WIUT takes pride in congratulating three faculty members upon being conferred a fellowship by Advance Higher Education (Advance HE).
The Advance HE Fellowship is a professional recognition awarded to individuals working in higher education who demonstrate excellence and commitment to teaching, learning, and academic support. It acknowledges contributions to improving educational practices, engaging in innovative teaching methods, and fostering a positive learning environment.
Our warmest congratulations go to:
- Akbar Ismanjanov,Associate Professor and Head of the Commercial Law Department at SOLTE, was awarded the status of a Senior Fellow (SFHEA).
- Muhammad Azhar Mughal,Senior Lecturer at SOBE, was awarded the status of a Fellow (FHEA).
- Ulugbek Islamov,Senior Lecturer at SOBE, was awarded the status of a Fellow (FHEA).
WIUT is the first higher education institution in Uzbekistan to join Advance HE’s prestigious professional network. WIUT is dedicated to maintaining international teaching standards and striving for excellence. This prestigious status, awarded after careful evaluation, recognises individuals who have consistently demonstrated effectiveness in teaching and management, mentorship, leadership and have significantly influenced their institution’s teaching and learning practices.
Dr. Akbar Ismanjanov is an Associate Professor and Head of the Commercial Law Department at SOLTE. His expertise spans digital commerce, intellectual property, and emerging legal frameworks for technology-driven economies. He holds a DSc degree in Jurisprudence.
Between 2010 and 2012, Dr. Ismanjanov was a visiting scholar at the Center for Internet and Society at Stanford University, where he conducted research on copyright law in digital media and the originality of adaptations. He reached another milestone as he was awarded the prestigious European Commission Jean Monnet Chair grant for the project Central Asian Centre for European Trade Law (CACETL) in 2022, a significant initiative fostering legal education and research in the region.
His contributions to legal scholarship include his role as a contributor to the International Encyclopedia of Laws: Intellectual Property, edited by Dr. Prof. Hendrik Vanhees and published by Wolters Kluwer, where he annually updates developments in intellectual property law.
Dr. Ismanjanov’s research area includes exploring complex legal questions surrounding artificial intelligence, specifically the ownership of AI-generated works from the perspectives of copyright and property rights. His teaching philosophy aligns with experiential learning, inspired by Oliver Wendell Holmes’ principle that “The life of the law is not logic but experience.”
His pedagogical excellence has been recognised through his successful application to Advance HE, earning a Senior Fellowship based on his extensive teaching contributions at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including LLM and Jean Monnet classes, as well as his supervision of graduate research.
Dr. Muhammad Azhar Mughal is a senior lecturer at SOBE. He has extensive experience in teaching finance and accounting. Before joining WIUT, he served as an assistant professor in finance at the University of the Punjab and the Institute of Management Sciences in Lahore, Pakistan. He joined WIUT in 2023 as a Senior Lecturer in the finance module. He is also an associate member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Pakistan (ICPAP).
Throughout his academic journey, he has remained steadfastly committed to the twin pursuits of teaching and research. His research interests primarily revolve around corporate finance, including mergers and acquisitions (M&A), earnings management, and corporate governance. Presently, his research endeavours are dedicated to unravelling the intricate relationship between market concentration and corporate governance in the context of M&A transactions.
His teaching philosophy centres on student-centred learning and autonomy, where he strives to create a classroom environment where students feel confident and take responsibility for their learning. He is passionate about devising and applying effective assessment strategies to engage student learning.
Ulugbek Islamov, a distinguished senior lecturer in business and project management, focuses on equipping students with both theoretical foundations and practical skills to navigate complex business environments. He has an impressive list of accolades behind his name for international academic collaboration, contributing to research and professional development initiatives. By incorporating case studies and problem-solving exercises, he ensures students gain hands-on experience that prepares them for the challenges of the business world.
Among his many accomplishments is his academic career as a Visiting Scholar at the University of Arkansas under the Faculty Enrichment Programme. This opportunity provided him with invaluable international academic exposure, allowing for deeper insights into global teaching and research practices. It also reinforced his dedication to integrating innovative project management methodologies into both academia and industry.
His research interests centre on project management methodologies, particularly the tailoring and hybridisation of project management approaches to enhance efficiency and adaptability. Currently, he is exploring how organisations customise project management frameworks by integrating traditional, agile, and hybrid methods to meet their unique needs.
On behalf of the entire WIUT community, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to these exemplary faculty members. Their achievements not only reflect their personal dedication and expertise but also elevate WIUT’s reputation on the global stage, inspiring both students and colleagues alike as we continue to pursue academic and teaching excellence.
