The Rector of Namangan Institute of

Engineering and Technology (NIET), Doctor of physical

and mathematical sciences, professor Odiljon Mamatkarimov

The stable development in economic and social well-being of the countries of the world, and the effective use of scientific and technical achievements are directly dependent on quality education and the development of science. In the conditions of today's globalization, higher education is considered as the main factor in the innovative development of the economy and ensuring the country's competitiveness at the world level. Among the main factors determining the development of modern higher education in the world, internationalization, globalization and integration processes occupy an important place. Differentiation and correct interpretation of the terms "internationalization of education", "globalization of education" and "international integration in education" is an important condition for effective organization of interstate cooperation in this field. In the world, especially in developing countries, higher education is covering more and more layers of the population. In recent years, the number of students in the world has increased 15 times, and today more than half a billion young people are studying in higher education institutions. There is no field that will introduce HEIs to the world as quickly as globalization in the integration and distribution of education.

In this regard, today the development of education and science has become a priority of the state policy in our country. Today, large-scale reforms carried out in Uzbekistan in every field and sector serve to stabilize the country's economy, improve social life, and further increase its reputation in the international community.

It should be noted that it is not an exaggeration to say that the new actions started in the last five years have started to bear fruit. In particular, the system of personnel training in higher education institutions has been raised to a new level, the integration of education and production in personnel training has been strengthened, international cooperation relations have spread a wide network. Development of education and promotion of science has become a priority of state policy. The whole world is witnessing the positive results of the reforms carried out in the field of strengthening the integration of production in higher education institutions and providing qualified personnel to sectors and industries, as well as internationalization. The naming of 2023 by the head of our state as "the year of attention to people and quality education" opens a wider way to increase the value and interests of people in our country, to increase their spiritual-ethical, political-legal and modern thinking.

Similarly, in our country, the reforms related to personnel training processes in the field of education, in particular, in the higher education system, have accelerated. Opportunities have been created for the establishment of educational campuses on the basis of higher education institutions and gradual transition to the "University 3.0" system. Development of cooperative relations with foreign higher education and research institutes, implementation of fundamental projects, exchange of personnel, and training of specialists on the basis of Double Diploma awarding programs have started. Coverage of higher education increased from 9% to 38%, higher education institutions reached 200 and increased almost 2.5 times. In the Namangan Institute of Engineering and Technology, a number of activities have been carried out in the fields of internationalization of higher education and academic mobility. Today, the institute works in cooperation with more than 10 countries of the world. Currently, 7 international grant projects are being implemented at the institute. Within the framework of mutual international cooperation and memoranda of understanding between institutions, in the 2022-23 academic year, 25 students who completed their bachelor's degree at NIET and were admitted to study at the master's level in various foreign universities, in particular, Spain (2), Germany (2), Latvia (1) , Russia (13 people), South Korea (2 people), Japan (1 person), the Netherlands (1 person), France (1 person), Singapore (1 person), America (1 person).  In addition, 16 scientific researchers of the institute are currently studying at the PhD level in Turkey (6 doctoral students), China (3), South Korea (2), Russia (3), and Spain (2). Today, 5 foreign professors from  the USA, Malaysia and Zambia and 5 foreign students from Russia, Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan and  Zambia are studying at the institute. The scope of partner universities in exchange programs includes countries like France, Malaysia, Russia, Poland, China , Spain, India, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Belarusian HEIs. In addition, NIET has been carrying out  in close cooperation with the embassies of Turkey, the USA, Belarus, Italy, and India. Today, the institute also collaborates with different levels of grant projects financed by embassies, projects of attracting hard and soft components to the institute, educational and cultural scholarship programs. These include a 20-seat Indian classroom funded by the Indian Embassy, ​​a phonetics language laboratory room for ITEC program participants, and an American corner library funded by the US Embassy.  In addition, Namangan Institute of Engineering and Technology has been closely cooperating with Texas University, Oklahoma State University, Virginia Tech University, Louisville University, and Murray State University. In addition, 4 American teachers are working at the institute on the basis of certain contracts. 2 qualified American professors have been invited to the institute within the framework of the "Modernization of the engineering field at NIET" project organized within the framework of the memorandum of understanding between Oklahoma University and NIET under the guidance of the international Fulbright, ETA program, and are working at the institute on the basis of a long-term cooperation agreement. Within the framework of the UniCEN program, the long-term project "Development of scientific research and international cooperation" between the University of Tennessee-Knoxville (Knoxville, Tennessee) and NIET was approved and is being implemented. The institute won a 3-year grant within the ERASMUS project of the European Union. The name of the project is "Development of innovative approaches, entrepreneurial skills and relationships for students of HEIs by creating favorable conditions for the work of graduates in Central Asia", in which professors from the institute are sent to the European Union to participate in short-term training courses annually; the project , involving hard and soft components in the institute, is planned to be done. The total amount of the project consist 999 570€.

In foreign cooperation, we have been closely cooperating with the Turkish, USA, Malaysia, Belarus, India, Hungary, South Korea, Kazakhstan, and the embassies of these countries in our country. Currently, 2+2 joint educational programs are being implemented with the Saratov State Technical University of Russia in 5 directions and with the Belarus National Technical University of Belarus in 5 directions.

It is noteworthy that the implementation of internationalization and integration, mobility programs is gradually bearing fruit in NIET. In particular, our institute has been participating in international ratings as a reporter for the last 2 years. On June 22, 2023, the results of the Times Higher Education Agency's "Asia University Rankings 2023" ("Asia University Ranking - 2023") were announced as part of the "Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings" held at the University of Hong Kong, China. Importantly, in this rating, Namangan Institute of Engineering and Technology was also noted as "Reporter".  In the "Asia University Rankings 2023" ranking, 669 higher education institutions from 31 countries of the region were recorded, and their activities were evaluated based on 13 indicators.

In addition, according to the results of the Times Higher Education "Impact rankings 2023", published on June 1, 2023, the Namangan Institute of Engineering Technology was recognized as one of the 47 Republican Higher Education Institutions this year.  Accordingly, NIET participates in 5 directions: Good health and well-being; For establishing quality education; On ensuring gender equality; Ranked 1001+ in Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure and Cooperation for Sustainable Development Goals. In the academic year of 2023, 264 students are planned to be involved in the educational process in Turkey, Russia, Malaysia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and 93 foreign professors and teachers in the online and traditional format. In 2023, the team of the institute aims to establish joint master's programs between NIET in cooperation with HEIs of South Korea, Hungary, Turkey, Russia, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, strengthen close cooperation in international ERASMUS projects, do StartUps in practical and fundamental projects, create planned knowledge transfer centers, meetings and visits at various levels to strengthen the mobility programs of students and professors.

In this regard, the concept of sustainable development of international cooperation put forward by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sh.M. Mirziyoev significantly enriches the activities of higher educational institutions, expands the scope of interests, creates personnel training and international cooperation projects between universities, and defines new tasks for the future.