Kyrgyz Government consider new approaches in system of higher education

Bishkek, Sept. 29, 2021 . / Kabar / . Deputy Chairwoman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Zhyldyz Bakashova held on Tuesday a meeting with rectors of public and private institutions of higher education in the country. The meeting participants discussed the current state of the higher school and new approaches to its further result-oriented development, the press service of the Cabinet reported. Zhyldyz Bakashova stressed the need for reforms in the education system. "What contribution do universities intend to make in the new realities of our day, when we have really begun to feel the impact of climate change, transnational, innovative cooperation in the economy, the region? Are universities ready to provide the country's economy with ideas, innovative projects, breakthrough technologies and competitive graduates?,” Bakashova noted. The deputy head of the Cabinet outlined measures for the effective development of education in higher education institutions, including: - formation of the academic policy of the higher education institution in accordance with today's realities and challenges; - revising the mission and strategy of higher education institutions based on an analysis of the needs of the country; - focusing attention on the demand for professions and conducting labor market analysis on an ongoing basis; - launching start-up laboratories and technology parks in priority areas in close cooperation with business community; - development of safe educational environment (preventive measures to prevent radicalism, extremism and cyber attacks); - results of scientific activity in universities should have applied character with positioning in such international ratings as QS, Time high education. The indicator for measuring the quality of scientific activities of higher education institutions should be the number of articles published by teachers in indexed journals (Hirsha index, Web of sciences, Scopus). Bakashova added that in accordance with Decree of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov “On the spiritual and moral development and physical upbringing of the individual," all state and non-state educational institutions should develop a development strategy. As a result of the meeting, the Ministry of Education and Science was instructed to review the list of areas and specialties in universities, taking into account the demand for professions in the labor market, as well as to develop “National university science” project to reorient science to applied research and improve the quality and economic efficiency of research activities.