On Further Improving the Post-Higher Education System
Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan
On Further Improving the Postgraduate Education System
Since gaining independence, the Republic of Uzbekistan has established a unique system of continuous education and carried out significant work aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of research activities, training and certifying highly qualified scientific and academic personnel, and strengthening the role of science in the country's socio-economic development.
The introduction, effective January 1, 2013, of a single-tier postgraduate education system—involving the defense of a doctoral dissertation and the awarding of the Doctor of Science degree—marked a significant step toward aligning the training and certification of highly qualified scientific and academic personnel with generally accepted international requirements and standards. Since then, the necessary legal and regulatory framework has been established, and the operations of higher education institutions—as well as the preparation and defense of doctoral dissertations—have been organized in accordance with established requirements.
At the same time, the country's current pace of socio-economic development necessitates a re-evaluation of the experience gained under the single-tier postgraduate education system, taking into account the best practices of various foreign countries in this field. In the current environment, particular importance is attached to intensifying the development and improving the quality of the scientific personnel training process, actively engaging talented youth in science, and strengthening the scientific capacity of higher education institutions and research organizations—as well as effectively utilizing that capacity for the republic's innovative development. In order to radically improve the quality and efficiency of the system for training and certifying highly qualified scientific and academic personnel, to further enhance the sphere of postgraduate education, and to expand opportunities for young people to fully realize their intellectual potential in scientific and research activities:
1. In accordance with international practice, the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Academy of Sciences, the Coordination Committee for the Development of Science and Technology under the Cabinet of Ministers, the Higher Attestation Commission under the Cabinet of Ministers, as well as other ministries and agencies overseeing higher education institutions and research organizations, shall implement the following postgraduate education stages starting July 1, 2017:
basic doctoral studies, involving the defense of a dissertation and the awarding of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the relevant field of science;
proposals shall be approved for the introduction of a doctoral system involving the defense of a dissertation and the awarding of the academic degree of Doctor of Science (*Doctor of Sciences*) in the relevant field of science.
2. It should be noted that:
the academic degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the relevant field of science is awarded by academic councils to individuals holding a master's degree or a higher education degree (under specialized programs), or to those who have completed clinical residency (in medical sciences) and have defended a dissertation for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in accordance with established requirements;
the academic degree of Doctor of Science is awarded by academic councils to candidates of science, Doctors of Philosophy (PhD), or holders of equivalent academic degrees awarded in foreign countries, who have defended a dissertation for the academic degree of Doctor of Science in accordance with established requirements; Admission to the basic doctoral program is open to individuals holding a master’s degree, a higher education qualification (specialist program), or a certificate of completion of clinical residency (in medical sciences), in accordance with established requirements;
Admission to the doctoral program is open to holders of the degree of Candidate of Sciences, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), or equivalent academic degrees awarded in foreign countries, in accordance with established requirements;
Individuals registered in the prescribed manner as independent researchers—and holding a master’s degree, a higher education qualification (in relevant fields), or a certificate of completion of clinical residency (in medical sciences)—are also permitted to defend a doctoral dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD);
Individuals registered in the prescribed manner as independent researchers—and holding the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Candidate of Sciences, or equivalent academic degrees awarded in foreign countries—are also permitted to defend a doctoral dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Sciences (*Doktor Nauk*).
3. It is hereby determined that existing academic councils for the conferral of the degree of Doctor of Sciences shall cease accepting dissertations for defense under the single-tier postgraduate education system effective from the date of adoption of this Decree.
4. It should be noted that:
a) candidate of science or doctor of philosophy (PhD) or other equivalent academic degrees awarded in foreign countries:
persons who are currently studying at the Institute of Senior Researcher-Researchers or who are registered as independent researchers according to the established procedure will continue to study at the relevant institutions of the new system of post-higher education and, depending on their readiness, defend their dissertations to receive the scientific degree of Doctor of Science;
in the conditions of the one-level system of post-secondary education, senior researchers-researchers or persons who graduated from an independent research institution without dissertation defense, as well as those who prepared their dissertation in accordance with the established requirements without entering post-secondary educational institutions and registered the topic of the dissertation with the Higher Attestation Commission can defend a dissertation to receive the scientific degree of Doctor of Science.
b) who does not have a candidate of science or a doctor of philosophy (PhD) or other equivalent academic degrees awarded in foreign countries:
persons who are currently studying at the Institute of Senior Researcher-Researchers or who are registered as independent researchers according to the established procedure will continue to study at the relevant institutions of the new system of post-higher education and, depending on their readiness, defend their dissertations to receive the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD);
in the conditions of the one-level system of post-secondary education, senior researchers-researchers or persons who graduated from an independent research institute without a dissertation defense, as well as those who prepared their dissertation in accordance with the established requirements without entering post-secondary educational institutions and registered the topic of the dissertation with the Higher Attestation Commission, can defend a dissertation to receive the scientific degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
5. Within two months, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall adopt a Government decision on the implementation of this Decree, including the following:
taking into account generally accepted international standards, developing improved state requirements for post-secondary education, requirements for the content and quality of dissertations for obtaining the doctor of philosophy (PhD) and doctor of science (Doctor of Science) scientific degrees;
development and approval of regulations on post-secondary education, taking into account international experience;
approval of the state model of a document on post-secondary education - a doctor of philosophy (PhD) diploma;
By July 1, 2017, transfer of persons studying in post-secondary institutions of higher education to relevant institutions of the new system, acceptance and review of attestation works in accordance with the new requirements, and ensuring the granting of PhD and Doctor of Science degrees to applicants, as well as post-secondary education on starting studies in basic doctoral studies, doctoral studies or as an independent researcher implementation of all necessary measures related to the organization of the activity of the two-tier system;
improvement of the current procedure of recognition and nostrification (registration of equivalence) of documents about academic degrees awarded in foreign countries.
6. It should be determined that admission to basic doctoral studies and doctoral studies will be carried out within the framework of budget funds allocated annually for these purposes to the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, ministries, agencies and institutions that provide post-secondary education.
7. Let it be noted that from July 1, 2017:
stipend equal to the basic amount of the salary of the intern-researcher position is paid to persons studying in basic doctoral studies;
doctoral students are paid a stipend equal to the basic salary of a senior researcher with a PhD degree (without a scientific title).
8. In accordance with this Decree, the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall provide for the allocation of necessary funds for the financing of the system of training of highly qualified scientific and scientific-pedagogical personnel in the parameters of the state budget of the Republic of Uzbekistan starting from 2018.
9. Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. PF-4456 of July 24, 2012 "On further improvement of the system of training and certification of highly qualified scientific and scientific-pedagogical personnel" and No. PF-4458 of July 27, 2012 "Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. PF-4456 of July 24, 2012 "Highly qualified scientific and scientific-pedagogical personnel" The Decree "On Amendments to the Decree on Further Improvement of the Training and Attestation System" shall be deemed to have lost its validity.
10. The Science and Technology Development Coordinating Committee 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 and other interested ministries and agencies make proposals to the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan about changes and additions to the current legislation resulting from this Decree let him enter
11. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan, A.N., supervises the implementation of this Decree. Let Aripov be responsible.
President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sh. MIRZIYOEV
Tashkent city,
February 16, 2017
No. PF-4958
(Collection of legal documents of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 2017, No. 8, Article 106)
