Issues of the Regional University Community were discussed at the II Forum of Rectors of Universities of Central Asian countries in Dushanbe

The II Forum of Rectors of universities of Central Asian countries is being held in the capital of Tajikistan, Dushanbe, as part of the fifth consultative meeting of the heads of Central Asian states. It was attended by the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan Sayasat Nurbek and rectors of Kazakhstani universities.

The Ministers of Education of the Central Asian states, along with the rectors of higher educational institutions of Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan, discussed the further development of cooperation in the field of science and education.

The Chairman of the Council of Rectors of Kazakhstan Universities, Rector of the L.N.Gumilyov Eurasian National University Yerlan Sydykov spoke at the plenary session of the forum on the topic “Formation of the Central Asian Regional Integrated University Community: Priorities and Projects”. As ENU Head emphasized, the regional university community occupies a significant stand in the international educational space.

“The strengthening and unification of the scientific and educational potential of universities in the region, the correct coordination of their development priorities, will undoubtedly give impetus to a more significant and weighty positioning and competition of the Central Asian university community in other megaterritorial industry unions,” Yerlan Sydykov believes.

The Chairman of the Council of Rectors of Kazakhstan Universities also noted the need to initiate interregional and interuniversity corporate innovation projects and create a unified industry information environment.

“The integration of scientific, technical and socio-humanitarian projects of universities of regional states can bring many advantages to our universities and states as a whole. By combining forces and resources we can pursue larger and more significant research in various fields,” Ye.Sydykov notes.

The speaker’s report also touched upon the topic of management and study of water resources; he suggested launching new education programs that will train specialists with international experience.

There was also an opinion on the formation of a unified set of textbooks of universities of the Central Asian region and an electronic Central Asian scientific library.

The Chairman of the Council of Rectors of Kazakhstan Universities also stated the need for higher education institutions in Central Asia to increase the pace of academic mobility and voiced a proposal to create a regional calendar of student events.

The framework of the II Rectors’ Forum in Dushanbe included signing and agreeing on cooperation between universities of Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. 

Thus, the L.N. Gumilyov ENU and IITU have completed coordination with M.S/ Osimi Tajik Technical University, Sh. Valikhanov Kokshetau University – with Tajikistan State University of Law, Business and Politics. 

A memorandum on mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of education and scientific research was also signed between the L.N.Gumilyov Eurasian National University and Tashkent State Transport University. The document was signed by the rectors of the two universities - Yerlan Sydykov and Odil Abdurakhmanov. The parties agreed on the academic exchange of students in bachelor's, master's and doctoral study programs, the training of highly qualified scientific and pedagogical personnel, specialists and joint educationa programs of double diplomas at the bachelor's and master's studies level.

Sarsen Amanzholov East Kazakhstan University will cooperate with the Sotim Ulughzoda Tajik International University of Foreign Languages, Denau Institute of Entrepreneurship and Pedagogy and Shirinsho Shotemur Tajik Agrarian University.

Alkey Margulan Pavlodar Pedagogical University signed an agreement with two universities – Tajik National University and Sadriddin Aini Tajik State Pedagogical University.

The Central Asian Innovation University and the Saimumin Rahimov  Tajik Institute of Physical Education have agreed on cooperation .

Oral negotiations were held on the issues of double diplomas, academic mobility, joint research projects between universities of Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.

There were also held breakout sessions. The moderator of the second section “Scientific and Innovative Cooperation as the Basis for the Development of a New Economy” was the Vice-Rector for Science, Commercialization and Internationalization of the L.N. Gumilyov ENU Zhanna Kurmangaliyeva. She presented the report “The Role of Research Universities in the Development of National Science”.