Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 16 March, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Ibrohim Abdurakhmonov had conversation with the Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation on cultural issues Mikhail Shvydka. The meeting was also attended by the Russian Ambassador to Uzbekistan O. Malginov.

At the beginning of the meeting, I. Abdurakhmonov acquainted the guests with the activities of the newly created ministry and the essence of the administrative reforms recently carried out in Uzbekistan in the field of higher education, science and innovation.

Mikhail Shvydkoy, additionally, positively assessed the changes in the system of public administration in Uzbekistan, justifying this by the fact that most developed countries are striving to achieve greater integration between higher education, science and high-tech production. M. Shvydkoy expressed his gratitude to the leadership of the Republic for the constant support of the activities of branches of Russian universities in Uzbekistan. He noted that the head campuses of these branches, in turn, are trying to direct more efforts to ensure the proper quality of education in their branches in Uzbekistan.

Ambassador O. Malginov said that the Russian side is considering holding the next Uzbek-Russian Educational Forum, tentatively in the second half of this year in St. Petersburg. M. Shvydkoy, in addition, suggested developing this Forum as a regular platform for discussing bilateral cooperation in the field of education and supplementing its content with a “humanitarian component”.

The Special Representative of the President of Russia also touched upon issues of cooperation in the field of scientific and innovative activities.

It is proposed to continue the practice of sending vice-rectors of universities in Uzbekistan responsible for science and innovation to Innopolis University (Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan) in order to improve their skills.

The Uzbek side noted the high scientific and technological potential of institutions such as the Skolkovo Innovation Center, Skoltech University and the Higher School of Economics in St. Petersburg. It is proposed to establish an exchange of methods for the formation of educational and scientific processes in universities and scientific institutions.