04.03.2022

On March 4, the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a videoconferencing on the priority tasks of ensuring students’ employment of higher education institutions.

The future of the country, the success of all reforms and projects depend on educated, modern-minded people and professionals in their field. Thus, a special attention is paid to the development of education and human capital in our country.

It was noted that 510,000 students are studying full-time at domestic universities. The interviews and polls were held among them under the instructions of the President. Approximately 100,000 students expressed their desire to work and earn an extra income. 7,5 thousand orphans and students with disabilities are among them, as well as 4,5 thousand students included in various «register books».

«The university is a big family. The head of this family is the rector. The parents have entrusted you with their greatest wealth, their child. Therefore, the rectors must personally meet with each student. They will study the real situation, the family condition, academic performance, problems and proposals of students, as well as will report on a monthly basis on this and bear personal responsibility», Shavkat Mirziyoyev said.

It was noted that 105,000 vacancies can be filled by students. In particular, 22,000 of them are in education and services, 17,000 in industry, 9,000 in healthcare, 6,000 in agriculture and construction, 3,000 in the financial sector and 2,500 in communications and IT.

«The responsible officials should help students who want to work and ensure their employment», the President said.

It was noted that a Republican Commission led by the Prime Minister

shall be created for the systematic organization of this work. The similar commissions will be created in the regions under the leadership of khokims (governors and mayors).

The commission, together with khokims and rectors, will analyze vacancies and take measures to employ at least 30-40% of the first, second and third-year students in each region. In addition, the measures will be taken to prepare jobs for graduate students and send them to 3-4-month paid internships.

The President noted that by allocating vacant premises and facilities to students free of charge in universities, it is possible to create jobs based on the opening of paid courses, clubs and the provision of other services and organization of production.

The rectors were given instructions to create opportunities for 5,000 students, providing paid services to the population and entrepreneurs, depending on the direction of the university.

The responsible officials were instructed to organize employment centers at each higher education institution within a month, provide students with rooms and premises free of charge for organizing at least 10 types of paid courses, personal and other services. Due to this, 5,000 students will be employed and begin to receive additional income.

The state will create conditions to support this work. In particular, students who organize paid courses, sports sections and other services on the territory of higher education institutions will be exempt from income tax. 100 billion Uzbek soums of credit resources will be allocated for student projects of this kind.

The rectors have been instructed to start creating the co-working centers on the territory of their higher education institutions within a month, so that the students can work and earn money in their free time.

More than 3 thousand students can be employed in managerial, technical, service and teaching positions in higher education institutions.

Thus, 70 students work as clerks, laboratory assistants, librarians and storekeepers in Tashkent Medical Academy. However, many positions at universities now require a higher education. Therefore, as an exception, the rectors will be allowed to appoint students to positions in their system based on their knowledge and potential.

In addition, the students will be allowed to work in all government agencies and institutions.

For example, there are 13,000 vacancies in the city schools and kindergartens located near universities. The responsible officials were instructed to take measures for the employment of at least 10 thousand students at schools and kindergartens.

Based on the experience of the Central Bank, a system of organizing paid internships for students with further employment of the best interns will be introduced in the system of ministries of economy, finance, construction, energy, agriculture and water management, tax and cadastral authorities. Owing to this new system, 3,000 students will be provided with jobs annually.

It was noted that at least 3,000 students should be involved in research projects funded by state grants in 2022. To this end, the task was set to form at least 40% of the composition of research groups at higher education institutions from among the students.

The President has stressed that khokims of regions and cities, together with rectors, should establish systematic cooperation between the universities and a private sector and employ 30,000 students. It was noted that the regional khokims, together with employers, shall organize job and internship fairs, business meetings for students.

Within two months, khokims of the regions shall establish a system of interaction between the higher education institutions and large companies, clusters and other enterprises, which will provide jobs for 10,000 students by the end of the year.

It was noted that a system was created to provide students with dormitories in 2021. However, the work in this direction is not carried out systematically in all regions. The heads of regions and university rectors who do not achieve positive changes within a month are warned that they will be removed from office.

The introduction of a procedure has been determined according to which 50% of the costs of building dormitories will be covered by the budget if a higher education institution expresses its readiness to cover the remaining 50% at its own expense.

«Another relevant issue. Over 370 of our young people study at the Ukrainian higher education institutions, about 200 of them have returned to their Homeland. We are taking all measures to return the rest within the next week», the President said.

It was instructed to create an appropriate commission and all conditions for students returning from the Ukraine to continue their studies at higher education institutions in the country within a week.

The responsible officials informed about the forthcoming activities on the implementation of the tasks discussed at the meeting.