Department of International Relations

In order to implement the internationalization strategy of the Institute of Technology and Innovation Management in the city of Kulyab and prepare highly qualified specialists in the technical and technological fields, in the first half of the 2023-2024 academic year, the institute significantly expanded its scientific and cultural cooperation with international universities abroad.

The Institute of Technology and Innovation Management in Kulyab (ITIMK) has been cooperating with more than 45 universities in the Russian Federation, 15 universities in the European Union, 12 universities in the Republic of Uzbekistan, 8 universities in China, the USA, and other foreign institutions since 2009. Based on these agreements, Tajik students are currently studying at the following universities:

Regarding the preparation of specialists for distant foreign countries (students, trainees, postgraduates, and doctoral candidates), the Institute continues to expand its cooperation annually. The cooperation with international foundations focuses on improving the qualifications of teachers, developing and publishing textbooks, teaching materials, obtaining educational literature, and providing modern equipment.

Since the beginning of the 2023-2024 academic year, the Institute has signed cooperation agreements with several foreign scientific centers and higher educational institutions covering six main areas:

1. Training highly qualified specialists for the Republic of Tajikistan;
2. Preparing scientific and pedagogical personnel;
3. Joint scientific-research activities: Developing 10 joint scientific-innovative and thesis projects;
4. Establishing joint specialties;
5. Developing and publishing 10 textbooks together with scholars from partner universities;
6. Organizing joint international scientific-practical conferences, roundtables, symposiums, and both in-person and online classes.

The Institute also operates the Tajik-Russian joint scientific school "Future Technologies in Science-Based Industries, Economy, and the Agro-Industrial Complex," led by Professor A. G. Suslov from the Russian Federation and Professor K. Ibrohimov from Tajikistan.

This scientific school carries out research in the following fields:

1. Science-based technologies in machine engineering;
2. Science-based technologies in the food industry;
3. Science-based technologies in light industry;
4. Science-based technologies in the economy;
5. Science-based technologies in information technology and computing;
6. Science-based technologies in agriculture.

In order to prepare specialists in the field of medicine, the Institute of Technology and Innovation Management in the city of Kulyab has provided all necessary conditions. Additionally, in order to enhance the knowledge level of students and specialists, professors and researchers with academic titles and degrees from higher educational institutions in the Russian Federation have been involved, and they are conducting lessons online for the students.

At the initiative of the administration of the Tajik-Russian joint faculty and the scientific school of future technologies, as well as the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Activities from Kemerovo State Medical University of the Russian Federation, Candidate of Medical Sciences, Yulia Sergeevna Fedorova was invited to the educational process and provided online lessons in the specialties 1-31050103 Chemistry (Pharmaceutical Activity) and 1-31010105 Medical Biochemistry, as part of the pharmacology subject.

As part of fruitful cooperation between the Institute of Technology and Innovation Management in Kulyab and Kuban State Agrarian University of the Russian Federation, an online course for teachers was organized.

Within the framework of the course "Digital Economy," the topic "Artificial Intelligence in the Economy" was taught from November 20, 2023, to November 30, 2023, by Candidate of Economic Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Finance at Kuban State Agrarian University. 14 teachers enrolled in this course and passed the online exam. The teachers were awarded certificates during the official session.

At the Faculty of Digital Economy and Artificial Intelligence, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Y. S. Shevchenko conducted lessons on corporate finance for specialties such as financial management, finance and credit, accounting, and tourism and hospitality. On November 23, 2023, Candidate of Economic Sciences, Lyubov Konstantinovna Ulybina, taught students of the third year of the specialty 1-250104 Finance and Credit on the topic "Assessment of the Financial Condition of an Organization." Doctor of Economic Sciences, Dmitry Konstantinovich Ivanitsky, delivered an online lesson on "Digital Economy as a System of Agricultural Management."

It should be noted that the leadership of the Institute of Technology and Innovation Management in Kulyab has taken all necessary measures to prepare highly skilled specialists by involving teachers and students, establishing cooperation with foreign universities at a high level.

The rector of the Institute, Mr. Almosho Shokhiyon Nabot, met with a representative of Kuban State Agrarian University, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor Artem Vasilyevich Stepovoy on November 4, 2023. They discussed the policies of the Governments of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Russian Federation and expressed satisfaction with the cooperation.

Subsequently, issues related to the education of students at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels, organizing online lessons, teacher training courses, preparing specialists in agriculture, developing sector-specific books, organizing joint conferences, and other matters were discussed and positively accepted by both sides.

After the meeting with the rector of the Institute, the representative of Kuban State Agrarian University, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor Artem Vasilyevich Stepovoy held a meeting with students. The conditions for education and opportunities provided by the university were shown in a video presentation, and a Q&A session with the representative was conducted.

As part of the implementation of the instructions and orders of the Founder of Peace and National Unity, Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, and the Government of the country regarding strengthening trade, economic, cultural, and humanitarian ties, and the development of industrial sectors, an official delegation from the Executive Body of State Authority of Kulyab city, including businessmen, led by the Mayor of Kulyab, Mr. Bakhtiyor Khudoiyor Nazarzoda, visited the city of Konya, Turkey, from October 25 to 27, 2023.

During the official visit, the Mayor of Kulyab, Mr. Bakhtiyor Khudoiyor Nazarzoda, and the rector of the Institute of Technology and Innovation Management in Kulyab, Dr. Almosho Shokhiyon Nabot, signed cooperation agreements with Turkish universities and visited industrial enterprises in Konya, Turkey. They also visited the mausoleum of Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi.

During this official visit, the Mayor of Kulyab, Mr. Bakhtiyor Khudoiyor Nazarzoda, and the rector of the Institute of Technology and Innovation Management in Kulyab, Dr. Almosho Shokhiyon Nabot, visited Karatay University in Konya, Turkey, where they held fruitful meetings with the university’s leadership.

During the meeting, they signed a cooperation agreement to establish a Tajik-Turkish joint faculty to train specialists for the labor market in a friendly atmosphere.

Moreover, during the official visit, they met with the head of the Ihson mining agency, where the parties discussed the establishment of a robotics center and a joint industrial enterprise. Both parties accepted the proposal with satisfaction.

With the aim of participating in the International Scientific-Practical Conference on the topic "Modern Approaches to the Joint Adoption of Technologies and Opportunities in the Space Industry to Ensure Technological, Innovative Development, and Industrialization of Production in Achieving the State's Strategic Goals," held on December 22-23, 2023, the following scientists participated:

1. Olga Mikhailovna Manko — Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Leading Scientific Specialist, Head of the Scientific Group "Physiology and Psychophysiology of Vision," State Scientific Center of the Russian Federation - Institute of Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences;
2. Evgeny Ivanovich Bitus — Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, International Expert on Cooperation with the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the European Union, Russian Biotechnology University, Russian Federation, Honorary Professor of the Institute of Technology and Innovation Management;

They visited the Institute and made speeches at the opening session of this conference. Additionally, they taught courses in the conference sections with the participation of teachers and students. It is also worth noting that 7 rectors from universities in the Russian Federation and the Republic of Uzbekistan delivered congratulatory speeches at the conference. Moreover, 8 participants from universities abroad also gave congratulatory speeches at the conference.

Cooperation of the Institute with Universities of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Following the official visit of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, to the Republic of Tajikistan on June 10-11, 2021, and the provisions of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan on cooperation in higher education and science, we report that at present, cooperation agreements have been signed with 11 higher education institutions and 1 academy of the Republic of Uzbekistan:

1. Tashkent University of Information Technologies named after Muhammad al-Khwarizmi;
2. Tashkent Chemical-Technological Institute;
3. Urgench State University;
4. Namangan Engineering-Technological Institute;
5. Branch of Termez State University in Dehinav;
6. Samarkand Institute of Economics and Service;
7. Mamun Khorezm Academy of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan (Memorandum);
8. Fergana State University;
9. Tashkent State University of Energy;
10. Samarkand State University named after Sharaf Rashidov;
11. Bukhara State University;
12. Tashkent State Economic University;

We have signed mutually beneficial cooperation agreements with these institutions. As part of these agreements, joint scientific and innovative research, guidance for doctoral students, participation in scientific-cultural events, round tables, conferences, and the publication of joint scientific books have been effectively organized.

Information on Productive Cooperation between the Institute of Technology and Innovation Management in Kulyab and Universities of the People's Republic of China within the Framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)

In order to promote and strengthen cooperation between Tajikistan and the People's Republic of China within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Institute of Technology and Innovation Management in Kulyab has signed agreements with Donghua University (Shanghai) and Fujian Normal University (Fuzhou). These agreements are based on economic, cultural, and educational ties, as well as the agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Tajikistan on cooperation in the field of education, which aims to support and develop mutual and equal relationships.

Additionally, within the framework of these agreements, student and teacher exchanges, sharing information on scientific and technological research, retraining, upgrading qualifications, and preparing teaching staff have been envisaged. Joint research programs on educational issues, as well as organizing conferences, symposiums, round tables, and exhibitions, are also included in these agreements.

Cooperation with the Anyang Vocational and Technical College of Henan Province

It should be noted that cooperation with the Anyang Vocational and Technical College of Henan Province is underway regarding the establishment of a Chinese and English language study center. This center is planned to be established at the Institute from the beginning of the 2023-2024 academic year.
At the official invitation of the Institute's administration, representatives from the aforementioned university visited on September 25, 2023, for an official trip. During this visit, they met with the administration of the Institute and expressed their readiness for joint cooperation.
It is worth mentioning that on December 29, 2023, a videoconference was held with representatives from two universities in Henan, where representatives of both universities and the Institute's administration made speeches. Both sides expressed their willingness to collaborate in preparing specialists in various fields, including the food industry, medicine, and artificial intelligence. The parties agreed to invite the Institute’s administration in March 2024 to sign cooperation agreements. They also planned to visit the Institute in April 2024.

EU Programs Erasmus+ and Tempus

The administration of the Institute of Technology and Innovation Management in Kulyab has achieved significant results in attracting foreign investors and obtaining grants, one of which is the European project Erasmus+ Tempus. It should be noted that since its inception, the Institute has expanded its international cooperation and signed mutually beneficial agreements with the European Union. Currently, the implementation of the project is ongoing:

This project is supported by the European Union. During the first half of the 2023-2024 academic year, necessary documents were submitted to the official Erasmus+ website. The project officially starts in 2024. The goal of the project is to establish a canning center in the Institute’s Innovation-Technological Park, equipped with all necessary testing equipment. It also includes the development and delivery of training courses both within and outside the country. The project creates a new form of collaboration between higher education, the business sector (food industry), and the labor market, which will contribute to the development of innovation needed for a knowledge-based economy. By implementing this innovative approach – Open Food Innovation University – universities and the business sector will jointly create knowledge, making qualifications and skills accessible for full-time and other forms of education, increasing quality, accessibility, and relevance to the needs of targeted sectors.

Suggestions and Proposals

1. Establish a joint scientific council in collaboration with professors from universities of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Russian Federation;
2. Attract applicants from foreign countries to the Institute;
3. Implement joint scientific and innovative projects;
4. Obtain Erasmus+ scholarships and grants from the European Union for student education and staff professional development;
5. Improve staff qualifications in natural sciences, humanities, and mathematics;
6. Attract professors from foreign universities for in-person and online lectures;
7. Establish a Chinese and English language study center in collaboration with universities of the People's Republic of China;
8. Organize international accreditations for programs to enhance the Institute's ranking;
9. Continue cooperation with universities of the Republic of Uzbekistan, including Tashkent State Technical University named after Islam Karimov, for dissertation defense support;
10. Seek funding sources in cooperation with JICA, GIZ, UNDP, and foreign embassies and organizations operating in the Republic of Tajikistan.

Staff List:

	Abdullozoda Khabibullo Abdullo  Position: Head of the Department of International Relations  Specialization: Philologist, English language translator  Academic Degree: Senior Lecturer  Academic Title: None  Foreign Languages: Russian, English  Phone: (+992) 918-55-45-48, (+992) 900-55-45-48  E-mail: habibullon@gmail.com
	Maqsudzoda Oyatullo Maqsud  Position: Deputy Head of the Department of International Relations  Specialization: Engineer-Technologist  Academic Degree: None  Academic Title: None  Foreign Languages: Russian, English  E-mail: maqsudovayat03@mail.ru

Address: Kulob city, Borbad neighborhood, Institute of Technology and Innovation Management in Kulob, building of the Joint Tajik-Russian Faculty of Advanced Science-Based Technologies, 2nd floor, room №202.