Reform and internationalization of higher education in Uzbekistan under president Sh.M. Mirziyoyev

The objective of the research is to identify the key areas of higher education reforms in Uzbekistan since 2016 and to give appropriate recommendations for the development of Russian-Uzbek educational cooperation. The author used legislation and materials from the official websites of Uzbek and Russian state bodies, statistics and research papers from international organizations, and materials from news agencies. The paper discusses the issues of higher education in Uzbekistan; analyzes the areas of reform of Uzbek university system; studies priority tasks and state mechanisms to support the internationalization of higher education in Uzbekistan, and measures taken to promote Russian-Uzbek cooperation in higher education. The research reached the following conclusions. The key issues of higher education in Uzbekistan accumulated by 2016 were a huge shortage of places in the country's universities in relation to the number of school graduates; the structure of university training in major areas not adequate to modern scientific and technological development; the problem of the quality of education, university research and staff training; hypercentralized management of higher education to the detriment of the initiative and autonomy of universities. The key objectives of the modern reform are to increase the accessibility of national higher education through the opening of new universities and branches of existing universities in the regions; optimization of areas and majors of training; attracting employers to the educational process and scientific research in universities; change in various norms and rules that provide greater flexibility of the university system; development of the material and technical base of universities. The modernization agenda for higher education in Uzbekistan includes the widespread involvement of external resources through the opening of branches of foreign universities, joint faculties and double-degree educational programs; attracting foreign academic staff; advanced training abroad. Russia is a priority of the internationalization of Uzbek higher education. In particular, in 2019 a bilateral Agreement was signed on the mutual recognition of education and qualifications, academic degrees. Dialogues have been established at the level of authorities and universities of the two countries. New branches of Russian universities in Uzbekistan are opening. For a more successful rapprochement between Russia and Uzbekistan in higher education, it is necessary to take into account such aspects as the high growth rates of the population and economy of Uzbekistan; one hundred percent literacy of Uzbekistan's population; the retainment by the Russian language of a significant second place after the state language in state bodies and in the society, including the education system; constant changes in educational legislation; the need to develop cooperation with universities both in Tashkent and in the regions of Uzbekistan; a greater openness of data on the Internet for the analysis of ongoing reforms.

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