16.2.3. IDENTIFY AND ENGAGE WITH LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS

16.2.3. IDENTIFY AND ENGAGE WITH LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS

Adopted policy: 2021

Last reviewed: 2025

Objective

To systematically identify, prioritise and engage relevant local stakeholders — businesses, government agencies, NGOs, community groups, alumni — in order to co-create, implement and scale TSUOS’s sustainability-oriented research, educational and societal initiatives.

Scope

This programme will cover:

• Stakeholder mapping & classification
• Engagement strategy development
• Partnership formation & memorandum of understanding processes
• Ongoing collaboration, monitoring & feedback loops
• Inclusion of diversity, equity and social responsibility principles

Key Phases & Activities

Phase 1: Preparation & Stakeholder Mapping

Activities:

• Define TSUOS’s strategic priorities relevant to sustainability/SDGs (e.g., curriculum integration, community-research, local innovation, SDG 16, etc.).
• Develop a stakeholder mapping template (e.g., stakeholder name, type, interests, influence/power, alignment with TSUOS goals, potential role).
• Identify a preliminary list of stakeholder categories: local businesses, municipal/regional government agencies, NGOs/community organisations, alumni networks, research partners, student organisations.
• Populate the template with potential stakeholders in Tashkent and wider Uzbekistan (and possibly Central Asia) region.
• Prioritise stakeholders (e.g., high relevance + high influence = priority; alignment + moderate influence = secondary).

TSUOS lists as primary data sources:

• Partner organisations that are main potential employers of graduates
• Partner and employer organisations

Deliverables:

• Stakeholder mapping document
• Prioritised stakeholder list
• Engagement charter/guideline

Phase 2: Engagement Strategy & Formalisation

Activities:

• For each priority stakeholder (or stakeholder group), develop an engagement strategy: what TSUOS can offer, what the stakeholder’s interest is, potential collaboration models (internships, joint research, workshops, advisory boards).
• Draft templates for MoUs / MoAs (memoranda of understanding/agreements) to define roles, responsibilities, expected outcomes, timelines and resources.
• Organise an initial stakeholder forum or round-table event (invite priority stakeholders, TSUOS faculty, students) to share TSUOS’s vision, hear stakeholder interests, co-brainstorm collaboration opportunities.
• Establish internal TSUOS coordination mechanism (e.g., a “Stakeholder Engagement Taskforce” with representatives from research office, academic units, student services, international relations) to manage engagement and follow-up.

Deliverables:

• Engagement strategy document
• MoU / MoA templates
• Minutes & summary from stakeholder forum
• Taskforce terms of reference

Phase 3: Implementation of Collaboration

Activities:

• Formalise selected partnerships by executing MoUs/MoAs.
• Launch pilot collaboration projects (e.g., a joint research study with a local business, an internship programme for TSUOS students with a community organisation, a public workshop on sustainability for local stakeholders).
• Integrate stakeholder contributions into TSUOS academic, research or outreach units (e.g., course guest lectures, community-based projects, stakeholder advisory board for curriculum development).
• Ensure inclusivity: involve diverse stakeholders (gender, ethnicity, levels of influence) and ensure ethical, socially-responsible practice.
• Monitor progress: set key performance indicators (KPIs) such as number of engaged stakeholder organisations, number of collaboration activities, number of students/staff involved, feedback from stakeholders, societal impact outcomes.
• Maintain communication: regular updates to stakeholders, co-created reporting, opportunities for shared reflection and adaptation.

Deliverables:

• List of executed collaborations & pilot activities
• Monitoring mechanism
• Stakeholder communication plan & reports

Phase 4: Evaluation, Scaling & Sustainability

Activities:

• Conduct evaluation of pilot collaborations: what worked, what didn’t, stakeholder feedback, student/faculty reflections.
• Document case studies of successful collaborations (to support your Impact Rankings reporting and TSUOS’s sustainability narrative).
• Develop scale-up plan: expand partnerships, embed stakeholder engagement into TSUOS policies & operations (e.g., formal policy for stakeholder engagement, inclusion in institutional strategy).
• Share results with wider community: produce a stakeholder engagement report, host a public event/showcase, include in the TSUOS website and annual report.
• Ensure ongoing governance: stakeholder advisory board or committee, recurring stakeholder forums, built-in processes for stakeholder input into TSUOS decision-making.

Deliverables:

• Evaluation report & case studies
• Scale-up and institutionalisation plan
• Stakeholder engagement annual report
• Governance structure proposal

Roles & Responsibilities

• Steering Committee: Senior TSUOS leadership (e.g., Vice-Rectors; Head of Institutional Rankings) — provide oversight, strategic alignment.
• Stakeholder Engagement Taskforce: Middle management and staff across units — implement mapping, engagement, coordination.
• Academic/Research Units: Faculty leads — integrate stakeholder collaborations into curricula/research.
• Student Services/Outreach: Support student-stakeholder interactions (internships, community workshop).
• Monitoring & Reporting Lead: Specialist (you, as chief specialist in international rankings) — monitor KPIs, compile reporting for Impact Rankings and other frameworks.

Key Principles / Good Practices

• Transparency & Inclusivity: Clear communication of roles, expectations and outcomes; ensure diverse stakeholder representation (gender, social groups).
• Mutual Value & Co-creation: Stakeholders should receive benefit (e.g., access to expertise, student talent, research outputs) and TSUOS should gain societal relevance.
• Alignment with Institutional Strategy: Stakeholder activities should relate to TSUOS’s mission, sustainability/SDG goals and ranking objectives.
• Ethics & Social Responsibility: Partnerships should reflect the university’s commitment to social good, equity and responsible scholarship.
• Continuous Reflection and Adaptation: Regular forums, feedback loops, monitoring to ensure relevance and impact.

08.11.2025, 13:04 96 Print version