PROSPECTS OF COOPERATION BETWEEN UZBEKISTAN AND KAZAKHSTAN IN THE FIELD OF HIGHER EDUCATION DISCUSSED

On February 11, 2022, a meeting was held at the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan between the First Deputy Minister Prof. K. Karimov and the Vice Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan Prof. K.Yergaliev. The meeting was organized as part of the visit of the delegation of the Republic of Kazakhstan headed by H.E. Prime Minister A. Smailov to the Republic of Uzbekistan.

At the meeting, the parties discussed issues of further development of bilateral cooperation in the field of higher education.

During the conversation, Prof. Yergaliyev highly appreciated the reforms in the field of higher education carried out in Uzbekistan in recent years, the intensive increase in the number of universities and noted the rapid pace of ongoing positive changes.

In the context of expanding ties between higher education systems of both countries, the Uzbek side proposed organizing the Forum of Rectors of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan in the second half of the current 2022. The idea was supported by the Kazakh side.

The participants of the meeting expressed their readiness for further cooperation in the organization of educational exhibitions “Days of Kazakhstan Education”, annually held in Uzbekistan by the universities of Kazakhstan.

The parties also noted with satisfaction the preparation of a draft bilateral agreement on cooperation in the field of higher and postgraduate education and expressed the hope that the signing of this agreement will serve as a good basis for raising ties to a higher level.

The Uzbek side noted the importance of such direct meetings of representatives of the ministries of both countries to discuss topical issues of cooperation and exchange of best practices in organizing the educational process in educational institutions.