Higher education
In 1991, the number of higher education institutions (HEIs) in Uzbekistan was 52, and by 2017,
their number increased to 72 (except for higher military educational institutions). Apparently,
the numbers of higher educational institutions during the years of independence tended to
increase, although it should be noted that the population growth rate was much higher.
Among the above 72 HEIs there are 4 academies, 27 universities with 19 branches in other
cities, 7 branches of foreign HEIs (Great Britain, Italy, Singapore, South Korea, Russia), and 4
higher religious educational institutions and their branches
.
11
Despite the government's attempts to expand the network of higher education institutions,
enrolment in higher education is still one of the lowest in the world. For example, at the
beginning of the 2017/2018 academic year, only 80.822 people (approximately 11-12% of
graduates) were enrolled to study for a Bachelor's degree, including 18.439 on a state grant-
funded basis, 62.383 young people on a fee-based contractual basis. Even fewer people may
study for Master's degree: out of 62.900 students who gained a bachelor's degree, only 4.857
could get an opportunity to start their masters. According to the State Committee for Statistics,
in the country as of the beginning of the 2017/2018 academic year, 297.689 students attended
higher educational institutions, of which 119.180 (40%) were girls. Apparently, there are certain
gender disparities in the country at the level of higher education. Moreover, the representation
of girls in the fields of study is uneven and there are so-called "female" professions (for
example, pedagogy and medicine), reflecting at a later stage in unequal incomes between men
and women.
Apart from the problems of a limited number of places at higher education institutions, there is
a high cost of education, as well as the concentration of half of all universities in the country’s
capital - Tashkent. All these factors often lead to the fact that only those who have sufficient
financial resources can afford to study at the university. The cost of contractual annual tuition
in state universities varies from 8,29 (1.065 $) to 11,58 (1.487 $) million sums (data for 2018).
The relevant processes taking place in the sphere of higher education have a positive
dynamics and demonstrate that the government has taken a course towards a gradual
increase in quotas for admission to higher educational institutions with a special emphasis on
improving quality and on vulnerable social groups (Resolution of the President of the Republic
of Uzbekistan "On measures for the further development of the Higher Education system”,
Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On measures to radically improve the
system of state support for people with disabilities"). With an ambitious vision of the country's
development, a higher proportion of people with a higher education in society is required. In
addition, international experience shows that the higher the level of education of people is, the
more they tend to continue their education. This is crucial in the context of LLL and is an
important factor for the further development of the society so that the country could have pride
of place in a global competitive environment. In addition, the increasing proportion of people
with higher education is a prerequisite for realizing the vision of a knowledge based society
11
https://stat.uz/ru/press-tsentr/novosti-komiteta/3286-osnovnye-pokazatelej-sistemy-vysshego-obrazovaniya-v-respublike-
uzbekistan
(request date - 02.02.2018).
and innovation (for example, today South Korea is already striving to achieve 100% of citizens'
enrolment in higher education).
According to the existing legislation, Uzbekistan's universities are providers of higher and post-
graduate education programs. The experience of developed countries shows that universities
can also fulfil the function of LLL programme providers for the various categories of population,
and implement enlightenment activities (open universities). For example, universities in many
developed countries, through the establishment of LLL centres, try to play a more active role
in providing educational services to different target groups.
LLL / further education centres at the universities are usually engaged in:
Development of additional training programmes for their own students;
Advanced training of their own staff members;
Development of the curricula and educational proposals aimed at increased
participation of the adult population in learning and education (priority: dissemination of
knowledge / values, rather than income generation);
Chargeable educational services for various target groups (priority: income
generation);
And in some cases:
Recognition, validation and accreditation of previous non-formal education results;
Provision of appropriate advice and consulting services on learning and career
planning.
Dostları ilə paylaş: |