It is big time for universities to elect their rectors, Termez State University rector Abdukodir Toshkulov told journalists on Wednesday at the Central Asia Education Forum in Tashkent.
Toshkulov, a former higher education minister, said he is ready to stand in such an election.
“It is big time rectors are elected. I’ve always been ready for this, and do you know why? I’ve been elected to the Legislative Chamber twice and have served as a senator twice,” he said. “I’m a leader who knows what it is there to lose and what it is to win. That’s not an issue for me.”
He said the freedom already given to higher education is sufficient.
“Academic and financial independence has been granted to 40 state-owned universities. We decide salaries entirely on our own. Even the level of bonuses isn’t capped. We can amend the budget estimate in any situation,” Toshkulov said.
He said he favors keeping state universities under oversight at the current level. “What matters is that there is no academic oversight,” he said. “Does the ministry meet with rectors once every three months, or not?”
It was said earlier that rectors are appointed by the higher education minister, in coordination with higher authorities.
