In Uzbekistan, starting from 2027, a number of bureaucratic procedures in the system of awarding scientific degrees will be abolished. This was established by Presidential Decree No. 98, “On improving the system of training and certification of scientific personnel of the new generation”.
According to the document, the following requirements and procedures will be removed from practice starting January 1, 2027:
— passing a qualification exam in a foreign language, except for independent researchers;
— registration of dissertation topics and announcement of defenses by the Higher Attestation Commission;
— discussion of the dissertation at a leading organization;
— publication of a monograph based on the results of a DSc dissertation in social and humanitarian sciences;
— publication of the dissertation abstract;
— obtaining a conclusion on the implementation of scientific results into practice;
— scientific examination of the dissertation by the Expert Council of the Higher Attestation Commission;
— approval of the decision of the scientific council on a defended dissertation by the HAC;
— nostrification of scientific degree documents of foreign specialists involved in educational and scientific activities.
Also, scientific degree documents obtained abroad will be directly recognized during their activities in Uzbekistan.
According to the decree, researchers who have announced a dissertation defense before January 1, 2027 will be awarded scientific degrees according to the old procedure.
In addition, from 2027, a rating system for evaluating the effectiveness of scientific degree awarding councils will be introduced.
