Establishment of a Urgut Branch

Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

On Additional Measures to Further Improve the Activities of Samarkand State University

In order to ensure the step-by-step implementation of the tasks defined in the "Concept for the Development of the Higher Education System of the Republic of Uzbekistan until 2030" approved by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. PF-5847 dated October 8, 2019, as well as to develop Samarkand State University in scientific, technological, and social spheres, train competitive scientific and pedagogical personnel, and elevate the University to the level of a flagship higher education institution:

Samarkand State University shall be named after the prominent statesman and public figure Sharof Rashidov.

The proposal of the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education and the Ministry of Innovative Development to establish a "Transformation Office" at Samarkand State University named after Sharof Rashidov (hereinafter referred to as “the University”) shall be approved.

The Transformation Office shall be responsible for the following:

- Implementing the University’s transformation and comprehensive development program and ensuring its inclusion in the top 1000 higher education institutions in internationally recognized rankings by 2026;

- Digitalizing the University’s operations and integrating modern pedagogical technologies into the educational process;

- Conducting promotional campaigns through national and international mass media, the Internet, and other means to increase the University’s visibility.

It shall be established that the Head of the Transformation Office shall hold a position equivalent to that of a University Vice-Rector.

3. The following shall be approved:

- The Comprehensive Development Program for Samarkand State University named after Sharof Rashidov for 2022–2025, in accordance with Appendix 1;

- The target indicators for the development of Samarkand State University named after Sharof Rashidov by 2025, in accordance with Appendix 2;

- The schedule for assigning the University’s specialized departments to research institutions, industry enterprises, and organizations, in accordance with Appendix 3.

4. The following institutions shall be established within the University:

- The Institute of Agrobiotechnology and Food Security (hereinafter referred to as the Agrobiotechnology Institute), which will train personnel in the fields of agronomy, biotechnology, and food security;

- The Institute of Engineering Physics (hereinafter referred to as the Engineering Institute), which will train personnel in engineering, automation, mechatronics, robotics, digital electronics, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, and new materials technology;

- The Urgut Branch of the University (hereinafter referred to as the Branch), which will train personnel in pedagogy, information technology, and other fields with high demand for specialists in the region.

5. The following shall be defined as the main areas of activity of the Agrobiotechnology Institute, the Engineering Institute, and the Branch:

- Training, retraining, and advanced training of highly qualified specialists and scientific-pedagogical personnel with practical skills who are competitive in the labor market;

- Implementation of joint educational programs and scientific projects with leading foreign higher education institutions, as well as the integration of advanced pedagogical and distance learning technologies, and the latest achievements in science and technology into the educational process;

- Development of curricula based on the future prospects and priority tasks of the relevant fields, and the establishment of modern material and technical infrastructure for educational and research laboratories;

- Organizing the learning process to foster students’ abilities in independent learning, systematic analysis, creative thinking, and practical skills, including entrepreneurship;

- Launching scientific research activities and promoting the development of scientific, practical, and innovative research aimed at solving the problems of production enterprises;

- Involving qualified specialists in education and scientific research, and developing cooperative relationships with national and leading foreign higher education institutions and scientific centers;

- Creating favorable conditions for students to engage in education and scientific activities, and expanding educational opportunities for foreign citizens;

- Enhancing scientific-pedagogical capacity, including organizing internships and professional development for professors and teachers at prestigious national and international higher education and research institutions.

6. It shall be established that:

- Educational activities at the Agrobiotechnology Institute, Engineering Institute, and the Branch shall commence from the 2022/2023 academic year, and the educational process shall be conducted based on the credit-modular system;

- Students currently enrolled in undergraduate and master’s degree programs at the University’s Faculty of Agrobiotechnology and Food Security shall continue their studies at the Agrobiotechnology Institute;

- Students currently enrolled in applied undergraduate and master’s degree programs within the Faculties of Physics and Mathematics shall continue their studies at the Engineering Institute;

- The Branch shall provide scientific and methodological support to teachers of general secondary, secondary specialized, and vocational education institutions in the Urgut district;

- The budgetary and extra-budgetary funds of the Agrobiotechnology Institute and the Engineering Institute shall be administered through the University’s personal treasury accounts opened at the Treasury of the Ministry of Finance, while the Branch shall have its own personal treasury accounts at the Ministry of Finance;

- The directors and deputy directors of the Agrobiotechnology Institute, Engineering Institute, and the Branch shall be entitled to salaries and employment conditions equivalent to those of directors and deputy directors of higher education institution branches, and other staff members shall be equated to employees of higher education institutions;

- Expenses related to the launch of the Agrobiotechnology Institute, Engineering Institute, and the Branch — including the renovation and equipping of buildings and structures — shall be covered by the University’s extra-budgetary funds and resources from the Higher Education Institutions Development Fund under the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education.

7. The Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education shall:
8. a) In cooperation with the University:

- Ensure the approval of the organizational structure and staffing schedule of the Agrobiotechnology Institute, the Engineering Institute, and the Branch in accordance with established norms;

- Take measures to recruit highly qualified teaching staff for the Agrobiotechnology Institute, the Engineering Institute, and the Branch on a competitive basis, prioritizing specialists with practical experience and/or academic degrees;

- Appoint a specialist with leadership experience at leading foreign higher education institutions to the position of Head of the Transformation Office;

1. b) In cooperation with the Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications Development, within a two-month period:

- Take necessary measures to connect the Agrobiotechnology Institute, the Engineering Institute, and the Branch to high-speed Internet and Provide telecommunication equipment required for online lectures and the implementation of distance learning technologies.