History

State Educational Institution “Tajik International University of Foreign Languages named after Sotim Ulugzoda” was established in accordance with the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR dated May 29, 1979, No. 490, as the Tajik State Pedagogical Institute of Russian Language and Literature.
In 1988, by Resolution No. 36 of the Council of Ministers of the Tajik USSR dated February 8, 1988, the Institute was named after A.S. Pushkin.
By Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Tajikistan dated August 6, 1992, No. 297, the institution was reorganized into the Tajik State Institute of Languages. Subsequently, in accordance with the Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan dated April 29, 2009, the Institute was renamed the State Educational Institution “Tajik State Institute of Languages named after Sotim Ulugzoda.”
Further, by Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan dated December 29, 2022, No. 613, the Institute was reorganized into the State Educational Institution “Tajik International University of Foreign Languages named after Sotim Ulugzoda.”
The first admission of students took place in 1980. The first Rector of the Institute was Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor R. Kh. Dodikhudoev (1980–1984). Thereafter the Institution was headed by: Doctor of Philosophy, Professor V. I. Pripisnov (1984–1990), Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor G. N. Taranosova (1990–1991), Professor M. N. Abdullaeva (1991–2003), Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor M. Jabbori (2003–2010), Academician N. Yu. Salimov (2010), Doctor of Philosophy Kh. M. Ziyoev (2011–2015), Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences Kosimzoda I. T. (2015), and Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor M. Rajabzoda (2016–2020).
Since November 24, 2020, the University has been head by Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor Zhilo Buri Gulnazarzoda.
The Institute’s activities were focused on implementing the educational policy of the former USSR, primarily aimed at training teachers of Russian language and literature. This objective was successfully achieved, as the Institute prepared highly qualified specialists in this field. At that time, due to its single-profile specialization, the Institute did not have a faculty-based structure.
Following the independence of the Republic of Tajikistan, the University undertook new strategic objectives in accordance with national legislation and state programs in the fields of language policy, education, science, innovation, and digital development. In particular, activities are aligned with the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan “On the State Language of the Republic of Tajikistan” (No. 553, October 5, 2009), as well as a range of state programs and strategies. The University develops and implements specific action plans and submits reports to the relevant authorities.
Currently, the University comprises 8 faculties: Faculty of Philology and Journalism, Faculty of Russian Language and Literature,Faculty of Pedagogical Direction of East Languages, Faculty of Pedagogical Direction of English Language, Faculty of English Language Translation, Faculty of East Languages Translation, Faculty of European Languages, Faculty of International Relations, in addition, the University includes a Distance Learning Department and 27 departments (chairs):
- Department of Tajik Language and Speech Culture
- Department of Theory and Practice of Linguistics
- Department of Theory and History of Literature
- Department of Methods of Teaching Tajik Language and Literature
- Department of Russian Language
- Department of General Linguistics
- Department of Theory and History of Russian Literature
- Department of Methods of Teaching Russian Language and Literature
- Department of Pedagogy
- Department of Psychology
- Department of English Philology
- Department of Comparative Linguistics and Translation Studies
- Department of Methods of Teaching Foreign Languages
- Department of English for Integrated Specialities
- Department of Near Eastern Philology
- Department of Far Eastern Philology
- Department of East Languages
- Department of Romance and Germanic Languages
- Department of History and Intercultural Relations
- Department of Philosophy and Political Science
- Department of International Relations and Law
- Department of Physical Education and Civil Defense
- Department of Informatics
- Department of Natural and Mathematical Sciences
- Department of Journalism and Digital Technologies
- Department of Foreign Languages, university-wide
- Department of Methods of Teaching English
The University maintains active cooperation with higher education and research institutions of the Republic of Tajikistan, as well as with international organizations. To date, partnerships have been established with more than 65 foreign institutions, contributing to the development of international collaboration, academic mobility, and the overall quality of education.