Payzibayeva Muazzam Yakubovna
Associate Professor, Department of Philology, Namangan State Pedagogical Institute
HIGHER EDUCATION — THE FOUNDATION OF PROGRESS AND SCIENCE
The ideas expressed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at his meeting with teachers and mentors on the eve of Teachers' and Mentors' Day, aimed at developing the higher education system, improving the quality of education, strengthening the integration of science and production, and preparing young people for modern knowledge and professions, made a great impression on me as a representative of the education field. Speaking about reforms in higher education on September 30, 2026, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized the need to improve the quality of education, the content of textbooks, and the training of specialists at universities in line with today's requirements. He also noted that tasks have been set to align educational programs at higher education institutions with the needs of the labor market and to direct scientific research toward practical issues.
In particular, the President's view of the "Higher education, science and innovation" system as a single chain of development demands even greater responsibility from us as educators and scholars. At the presentation in April 2026, directions such as linking science with the economy, deepening the integration of education and research, and utilizing the opportunities of digital education and artificial intelligence were specifically highlighted.
As an educator, I consider these tasks to be directly connected to today's most important criteria for higher education — quality education, modern knowledge, scientific research, practical results, and the training of competitive personnel.
We, as teachers, must now understand that imparting knowledge alone is no longer sufficient; it is important to guide students toward independent thinking, research, effective use of modern technologies, conducting scientific research, and applying the knowledge they have gained in practice.
Of course, such renewals in higher education serve to raise a knowledgeable, modern-thinking generation with scientific potential for the Third Renaissance. In this process, it is important for every faculty member to work on themselves, strive for innovation, and approach the quality of education with responsibility.
The quality of education is a criterion of progress, and science is the foundation of the future!