Uzbekistan’s Third Renaissance Roots Basis in Humanity, Science, and Education

The article “Uzbekistan’s Third Renaissance Roots Basis in Humanity, Science, and Education” has been written by Meagan J. Meehan, a published author of novels, short stories, and poems.

Below is the text of the article.

Currently our plurinational people are selflessly working for the prosperity of our Homeland, building the foundation of a new Renaissance in Uzbekistan. On this path, our main support is young people, who are entering adulthood with great hopes and plans. – From the speech of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the ceremony dedicated to Youth Day

History is a testimony to the fact that the evolutionary process has always been provided by ideas. Humanity cannot do without advanced ideas. Delving into the meaning of the expression “third Renaissance”, which is included in the golden pages of the history of new Uzbekistan, one can feel the kind impulse of the idea that was born, its huge power.

The Renaissance is a rebirth. The scientific renaissance, while years equal to centuries, can mentally be crossed in a short time. In reality, much more is required. But not many managed to make such a leap, but only those who felt their destiny, who feel sincere love for their people, whose heart is full of humanism.

A Good Deed Depends on Good Intention

The wise men taught not to wait for good days, but to go to them. The idea of ​​a new Renaissance is based on the same principle. Progress is based on science. It was no accident that one of the first meetings of Shavkat Mirziyoyev as President was with scientists.
Then it was said: “Engaging in science, discovering and inventing something new is an extremely painstaking work. Therefore, the work of our scientists, selflessly working in this complex area, deserves every support.” These words were taken to heart, aroused warm feelings, filled with faith in the further development of science. After all, after gaining independence, scientists were pushed into the background. They associated this with the difficulties of the transition period, when there is no time for discoveries and research.

In a country where science is not respected, there could be no talk of development or progress. A simple example: in the period of two renaissances, science was highly valued on the territory of our region. At the time of the first Eastern Renaissance in the 9th-12th centuries, hundreds of great scientists and famous thinkers appeared who possessed encyclopedic knowledge. In addition, the authorities of that time created the necessary conditions for its development.

Science was also appreciated in the era of the second Eastern Renaissance in the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries, which was called the “Renaissance of the Timurids”. Amir Temur idolized enlightened people, saying: “Victory is not in strength, but in the mind.” In “Temur’s Code” there are arguments about the mental activity of a person. The Emir has always encouraged and appointed highly intellectual experts to high positions.

Studying the laws and decrees concerning the development of science and education signed by the head of our state in recent years, one can realize that a solid foundation of a new Renaissance of education is being laid in Uzbekistan. Moreover, the gradual increase in attention and stimulation of scientists is a sign that the foundation will be the most solid.
Around an Attractive Idea

The meaning of the third Renaissance’s idea that represents the foundation of tomorrow and the future of the nation in science and education, is to achieve the prosperity of the country.

The policy of Shavkat Mirziyoyev made it possible to realize the dream of the people. This can be seen in a simple example — the country is gradually increasing the coverage of young people with higher education. So, over the past three years, the number of educational institutions has increased from 65 to 117, admission quotas — from 66 thousand to 181 thousand. Conditions are being created so that more than one hundred thousand young men and women have the opportunity to enter universities every year.

The ongoing reforms have one more feature, which stems from the desire to get out of isolation, to join world science, to enrich with the most advanced knowledge. This is served by the President’s decree on the study of foreign languages. Their knowledge is not only comprehension of the world. This opportunity to absorb all the best has been accumulated on the planet.

The idea of the third Renaissance is capable of uniting around itself the state, society, and the entire people. It gains wings, becomes national.

Development Formula
Each person has his own philosophy of life and his own path, and the state has its own development strategy. The potential of the leaders of the nation is of great importance in defining it. Take Singapore, for example. This state, which, figuratively speaking arose out of nothing, is known in all corners of the world. Great transformations are associated with the name of Lee Kuan Yew. He managed to realize the idea of ensuring a close connection between the state and citizens introduced a new expression “Singapore miracle” into the dictionary of the world economy. The city stands as one of the most advanced economies on earth, a preternaturally clean and green oasis famed for strong institutions and wide-open markets in a region.

Alternatively, let us say, Deng Xiaoping’s reforms, which made a kind of revolution in the Chinese economy, bringing this country to a number of leading states. The transformations, which began with small workshops — stimulating small businesses, have risen to the level of large companies and corporations that have conquered the world market. Chinese products — from food to household appliances — can be seen all over the world.

The world community recognizes that in the reforms carried out in Uzbekistan in recent years, one can see a new wave in world politics. The force driving this wave is the new path of development outlined by Shavkat Mirziyoyev. This is a peculiar way of development, which is characterized by the transition from a closed economy to a transparent and efficient one, and priority is given to the interests of people. In fact, a new development formula has been derived, based on five pillars – integration, innovation, human capital, trust, and economic growth.

In many areas of life, we ​​are witnessing updates that have united these principles at one point. The derivative of the development formula proposed by Shavkat Mirziyoyev is the activity of clusters. Thanks to them, scientists, students and schoolchildren were returned from the cotton fields to their jobs, they were directly engaged in the profession and research, study.

Turn to the Modern World
In the media, social networks, or in the circle of people, we often encounter indignations: “Internet is disturbing the peace”, “young people have plunged into the WWW and do not read books.” On the one hand, this is so. However, on the other hand, one cannot ignore the time and development of technologies; they are the main components of civilization. In our society, one thing is missing — the ability to correctly direct.

Nowadays, the ways of acquiring knowledge have changed. Now it makes no sense to sit for hours in classrooms and, yawning, listen to boring lectures. Knowledge can be augmented with technology. I know from my teaching practice that curricula are becoming outdated. Although independence is almost thirty years old, the content of our textbooks has not changed. During this period, there have been tremendous changes even in the field of exact sciences. Moreover, the programs are still at the same backward level. Therefore, at every meeting of the President on science and education, in the process of dialogue with people, I notice that the sphere needs reform, in particular, on the issue of textbooks.

Modern education should be the main topic of today. It is necessary to change, update teaching methods. Our traditional methodology is based on theoretical knowledge. The time has come to combine it with a creative search. For we will and must write the pages of the third Renaissance not with pens and ink, but with the help of computers, IT and DT technologies. At the same time, not forgetting about the unique manuscripts kept in Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies named after Al-Biruni of the AS of RUz. This issue is also in the center of attention of the head of state:

“The unique scientific and spiritual heritage of our great ancestors should become a permanent program of action for us. We must hold on to this immortal property, draw strength and inspiration from it. And in accordance with these ideals, it is necessary to develop, first of all, the national education system”.
Words inscribed in golden letters in the history of new Uzbekistan do not go unnoticed by foreign scientists. Recently, this topic was discussed with a specialist living in New York (USA), doctor of biological sciences, professor, academician Efroim Gurman, who said:

“President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was the first among the leaders of the world’s states to put forward a great goal, a noble task: Our people should live well not in the future, but today and he found its solution. The idea of ​​the third Renaissance is especially attractive. The fact is that in the current time based on science, when the world can be controlled only from its heights, such ideas can give a powerful charge. In the age of globalization, the concept of “space” is narrowing. However, most importantly, feelings never atrophy, views on the Motherland and its future are not narrowed”.

The President sees the country’s future in education, science and enlightenment. The idea of ​​the third Renaissance was raised to the level of a national idea, connected with the dream of being equal in the modern world with the most progressive countries, thereby more “vividly showing the feeling of love for the Motherland and the people.”

UzA