Interview with Sardor Umarov, lecturer at the Faculty of international educational programs of Samarkand State University, who conducted research at the University of Bamberg, Germany

    -What was the main reason why you chose the path of science?

    -As early as my school days, I was interested in history and law. I especially liked to watch old coins and manuscripts written in the old Uzbek script.  I graduated from the academic Lyceum No. 2 under SamDU. During my studies at the Faculty of history of Samarkand State University, a meeting with my teacher Mustafa Rahmatullayev led me to the path of science.  With my teacher, I conducted scientific research at the undergraduate and graduate level. Even in my current career, the beminnat advice of this person has been helping me.

    -You did research at Bamberg University in Germany. In general, how was it that you went there?

    -Since 2019, I have been working as a deputy dean at the Faculty of international educational programs of Samarkand State University. I had the opportunity to work and exchange ideas with foreign professors, guests and representatives of the delegation who came to our university to teach. As a result of mutual communication, I also had a dream to conduct research abroad, and I achieved it thanks to my efforts.

    - On what topic is your scientific research?

    - My research work on the topic” history of cooperation between Uzbekistan and Germany". The purpose of the study is to highlight the history of cooperation of the Republic of Uzbekistan with Germany in 1991-2021. Through this research, I study issues related to the process of creating the legal foundations of relations between the two states, the state and prospects of cooperation of the Republic of Uzbekistan with Germany in the fields of trade, economic, educational, scientific Science in 1991-2021, the relations of the peoples of Uzbekistan and Germany in the field of culture.

    -What new research is being done in your field at the University of Bamberg? Which of them do you think should be introduced in Uzbekistan?

    - Bamberg university, located in the Bavarian land of Germany, specializes in the humanities and is considered to have a long past. The University of Bamberg has a strong development in the field of history in the practice of working with projects, programs and laboratory equipment on digital history. There is even a Department of digital history on the basis of the Faculty of Humanities.

    I think that the digital approach to text analysis in the future at Samsu is a period requirement to form the ability to conduct research with programs such as Voyant Tools, WordHoard. It's time to set up courses so that our historians have the skills to work with open source web publishing platforms to create digital history collections and exhibitions. It would also be worthwhile if the Department of digital history was also opened.

    - What are the educational processes of this university, the areas of research differ from Samsu? What are the differences?

    -The joint implementation of education and practice is aimed at obtaining the necessary knowledge, qualifications and skills by the educators, the theoretical part of which is carried out on the basis of the educational organization, and the practical part is carried out at the place of work of the educational institution. The co-operation of education and practice in simple language, called dual education has existed in Germany since 1969, when the law “on vocational education” was passed. In Dual education, the goal is to master another profession along with studying in one specialty. For example: a student studying in engineering is also awarded a diploma in a technical specialty at the expense of his work at the enterprise. The graduate will have a diploma in two specialties at the same time.

    The implementation of dual education, which is also present in the German education system, allows undergraduate students to put their cognitive skills into practice, to train professionals who are lacking for the development of society.

    Educational processes and research directions in the field of history at Bamberg University differ not only from SamDU, but also from all higher educational institutions of Uzbekistan. We are taught chronologically periodization of history, and research work also mainly comes from chronological periods. And at the University of Bamberg is different. In them, history is taught not on the basis of a chronological approach, but at the intersection of directions and regions. From this, research is carried out either on regions, directions, or on a separate issue.

    In order to provide comprehensive support to visiting scientists from abroad in the field of scientific research and to coordinate their research at the University of Bamberg, today there is a Welcome center at the University's Department of international relations. This center provides the necessary support for those who wish to study and conduct research here. When a similar center was opened at Samarkand State University, World Scientists and researchers had an increased interest in coming to Samsu and conducting research.

    -If you also tell about the university library.

    - Bamberg University has a total of 6 libraries. Each library is adapted to a specific area of the humanities. Specialized in the field of history and archaeology, the library has three floors, where it is possible to find literature published in many languages of the world, dating back to all periods of archeology and history. Literature published in Uzbek language is also available in this library fund.

    Libraries serve students from 8 am to 8 pm. The search and ordering of literature in libraries is carried out electronically. This allows readers to save time and quickly find the book they need. The main thing is that with the library card issued by the university, you can also access other public libraries in the city. One of the university libraries operates in 7/24 format. In each library, special places are organized for readers to relax.

    One of the good results of our visit to the University of Bamberg was the delivery from the rich library of the University of Bamberg to the SamDU Library of literature on the history, culture and science of Uzbekistan (in electronic form).

    -What are your plans for the future?

    - Continuing scientific activity, within the framework of the research topic, to protect the PhD dissertation and in the future to conduct activities in foreign higher educational institutions “post dock”. My dream is to serve to increase the prestige and attractiveness of Samarkand State University in the world...

    -What advice and recommendations would you give to young people who want to continue their research abroad?

    - First of all, it is necessary to have a strong knowledge of their specialty, and at the same time to master foreign languages perfectly. The reason is that scientists from the world's leading countries can freely communicate in English along with their native language.

Samarkand State University

Information Service officer

Irоda Bekmurodova talked