CIS countries. Furthermore, in accordance with the Order of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan “Concerning Measures aimed at Further Improvement of the System of Postgraduate Studies and Appraisal of Academic and Teaching Staff with Higher Qualifications” (No. 365 of December 28, 2012), the system of postgraduate studies in the Republic of Uzbekistan includes the institution of senior research workers - degree-seeking applicants, and independent applicants, which means a transition from the two-stage system of postgraduate education to the one-stage system, which is similar to the experience of many foreign countries. This reform is also focused on upgrading the quality of scientific activities, and on broadening international scientific cooperation. All the above requires improvement of cooperation and partnerships between the higher educational institutions of the CIS and the non-CIS countries.
Within the scope of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “Concerning Education”, and the National Program of Staff Preparation, there is a comprehensive system of learning foreign languages in the Republic of Uzbekistan focused on further integration of the Republic into the international community. According to the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan “Concerning Measures Focused on Further Improvement of the System of Studying Foreign Languages”, cardinal improvement of this system will help create conditions and opportunities for wide access of the young generation and specialists to the achievements of world civilization and international information resources, development of international cooperation and interaction. Pursuant to the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan “Concerning Measures Focused on Further Improvement of the System of Preparation and Provision of the Qualified Teaching Staff for Intermediate Vocational Education Institutions” (of May 28, 2012), teaching of general education disciplines at institutions of
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specialized secondary education and vocational secondary education shall be organized taking into account the future profession of students, i.e. teaching each general education subject shall be focused on getting special knowledge in the field of the future profession of graduates from specialized secondary education and vocational secondary education establishments. This will make it possible to upgrade the efficiency of training and preparation of highly qualified, competitive middle tier specialists. Furthermore, the program of students’ exchange may help upgrade the efficiency of training and preparation of highly qualified middle tier specialists. This program provides for exchange of students with bachelor’s and master’s degrees between higher educational institutions of Uzbekistan and other countries. This is possible if the curriculum, typical, standard programs, rating system, criteria of assessment of basic and standard higher educational institutions will be similar. There is also one more important problem, i.e. organization of travel sessions for teachers. Travel training sessions are sessions dedicated to the study of special subjects which are taught by a teacher of a different higher educational institution.
Based on the above, in our opinion, in order to improve the quality of teaching through the reform of higher educational institutions and the system of postgraduate studies, it is necessary to solve the following tasks: (1) to switch from the two-stage system of postgraduate studies to the one-stage system at Tashkent State Pedagogical University named after Nizami; (2) to prepare a set of comprehensive methodological materials for studying foreign languages and information technologies in all fields of lifelong education; (3) focus on getting skills in one’s future profession during training of future teachers of academic lyceums and vocational training colleges; (4) to provide opportunities for students to have a 2 - 4 week training course at a different pedagogical institution of the Republic of Uzbekistan or in CIS or non-CIS countries in similar disciplines of the bachelor’s or master’s degree programs; (5) to organize travel sessions between the pedagogical institutions of CIS and non-CIS countries (exchange of teachers). This will help to expand international scientific cooperation; to improve the quality of the scientific activity; to broaden the possibility of participation in different regional and international joint projects; to provide further integration of the Republic of Uzbekistan into the international community.
Translated from Russian by Znanije Central Translations Bureau
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