Background to the Project

The Structural and Complementary Measure (SCM) project “Development of Association between Universities and Business in Uzbekistan” (DABUBU) is a one year project to be implemented by the consortium of Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT), University of Westiminster (UoW), Tashkent Chemical Technological Institute (TChTI), Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan (CCI), Riga Technical University (RTU), Svendborg Business Academy, and local experts including experts from the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education of Uzbekistan.

Background

The challenges associated with moving from a planned to a market economy were much greater in Uzbekistan and its Central Asian neighbours than in many other transition countries. ThesWestminster-Uni2.jpge factors have made the task of restructuring the economy of the country and reforming the educational system to meet the specific needs of a market economy particularly difficult.
The urgent need to address the obvious mismatch between the higher education system and an economy in transition was emphasized in the early years of independence by the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov: ‘It is becoming clear that the acquired profession and preparation of graduate students do not meet the requirements of the market economy.’

The National Programme for Personnel Training (NPPT) adopted in 1997 and subsequent government resolutions also stressed the need for ‘measures to assure the conformity between education and the demands of democratic and market reforms in the country.’

These measures have included:

  • monitoring the demand for graduates in business and industrial sectors;
  • development of a system to provide internships and other work integrated learning opportunities for undergraduates;
  • strengthening the marketing function of higher education institutions to include the development of links with employers and the expansion of graduate opportunities;
  • reforming the curriculum so that it reflects the real needs of students and their potential employers.

Challenges in Integration of Business with Higher Education

Although there has been some progress in all of these areas there has been a lack of a coherent and consistent strategy. There is a recognition that a significant gap still exists between the supply side (the graduates) and the demand from employers in the industrial, business and government sectors. This gap has resulted in a flow of graduates who often lack the specific and generic skills and attributes required by employers.  

However, at their best, graduates can offer industry and businesses valuable skills and strengthen their long term competitiveness However many employers do not recruit graduates, partly through ignorance of their potential and misconceptions about their expectations. Often, the skills of those who are recruited are under-utilised because employers do not offer induction and training programmes and lack long term human resource management strategies.

At the same time, new graduates are often ignorant about the employment opportunities which exist and the career development potential offered by different employers. They may also experience difficulty in accessing the formal and informal recruitment processes used by employers. The result is a considerable waste of human resource, lost business opportunities and continuing graduate unemployment.

Moving towards Integrated Learning in line with Bologna Process Requirements 

The integration of higher education with business and student employability were a central agenda of EU discussions on the higher education development trends held in Prague (2001), Bergen (2005) and London (2007).

The relationship between higher education institutions, industry and business is also fundamental to the long-term development of Uzbekistan and the growth of a knowledge economy. In order to build on what has already been achieved and to ensure that higher education better meets the needs of a society and economy in transition there is an urgent need to

  • improve the communication and feedback between the stakeholders (i.e. students, employers, universities and government)
  • widen and strengthen the links between higher education institutions and employers (both larger graduate recruiters and SMEs) in order to determine mutual needs
  • expand the availability of work experience opportunities both within and external to programmes of study in universities
  • develop career guidance and counselling capacity within institutions and to provide the staff involved in this with appropriate resources and training
  • promote work integrated learning in ways that practical experience is integrated into academic studies