16.3.1. PROVIDE EXPERT ADVICE TO GOVERNMENT
16.3.1. PROVIDE EXPERT ADVICE TO GOVERNMENT
Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies (TSUOS) actively contributes to the development of effective governance, peace, and institutional sustainability in Uzbekistan through expert participation, evidence-based research, and policy-oriented dialogue.
- Participation in National Governance Reforms (G-CAN Network)
TSUOS is an active member of the Uzbekistan Governance Change Academy Network (G-CAN) — a British Council “Going Global Partnerships” initiative, implemented jointly with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
This network supports university governance reform in Uzbekistan by fostering institutional autonomy, leadership, and accountability. Through its engagement, TSUOS:
- Contributes expert input to the National Code of University Governance and related policy development;
- Participates in benchmarking activities and peer-to-peer exchanges with UK universities, supporting evidence-based policymaking;
- Shares best practices in university governance with other higher education institutions across the country.
- Expert recommendations adopted by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation
The First Vice-Rector of TSUOS, Qudratilla Omonov, provided two policy recommendations to the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of the Republic of Uzbekistan concerning the development of students’ soft skills and the strengthening of the role of academic departments in student development.
- The first recommendation proposed strengthening the “ustoz–shogird” (mentor–student) system by assigning an academic staff member to each academic group. The proposed model included systematic mentoring to support students’ professional development, scientific thinking, communication skills, teamwork, adaptability, critical thinking, planning, emotional management, and other soft skills. LIST_OF_PROFESSORS_AND_TEACHERS_ASSIGNED_TO_ACADEMIC_GROUPS
- The second recommendation proposed increasing the role of higher schools and academic departments in the university’s educational and social activities by organizing activities based on their respective academic specialisations and scientific-pedagogical expertise.
Both recommendations were approved by the Ministry and subsequently incorporated into implementation across higher education institutions throughout the Republic of Uzbekistan. This demonstrates the direct contribution of TSUOS academic leadership to the development and implementation of national higher education policy.
- TSUOS experts supporting government decisions on research funding
TSUOS academics also contribute their expertise to national scientific policy and research-funding decisions through their membership in Scientific and Technical Councils established under Uzbekistan’s higher education, science and innovation governance framework.
Professors of TSUOS, Jasur Ziyomukhammedov and Doctor of Historical Sciences Izzatillakhan Khaydarov, were formally appointed as members of relevant Scientific and Technical Councils. In this capacity, they serve as expert evaluators of research projects submitted in their respective fields.
Their responsibilities include reviewing and evaluating research proposals, assessing their scientific merit and eligibility for funding, and providing expert recommendations to the relevant government authorities in the form of reports. Through this mechanism, TSUOS academic expertise directly contributes to government decisions concerning the allocation of public research funding and the development of national scientific priorities.
- Expert contribution to national policy and strategic development
Professor Sayfiddin Juraev of TSUOS has provided expert advice on national policy and strategic development through his participation in a special working group under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and in working groups on higher education reform.
As a member of the special working group under the President of Uzbekistan, Professor Juraev contributed to the development of strategic proposals and recommendations in several areas of national policy, including:
- developing strategic proposals and recommendations to strengthen the international image of Uzbekistan by presenting the country’s governance experience, ongoing reforms, and their outcomes at the international level;
- developing proposals and recommendations for the foreign policy component of the “Uzbekistan–2030” Strategy;
- preparing proposals and recommendations for the improvement of the higher attestation system under the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
- developing conceptual proposals and mechanisms for communicating the “New Uzbekistan” concept to domestic and international audiences, including analytical support for this process;
- analysing the activities of political parties in Uzbekistan and developing recommendations aimed at their further improvement.
In addition, as a member of a working group on higher education, Professor Juraev contributed expert recommendations for the transformation of the “Concept for the Development of Higher Education until 2030” into the “Strategy for the Development of Higher Education until 2030”, drawing on contemporary requirements and international experience.
These contributions demonstrate the direct involvement of TSUOS academic expertise in national-level policy development, strategic planning, higher education reform, and the formulation of recommendations for government decision-makers.
- Examples of Implementation of TSUOS PhD Research and Expert Recommendations by Government and Public-Sector Institutions
TSUOS contributes expert knowledge to government and public-sector decision-making through the practical implementation of research findings and recommendations developed by its doctoral researchers. Official implementation acts and institutional confirmations demonstrate that TSUOS PhD research has been used by national research institutions, ministries, local government bodies, and other public-sector organisations to inform policy development, programme design, research activities, and public communication.
- Diyora Mirakhatova – Arabic Linguistics and Islamic Source Research
The PhD research of Diyora Mirakhatova, a doctoral researcher at TSUOS, entitled “Modality of Possibility/Impossibility and Means of Its Expression in Modern Arabic” has been applied by public-sector institutions in Uzbekistan.
The research findings were implemented at the Imam Bukhari International Scientific Research Centre, where they were used in the linguistic analysis of Arabic-language texts of the Qur’an, Hadith, and other Islamic sources. In particular, the research methodology supported the identification and analysis of modal verbs, verb moods, accusative constructions, and syntactic structures expressing modality.
The implementation of these findings enabled researchers at the Centre to interpret more accurately the linguistic expression of possibility and impossibility in Islamic sources.
The research was also used by the National Television and Radio Company of Uzbekistan, including the “Uzbekistan” television channel of the “Uzbekistan-24” Creative Association, in preparing scripts for the programmes “Education and Development,” “Youth of Uzbekistan,” and “World Literature” during 2024–2025. The dissertation served as a scientific source for developing educational and cultural content and supporting initiatives aimed at increasing young people’s interest in foreign-language learning.
- Raykhona Kholbaeva – Research on the Scientific and Philosophical Heritage of Al-Chagmini
The PhD research of Raykhona Kholbaeva, entitled “Philosophical Analysis of the Natural-Scientific Views of Mahmud ibn Muhammad ibn Umar al-Chagmini,” has been applied by national research and public media institutions in Uzbekistan.
The research provides a systematic analysis of the cosmological, ontological, and natural-philosophical views of the medieval scholar Umar al-Chagmini, based particularly on his works Mulakhkhas fi al-Hay’a and Qanuncha. The study examines concepts including space and time, motion and form, the structure of the material world, and the relationship between human beings and nature.
The scientific findings and conclusions of the dissertation were used by the Imam Bukhari International Scientific Research Centre in preparing scripts for its educational and cultural activities.
The research also contributed to the theoretical and methodological enrichment of the encyclopaedic publication “Historical and Philosophical Heritage of Medieval Oriental Scholars and Thinkers,” prepared by the Centre. The Centre further confirmed that the dissertation’s conclusions, proposals, and recommendations can be used in future scholarly collections, monographs, and books in fields including philosophy, source studies, and religious studies.
The research was also used by the creative team of the “History of Uzbekistan” television channel, operated by the state institution “Ma’rifat” Creative Association, in developing scripts for television programmes.
In particular, findings from the dissertation were incorporated into the programme “Tamaddun Darg‘alari”, including analysis of the intellectual environment of Khorezm in which al-Chagmini developed, the influence of earlier scholars on his intellectual heritage, and his approach to understanding the structure of the universe.
The programme also drew on the researcher’s analysis of al-Chagmini’s natural-philosophical views in Mulakhkhas fi al-Hay’a and his philosophical treatment of humanity and nature in Qanuncha, thereby translating specialised academic research into public educational and cultural content.
- Bobir Odilov – The Socio-Cultural System of Traditional Pottery Schools in Uzbekistan (Second Half of the 19th Century – Early 21st Century)”
- The research findings and practical recommendations developed by Bobir Odilov, a Doctor of Science (DSc) researcher at Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies, through his dissertation entitled “The Socio-Cultural System of Traditional Pottery Schools in Uzbekistan (Second Half of the 19th Century – Early 21st Century)”, were utilised by the Youth Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan in support of its youth development and employment initiatives.
The dissertation provided evidence-based analysis of traditional pottery schools as socio-cultural institutions, examining their historical development, internal structures, knowledge-transfer mechanisms, and functional role in preserving cultural heritage. The research generated practical recommendations relevant to the Agency’s priorities, including youth vocational orientation, promotion of traditional crafts, employment creation, entrepreneurship development, and preservation of national cultural heritage.
The findings were used as a methodological basis for programmes aimed at encouraging young people to engage in traditional craftsmanship, promoting pottery as a professional and creative activity, and integrating national handicraft traditions into contemporary youth initiatives. The research also informed educational and practical projects, public awareness activities, exhibitions, field studies, and initiatives designed to strengthen youth participation in cultural and creative industries.
In addition, the dissertation provided recommendations on safeguarding cultural heritage in the context of globalisation, promoting the sustainable use of natural resources, and balancing traditional practices with innovation. These recommendations supported the Youth Agency’s efforts to enhance youth engagement in traditional crafts while contributing to employment, entrepreneurship, and cultural preservation.
Through the application of its research findings by the Youth Agency, TSUOS contributed expert knowledge and evidence-based recommendations to the development and implementation of youth policy, cultural heritage promotion, vocational skills development, and community-based economic initiatives.
- The research findings and practical recommendations developed by Bobir Odilov contributed expert knowledge supporting initiatives of the National Revival (“Milliy Tiklanish”) Democratic Party of Uzbekistan related to cultural heritage preservation, traditional craftsmanship, tourism development, and sustainable regional growth.
The dissertation provided a comprehensive analysis of the social and cultural systems of traditional pottery schools, including their historical development, regional characteristics, master–apprentice traditions, division of labour, gender roles, and ceremonial and symbolic functions. These findings served as a scientific and methodological foundation for the project “3D Virtual Museum of Pottery and Knife-Making Arts: Innovative Education and Digital Preservation of Cultural Heritage”.
The research generated evidence-based recommendations on interpreting traditional crafts as elements of local identity and cultural branding, classifying them as ethnocultural resources, and integrating them into tourism products and services. These recommendations supported efforts to promote traditional craftsmanship, strengthen cultural identity, and enhance the visibility of local heritage assets.
In addition, the research findings were applied in the development of ethnotourism initiatives, thematic tourism routes, cultural programmes, public awareness activities, exhibitions, field studies, and scientific-practical seminars. The conceptual approaches proposed in the dissertation contributed to broader discussions on preserving cultural heritage while supporting local socio-economic development through tourism and creative industries.
Through the application of these recommendations, TSUOS research provided expert knowledge relevant to stakeholders involved in cultural policy, heritage preservation, tourism development, and community-based economic development, contributing to evidence-informed approaches to the promotion and sustainable utilisation of Uzbekistan’s cultural heritage.
The documented implementation of TSUOS PhD research by ministries, local government bodies, national research institutions, and other public-sector organisations provides tangible evidence of the University’s role in providing expert knowledge and supporting government policy and public-sector practice.
- Expert Recommendations for the Enhancement of Uzbekistan’s National Higher Education Management System (HEMIS)
Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies regularly provides expert recommendations to government institutions on the digital transformation and quality enhancement of higher education. In particular, university specialists submitted a series of proposals to the Centre for the Implementation of Digital Educational Technologies under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of Uzbekistan regarding the improvement of the national HEMIS (Higher Education Management Information System).
Based on recommendations provided by TSUOS experts and relevant university departments, several improvements were introduced into the national system. These included the enhancement of the Electronic Orders module; the introduction of English-language passport data fields for students and staff based on international passports; expanded access to teachers’ calendar plans for academic administrators; improved restoration of academic records for students returning from academic leave in accordance with Cabinet of Ministers regulations; and mechanisms for monitoring changes in students’ funding status (state grant or tuition-based) following academic mobility, reinstatement, or transfer procedures.
TSUOS also advised on measures to strengthen academic quality assurance and digital governance. As a result, new functionalities were introduced to support real-time student attendance registration and the integration of HEMIS with plagiarism-detection systems, enabling higher education institutions across Uzbekistan to conduct plagiarism checks on students’ graduation theses. These contributions supported the Ministry’s efforts to improve transparency, efficiency, and quality management in the national higher education system.
- Expert Recommendations to Government on Foreign Language Education and Higher Education Quality
In response to requests from state institutions, university experts prepared and submitted evidence-based proposals aimed at improving foreign language education and enhancing the quality of higher education in Uzbekistan.
- Recommendations on the Draft Resolution “On Measures to Improve the Foreign Language Teaching System in Uzbekistan”
TSUOS specialists developed a comprehensive package of recommendations for the draft government resolution on strengthening foreign language education. The proposals included integrating foreign languages as both major and supplementary subjects across higher education institutions; expanding the involvement of native-speaking instructors and international partner universities in teaching; modernising professional development systems for language teachers; strengthening academic writing requirements for graduates; introducing national language proficiency assessments and certification mechanisms; creating incentives for high-performing students; expanding international internships and immersion opportunities; and supporting the development of specialised textbooks, digital learning resources, educational media products, and terminology dictionaries. These recommendations were submitted to support government efforts to improve language competencies and international competitiveness within the education system.
- Recommendations on Improving the Organisation and Quality of Higher Education
TSUOS also prepared and submitted expert recommendations on the effective organisation of the educational process and the improvement of teaching quality in higher education institutions. The proposals focused on strengthening educational quality assurance mechanisms, aligning academic programmes with labour market needs, improving teaching and learning processes, promoting practical and industry-oriented skills development, and enhancing graduate employability. The recommendations were aimed at supporting national efforts to prepare competitive specialists capable of meeting the demands of a rapidly evolving economy and labour market.
Overall contribution
These implementation cases demonstrate that TSUOS research is not limited to academic outputs but is translated into practical recommendations and applied by government and public-sector institutions. The examples cover diverse policy areas—including urban development and transport, economic and social policy, pension reform, education and youth development, foreign-language learning, and the analysis of Islamic sources—and demonstrate the university’s contribution to evidence-informed decision-making.
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