Higher Attestation Commission in Uzbekistan should rectify mistakes to create competitive environment in the scientific field

The system of awarding academic degrees in our country has been radically changed in 2012 and 2017. In both cases, coordination of modifications was carried out by the Higher Attestation Commission (HAC) of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Soon, a draft resolution that allows changing activities of the HAK should be publicized.

The existing two-tiered awarding academic degrees are almost identical to those of the former Soviet Union and from the time we became independent until July 2012. In the current one, the demands are somewhat intensified and the names have been evolved. It should be admitted that the single-class system functioned in 2012-2017 is much better in many ways.

Firstly, the two-tier system operates in a relatively small part of the world, most of them are members of the former Soviet Union. This is another unnecessary obstacle to our integration into the system of developed countries. You will not be able to earn a professorship abroad with a scientific degree “Doctor of Science”. They have other requirements for that. 

Secondly, the researcher will have to conduct research that can be combined under a particular topic to obtain a doctorate degree. This limits movements in learning new trends. 

In general, collaboration with foreign scientists is based on mutual interests. Therefore, in most cases, it is necessary to change the directions of scientific research. If the researcher wants to get a degree in “Doctor of Science”, then he has to limit such a maneuver as he has to write a dissertation on one subject only.

Thirdly, providing scientist with “Doctor of Science” degrees with special privileges on accession to scientific councils, expert groups is somehow “politicizing” awarding academic degrees.
 
The followings should be implemented:

•  Removal of different restrictions and barriers on the subject of dissertation;
•  Abolishment of the technical request for a topic;
•  Abolishment of the terms for publishing the subject in the HAC bulletin when it gets modified;
•  Cancellation of technical requirements for dissertation and abstracts;
•  Suspending the possibility to add additions by the Academic Council to the requirements for obtaining academic degrees by the HAC;
•  Abolishment of the practice of announcing the permit for publishing abstract and a defense post in the HAK bulletin.

The HAC should have the following functions:

The HAK does not need to approve topic of the dissertation or co-ordinate it. When the final version of the dissertation topic is ready for defense, the responsible organization should submit it to the HAC for inclusion in the dedicated database. This database must be accessible online for everyone.

The HAC should not interfere with the process until the work is officially defended. After the official defense of the dissertation, the OAK may commence conducting an international expertise when required documents are submitted.

It is desirable to provide the HAC with a separate supervision of the scientific council, which has received a negative result from the HAC expertise. If the case is repeated, the HAC should retain the authority to close the Council.

The HAK website should be available in various key languages, fully in line with requirements for obtaining academic degrees in Uzbekistan.

Magazines, which can meet the requirements of the HAC, should be reviewed and formulated by experts in the scientific council. This list needs to be reviewed and updated whenever some addendum is introduced.

There is a need to develop a clear mechanism for expanding the authority of scientific councils in awarding academic degree, as well as preventing additional requirements from the human factor.

It is desirable to open scientific councils in research institutes, research centers and universities after having a Philosophy Doctor degree in the country. Admission to the doctorate, internal processes in it must be entrusted to each institution.

Scientific Research Institutes, Universities have to control their academic staff and motivate them. Generally, they have to work on a bilateral contract basis. Responsibility and independence are essential for our higher education institutions. This serves to create competitive environment in the scientific sphere.