Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 26 October, the III Russian-Uzbek educational forum "Integration of education, production and science - a driver of academic efficiency" opened in the city of Samarkand.

The organizers of the event are the Russian Union of Rectors, the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia, the Ministry of Education of Russia, the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Preschool Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Public Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

More than 300 heads of scientific and educational organizations, scientific and technological business, representatives of ministries and departments of the two countries take part in the Forum.

The educational summit, held on the basis of Samarkand State University, one of the leading universities in Uzbekistan, continues the tradition of meetings between the leaders of university education of the two countries. The first Russian-Uzbek educational forum was held on 18 October 2018 in Tashkent, the Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov, who received the event on 16-17 Novem ber 2021. In addition, as part of the dialogue between representatives of the rectors of Russia and Uzbekistan, Interregional online conferences of rectors of universities in Russia and Uzbekistan were also organized.

Rector of Moscow State University Academician V.A. Sadovnichiy: “Ties between the universities of Russia and Uzbekistan are a convincing example of how science and education can become engines of cooperation between two large economies, two countries that set themselves large-scale tasks in the field of technological development. This year we are celebrating the fifth anniversary of the first forum of rectors of Russia and Uzbekistan, which gave a powerful impetus to building various formats for interaction between people, organizations and entire communities. Our dialogue is constantly expanding, the line of common initiatives and projects is being replenished. These include joint educational programs, academic exchanges, and bilateral research platforms. The main task of today is to maintain the positive dynamics of mutual interest of the scientific and educational systems of Russia and Uzbekistan, to bring the partnership trajectory to the implementation of large projects in the interests of both states.”

The main report of the President of the Russian Union of Rectors (RUR), Rector of Moscow University Academician Viktor Sadovnichy touched upon important topics of bilateral educational and scientific cooperation. “Cooperation between our countries is strengthening and expanding every year. This is evidenced by the frequent meetings of the leaders of our states. Both within the framework of official visits to Uzbekistan and Russia, as well as bilateral meetings at venues in other countries. The transition to a new and very important stage in the development of scientific and educational cooperation between our countries was the holding of Russian-Uzbek educational forums,” the rector emphasized.

In his report, the President of the RUR analyzed the history and current state of the Russian higher education system, drew attention to the fundamental changes that are taking place in connection with its withdrawal from the Bologna process. Viktor Antonovich told his Uzbek colleagues about the resources of the university community, suggested using the colossal scientific and educational potential for the comprehensive development of various forms and directions of the Russian-Uzbek dialogue in the humanitarian sphere.

V.A. Sadovnichiy proposed a number of strategic scientific and educational projects that could help further integration of the scientific and educational spaces of the two countries. This, for example, is the International Science Festival NAUKA 0+, which is one of the largest popular science formats in the world. A few days later, on 29 and 30 October, Tashkent will host the First International Science Festival in the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Another example of successful interaction between education, science and enterprises is a major project of the Russian Union of Rectors to create Vernadsky scientific and educational consortiums. The main goal of the project is to increase the role of universities in the scientific, technological and socio-economic development of the country’s regions.

As Viktor Sadovnichy noted, this model can be extended to interaction with the regions of Uzbekistan.

Each consortium brings together a leading university, such as Moscow State University, several regional universities and research institutes, and socially oriented federal and regional businesses. Such consortiums are formed according to priority areas of development of the regional economy and taking into account the established scientific schools of regional institutions of higher education.

No less important are the work of branches of leading Russian universities in Uzbekistan, the opportunities for implementing joint innovative projects, which are opened up this year by the launch of the first buildings of the science and technology valley under construction at Moscow State University - the Vorobyovy Gory Innovation Science and Technology Center of Moscow University.

Viktor Sadovnichy drew attention to the fact that the Russian-Uzbek educational forums are undoubtedly an important platform for interaction between the rectors and academic communities of the two countries. He invited all universities to update the work programs and schedules of joint events for the coming year, taking into account the agreements reached at the Forum, to think about resuming the tradition of meetings in the format of round tables or working meetings of representatives of the administrations of Russian and Uzbek universities, so that during the year, between forums, to discuss current tasks.

On the margins of the Forum, it is planned to present current projects of branches of Russian universities in Uzbekistan, sign memorandums of cooperation and partnership agreements between technology companies in Russia and Uzbekistan. The universities of the two countries will also take an active part in their implementation, transferring knowledge into new technologies and products in demand by the market.

The program of the Forum also plans to sign a number of agreements between the universities of Russia and Uzbekistan. In particular, a memorandum of understanding will be signed between Moscow State University and Tashkent State University of Law, a Roadmap for the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Preschool Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov for 2022-2024.

The treasury of inter-university partnership projects will also be replenished with cooperation agreements between Moscow State University, on the one hand, and the National University of Uzbekistan named after Mirzo Ulugbek, Karakalpak State University named after Berdakh, Samarkand State University, on the other.

The forum will continue on 27 October. The architecture of its program involves the following sessions: “New directions of Russian-Uzbek cooperation in the field of education: training of engineering personnel”, “Education as a factor in the sustainable development of the state and society. The experience of Russia and Uzbekistan in creating a system of continuous education”, “Training of teachers for preschool and school education”, “Prospects for cooperation in the field of university science and innovation”.