On measures to further improve the system of postgraduate education

Over the years of independence, a unique system of continuing education has been created in the Republic of Uzbekistan, significant work has been carried out aimed at improving the efficiency of research activities, training and certification of highly qualified scientific and scientific-pedagogical personnel, strengthening the role of science in the social and economic development of the country. The introduction of a single-stage system of postgraduate education with the protection and award of the degree of Doctor of Sciences from January 1, 2013 was an important step towards bringing the system of training and certification of highly qualified scientific and scientific-pedagogical personnel closer to generally accepted international requirements and standards. Over the past period, all the necessary regulatory and legal framework has been formed, the activities of postgraduate education institutions, the preparation and defense of doctoral dissertations have been organized in accordance with the established requirements. At the same time, the achieved rates of socio-economic development of the country dictate the need to rethink the experience accumulated in the conditions of a single-stage system of postgraduate education, taking into account the best practices of a number of foreign countries in this area. In modern conditions, issues of more dynamic development and improvement of the quality of the process of training scientific personnel, broad involvement of gifted youth in science, strengthening and effective use of the scientific potential of higher educational and scientific institutions in the innovative development of the republic are becoming particularly necessary. In order to radically improve the quality and efficiency of the system of training and certification of highly qualified scientific and scientific-pedagogical personnel, further improve the field of postgraduate education, expand opportunities for the comprehensive realization of the intellectual potential of young people in research activities:

1. To agree with the proposals of the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Special Education, the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Committee for the Coordination of Science and Technology Development under the Cabinet of Ministers, the Higher Attestation Commission under the Cabinet of Ministers, as well as other ministries and departments with higher educational and research institutions, providing for the introduction from July 1, 2017, in accordance with international practice of a number of foreign countries, a two-level system of postgraduate education: basic doctoral studies — with the defense of the dissertation and the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the relevant branch of science; doctoral studies — with the defense of the dissertation and the award of the degree of Doctor of Science (Doctor of Science) in the relevant branch of science.

2. Determine that: the academic degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the relevant branch of science is awarded by scientific councils for awarding academic degrees to persons with a master’s degree or higher education (in specialty programs), or who have completed a clinical residency (for medical sciences), and defended a dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) according to the established requirements; the academic degree of Doctor of Science (Doctor of Science) is awarded by scientific councils for awarding academic degrees to persons who have a PhD or PhD degree or other equivalent academic degrees obtained in foreign countries and have defended a dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Science (Doctor of Science) according to the established requirements; in accordance with the established requirements, persons with a master’s degree or higher education (according to specialty programs), or who have completed a clinical residency (for medical sciences) are accepted to the basic doctoral program; persons with a candidate of sciences or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree or other equivalent academic degrees are accepted to the doctoral program in accordance with the established requirements, received in foreign countries; to defend doctoral dissertations for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), persons with a master’s degree or higher education (in specialty programs), or who have completed a clinical residency (for medical sciences), and are registered in accordance with the established procedure as an independent applicant are also allowed; persons who have the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Candidate of Sciences or other equivalent academic degrees obtained in foreign countries and issued in accordance with the established procedure as an independent applicant are also allowed to defend doctoral dissertations for the degree of Doctor of Science (Doctor of Science).

3. To establish that the current scientific councils for awarding the degree of Doctor of Sciences terminate the acceptance of dissertations for defense on a single-stage system of postgraduate education from the date of adoption of this Decree.

4. To establish that: a) persons who have the degree of Candidate of Sciences or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or other equivalent academic degrees obtained in foreign countries: currently studying at the institute of senior research staff applicants or registered in the prescribed manner as independent applicants, will continue their studies at the relevant institutes of the new system postgraduate education with the defense, as soon as ready, of dissertations for the degree of Doctor of Science (Doctor of Science); those who have completed under the conditions of a single-stage system of postgraduate education institutes of senior researchers-applicants or independent applicants without defending a dissertation, as well as those who have prepared a dissertation in accordance with the established requirements without admission to the institutes of postgraduate education and registered the topic of the dissertation in the Higher Attestation Commission, can defend a dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Science (Doctor of Science). b) persons who do not have an academic degree of Candidate of Sciences or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or other equivalent academic degrees obtained in foreign countries: currently studying at the institute of senior research fellows-applicants or registered in accordance with the established procedure as independent applicants, will continue their studies at the relevant institutes of the new system of postgraduate education with defense, as soon as they are ready, of dissertations for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD); those who have completed under the conditions of a single-stage system of postgraduate education institutes of senior researchers-applicants or independent applicants without defending a dissertation, as well as those who have prepared a dissertation in accordance with the established requirements without admission to the institutes of postgraduate education and have registered the topic of the dissertation in the Higher Attestation Commission, can defend a dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

5. The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan within two months to adopt a Government resolution pursuant to this Decree, which provides, inter alia: the development of improved state requirements for postgraduate education, requirements for the content and quality of dissertations for the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Doctor of Science (Doctor of Science), taking into account generally accepted international standards; the development of and approval of the Regulations on Postgraduate Education taking into account international experience; approval of the document on postgraduate education of the state standard — the diploma of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD); implementation of all necessary measures related to the transfer of students in postgraduate education institutions to the relevant institutes of the new system, ensuring admission, examination of attestation cases and awarding applicants with the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Doctor of Science (Doctor of Science) in accordance with the new requirements until July 1, 2017, as well as the organization of two-level postgraduate education systems with the beginning of training in basic doctoral studies, doctoral studies or as an independent applicant; improvement of the current procedure for the recognition and nostrification (establishment of equivalence) of documents on academic degrees issued in foreign countries.

6. To determine that admission to basic doctoral studies and doctoral studies is carried out within the budget funds allocated annually for these purposes to the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, ministries, departments and institutions engaged in postgraduate education.

7. To establish that from July 1, 2017, persons studying in: basic doctoral studies are paid a scholarship equivalent to the basic salary of an intern researcher; doctoral studies — a scholarship equivalent to the basic salaries of senior researchers with a PhD degree (not having an academic title).

8. The Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan, starting from 2018, to provide in the parameters of the expenditures of the State Budget of the Republic of Uzbekistan the allocation of the necessary funds to finance the system of training of scientific and scientific-pedagogical personnel of the highest qualification in accordance with this Decree.

9. To invalidate the Decrees of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated July 24, 2012 No. UP-4456 “On further improvement of the system of training and certification of highly qualified scientific and scientific-pedagogical personnel” and dated July 27, 2012 No. UP-4458 “On Amendments to the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated July 24, 2012 No. UP-4456 “On further improvement of the system of training and certification of scientific and scientific-pedagogical personnel of the highest qualification”.

10.The Committee for the Coordination of Science and Technology Development under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, together with the Higher Attestation Commission under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Special Education, the Ministry of Public Education, the Ministry of Justice, the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, other interested ministries and departments, to submit proposals to the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan on amendments and additions to the current legislation arising from this Decree.

11. Control over the execution of this Decree shall be entrusted to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan A.N. Aripov.