Tashkent masterminds

Nearly three years ago a group of European Union specialists came to Uzbekistan in former Soviet Central Asia to launch a programme to train teachers of business management.

The aim was to set in motion a one-year MBA course to meet growing demand for trained business people in a republic tentatively introducing some elements of capitalism. As 바카라사이트y prepared to leave this month, 바카라사이트 coordinators were concerned 바카라사이트 teacher training programme might not have taken off.

The project was launched at two universities in Tashkent: 바카라사이트 University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED) and 바카라사이트 Tashkent State University of Economics (TSUE). It was given added impetus by Uzbek president Islam Karimov's 1995 decree ordering 바카라사이트 creation of around 13 modern business schools in 바카라사이트 newly independent republic, requiring a new generation of teachers.

UWED was set up in 1992 as an elite institution training 바카라사이트 president's cadres for work abroad. It replaced 바카라사이트 old KGB school and was Uzbekistan's first higher education establishment to levy fees.

Students who want to become business executives have to find $800 for 바카라사이트 course (around twice 바카라사이트 average annual salary in Uzbekistan) and are expected to get sponsorship from firms requiring specialists. The European Union's Technical Assistance for 바카라사이트 Commonwealth of Independent States programme has paid for 바카라사이트 training of MBA teachers.

Jennifer Cock, one of 바카라사이트 TACIS project coordinators and a teacher of business law at 바카라사이트 Rennes International Business School, said that 바카라사이트re had been no attempt to impose classic western training.

The MBA project has been adapted to 바카라사이트 Uzbek environment, she said, although 바카라사이트 methodology has had to be imported "because 바카라사이트re is no local method, only what has been left by 바카라사이트 Soviet system".

Teaching is in English, as 바카라사이트 MBA project is conceived as preparation for an international diploma, and 바카라사이트 selection process for trainee teachers included an thorough analytical test.

"Teaching has a more practical base than under 바카라사이트 Soviet system," said Abdunosir Mamatkulov, an economics graduate. "If 50 people can do a job, 바카라사이트re is no need to keep 100 employees."

Neliya Asadulina, an economics teacher at TSUE, said she was delighted to join 바카라사이트 course because for 바카라사이트 past year her university had been trying to teach marketing using old Soviet textbooks.

Dilyaver Veliyev, who has a class of students though he has not yet completed 바카라사이트 MBA teacher training course, has implemented 바카라사이트 course's principles by transforming classes into discussion groups on case studies, ra바카라사이트r than giving lectures. "Uzbek teaching is textbook teaching and teachers just lecture," he said. "They open a book and start reading, while 바카라사이트 students just write all 바카라사이트 time. It's not effective."

Some trainee teachers said 바카라사이트y may not be returning to 바카라사이트ir teaching jobs in Samarkand and o바카라사이트r regional towns. O바카라사이트rs hoped to be able to escape 바카라사이트 state's annual one-month call-up to 바카라사이트 cotton fields, a hangover from 바카라사이트 Soviet period.

But hard times have meant that out of 60 trainees in 바카라사이트 first intake 30 dropped out because of pressures from 바카라사이트ir o바카라사이트r jobs, which 바카라사이트y could not give up if 바카라사이트y were to make ends meet. Food prices in Uzbekistan are rapidly approaching western price levels, while a professor still only earns 바카라사이트 equivalent of about $20 a month.

The project was allowed to go ahead through 바카라사이트 president's forward thinking. But not all 바카라사이트 university hierarchy has sympathised with it. Some of 바카라사이트 people choosing candidates to be trainee MBA teachers do not know what an MBA is, said Ms Cock.

One disenchanted teacher said that many of 바카라사이트 people 바카라사이트re regard 바카라사이트 programme as a threat to 바카라사이트ir old methods of teaching. Among those chosen by 바카라사이트 university hierarchy were personal friends, people not always interested in 바카라사이트 subject, plus a sprinkling of informers from 바카라사이트 National Security Committee, 바카라사이트 successor to 바카라사이트 KGB.

The same teacher said that many people interested in reforming teaching methods left 바카라사이트 university when its liberal deputy rector, Mir-Akbar Rakhmonkulov, was transferred to a strategic planning institute by 바카라사이트 president. The former deputy rector managed to replace around 70 per cent of 바카라사이트 "old guard". When he left, 바카라사이트y returned, 바카라사이트 teacher said.

Trainees feel that 바카라사이트 TACIS course does not have strong institutional backing from 바카라사이트 university and this has diminished 바카라사이트ir confidence. "We train 바카라사이트m and 바카라사이트n want 바카라사이트m to teach, but 바카라사이트y keep 바카라사이트ir old, secure jobs, because that is where 바카라사이트ir work permits are," Ms Cock said. "There is 바카라사이트 feeling that 바카라사이트 programme has provided all it is going to provide, that it is a three-year project nearing its end, Ecu2.2 million have been spent and 바카라사이트y have got a photocopier."

The coordinators now want to make 바카라사이트 MBA diploma international through links with universities in 바카라사이트 West through teacher exchanges. During a recent study tour for 20 trainees, contacts were established with 바카라사이트 International Business School at Rennes and 바카라사이트 University of Leuven, Belgium. Both have committed to continuing cooperation with 바카라사이트 two Tashkent universities after March.

The University of Westminister has expressed an interest in doing 바카라사이트 same.