Dushanbe, July 7, 2026 – The Tajikistan International University of Foreign Languages named after Sotim Ulughzoda held an expanded meeting to review its achievements and overall performance during the first six months of 2026. The meeting was attended by Amriddin Umarzoda, Chief Specialist of the Human Resources Department of the Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, the University Rector, Professor Zhilo Gulnazarzoda, Doctor of Philological Sciences, as well as members of the academic staff and administrative personnel.
Presenting the University’s six-month performance report, Rector Professor Zhilo Gulnazarzoda highlighted the far-sighted educational policy pursued by the Founder of Peace and National Unity, Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon. The Rector emphasized that, in his annual Address to the Supreme Assembly of the Republic of Tajikistan, the Head of State consistently outlines comprehensive strategies and long-term priorities for the sustainable development of all sectors of the country, based on thorough analysis, objective assessment, and clearly defined national goals.
According to official statistics, the University employed 595 staff members during the reporting period, representing an increase of 27 employees compared to the beginning of the year.
It was further reported that 129 permanent academic staff members hold scientific degrees, including 15 Doctors of Science and 114 Candidates of Science. Compared with the previous annual reporting period, the number of Candidates of Science increased by six, while the number of Associate Professors rose by four. As a result, the University’s academic qualification rate has reached 48 percent.
In addition, 116 graduates of teacher-training programmes were officially assigned to educational institutions across the country by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Tajikistan. Among them, 37 graduates completed their studies under the Presidential Quota Programme, while 79 graduates studied on state-funded scholarships.
The preparation and publication of educational, scientific, and methodological materials remain among the University’s strategic priorities. During the reporting period, the University’s Scientific and Methodological Council reviewed and recommended for publication 29 teaching and methodological manuals, four textbooks, and eleven monographs. Compared with the corresponding period of the previous year, this represents an increase of two textbooks and two monographs.
Another significant milestone during the reporting period was the establishment of the State Institution “Institute for Advanced Training of Foreign Language Teachers”, founded with the support of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan under the auspices of the University.
As part of the celebrations marking the 35th Anniversary of the State Independence of the Republic of Tajikistan, and within the framework of the University’s Science Week, the Centre for National Culture and Enlightenment, entitled “Welcoming Independence: A Treasury of National Culture, Knowledge and Artistic Heritage,” was officially inaugurated. The opening ceremony was attended by Professor Quvvatzoda Saydullo Zuvayd, Doctor of Political Sciences and Head of the Education and Science Division of the Directorate for Education, Culture and Information of the Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan.
During the reporting period, the University organized a total of 14 scientific-theoretical and scientific-practical conferences, including five international, one national, and eight university-level conferences. These events provided an important platform for academic exchange, research collaboration, and the dissemination of scientific achievements.
The University also recorded notable progress in the development of its academic staff. During the first half of 2026, ten faculty members successfully defended their dissertations before various dissertation councils. Of these, eight earned the degree of Candidate of Science, while two were awarded the degree of Doctor of Science, further strengthening the University’s scientific capacity.
The University’s students continued to distinguish themselves in prestigious academic competitions. On 14 May 2026, Aminjon Sharopov, a third-year student of the Faculty of Oriental Language Teacher Education, won first place in the 25th International Chinese Bridge Competition, hosted by the Tajik-Russian Slavonic University.
The University’s achievements were further recognized through the national “Scientist of the Year” competition. Fayyoz Meliboevich Tursunov, representing the field of Philology, advanced to the republican stage of the competition and was awarded the honorary “Scientist of the Year” Diploma.
Students also demonstrated outstanding performance at the Republican Academic Olympiad, where 14 University students won distinguished prizes in various academic disciplines.
The University’s Scientific Library continued to play an essential role in supporting education and research. During the first six months of 2026, it provided services to 1,495 registered users, including 433 faculty members and 1,062 students from all faculties. To promote reading culture and commemorate important national and international occasions, the library organized 28 book exhibitions.
In accordance with the Action Plan approved by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan for organizing the International Scientific and Theoretical Conference dedicated to the 1,050th anniversary of the renowned poet Rabia Balkhi, entitled “Rabia Balkhi – the First Female Poet with a Divan in Tajik-Persian Literature,” the University implemented a number of significant scholarly and cultural initiatives.
Among the most important achievements was the publication of the book “The Invisible Shore: The Surviving Literary Heritage of Rabia Balkhi with Translations into Ten Foreign Languages,” prepared in accordance with the twentieth item of the Government’s Action Plan, which envisaged the translation and publication of the poet’s surviving works in foreign languages.
In addition, University scholars and researchers prepared and published a collection of academic papers entitled “Tears of Sorrow in the Tulip of Love,” devoted to exploring various aspects of Rabia Balkhi’s life, literary heritage, and poetic artistry. The publication represents a valuable contribution to the preservation, study, and international promotion of the rich literary legacy of one of the most prominent female figures in Persian-Tajik classical literature.
The University continued to place special emphasis on educational and character-building activities throughout the reporting period. The Department of Student Affairs and its subordinate units organized three meetings of the “Followers of the Leader of the Nation” Club, aimed at promoting patriotism, civic responsibility, national values, and leadership among students.
In line with the implementation of the State Youth Policy and as part of the Youth Month celebrations, as well as the forthcoming 35th Anniversary of the State Independence of the Republic of Tajikistan, the University hosted a broad range of political, educational, cultural, and sporting events. These activities were organized in cooperation with representatives of the Committee for Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Education and Science, the People’s Democratic Party of Tajikistan, and the University’s faculty members and students.
As part of these celebrations, five cultural and educational events were held in Dushanbe’s major public parks, including the National Flag Park, Rudaki Park, Iram Park, and Javonon Park. In addition, a large-scale faculty-level event was successfully organized to commemorate the national celebrations and strengthen students’ civic engagement.
The University’s volunteers made a significant contribution to numerous international and national events during the first half of the year. In total, they provided organizational and volunteer support at a variety of high-profile activities, including:
the Republican Academic Olympiad (140 volunteers);
the “Sayri Sada” Cultural Programme (10 volunteers);
the Spelling Bee Olympiad (50 volunteers);
the International Festival “Nowruz – A Heritage of Culture and Tourism” and “Nowruz Dushanbe 2026” (30 volunteers);
the International Gushtingiri Wrestling Tournament (50 volunteers);
the Dushanbe Grand Slam 2026 International Judo Tournament (30 volunteers);
the Fourth International Conference “Water for Sustainable Development” (40 volunteers);
the Asian Kurash Championship and International Kurash Congress (20 volunteers).
The University also achieved remarkable success in promoting students’ creative potential and cultural development. Its talented team, “Zabondon”, demonstrated exceptional artistic performance in the Republican Competition “Mahfili Zarifon.” The team outperformed competitors from the Tajik State Institute of Fine Arts and Design, the Avicenna Tajik State Medical University, and the Tajik Institute of Social and Medical Studies, thereby earning qualification for the next stage of the national competition.
These accomplishments reflect the University’s ongoing commitment to nurturing socially responsible, intellectually capable, and culturally active young people while creating favorable conditions for the comprehensive development of students both inside and outside the classroom.
As part of its strategy to strengthen regional and international cooperation, the University welcomed official delegations from several higher education institutions of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Within the framework of the Third Forum of Rectors of Higher Education Institutions of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan, held in Dushanbe on 12–13 March 2026, representatives of the Alisher Navoi Tashkent State University of Uzbek Language and Literature, the Uzbekistan State University of World Languages, and the Denau Institute of Entrepreneurship and Pedagogy paid official visits to the University to discuss new avenues of academic partnership and institutional collaboration.
The University also hosted distinguished scholars from the University of Westminster. Professor Andrew Linn and Dr Anastasia Bezborodova conducted a series of professional development seminars for faculty members and students, attracting more than 150 participants. The seminars focused on contemporary approaches to English language teaching, the integration of digital technologies into education, and innovative pedagogical practices designed to enhance the quality of teaching and learning.
Considerable attention was also devoted to improving the University’s campus environment. As part of ongoing landscaping and beautification initiatives, 700 shade and fruit-bearing trees were planted on the land allocated to the University. In addition, 35 evergreen trees and 6,500 seasonal flowers were planted across the University campus, contributing to a greener, more attractive, and environmentally sustainable learning environment.
The achievements of the University’s professors, academic staff, employees, and students during the first half of 2026 have made a substantial contribution to the preparation of highly qualified linguists, teachers, and translators capable of competing successfully in the global labour market. These accomplishments have further strengthened the implementation of the University’s mission while enhancing its academic reputation and institutional ranking both nationally and internationally.
At the same time, it was emphasized that the successful implementation of the University’s strategic objectives and the continued improvement of its national and international standing require sustained dedication, professional responsibility, and collective effort from every member of the academic community. The University administration reaffirmed its commitment to continuously improving the quality and content of education, advancing scientific research, expanding international cooperation, and reinforcing the University’s position among leading higher education institutions in Tajikistan and abroad.
During the discussion session, Mahbuba Halimova, Dean of the Faculty of European Languages; Tutiniso Homidova, Head of the Department of Theory and History of Russian Literature; Shahlo Rajabalizoda, Head of the Department of Analysis and Information; Fazliddin Khalifaev, Academic Adviser of the Faculty of International Relations; and Karomatullo Abdulloev, lecturer of the Department of Philosophy and Political Science, addressed the meeting and highly appreciated the University’s achievements during the first half of the year, describing the overall performance as satisfactory.
In his closing remarks, Amriddin Umarzoda, Chief Specialist of the Human Resources Department of the Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, commended the University’s comprehensive and productive activities. He described its overall performance as satisfactory and offered a number of constructive recommendations aimed at further improving the quality of education, expanding international cooperation, and strengthening the University’s academic and institutional development.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to maintaining the positive momentum achieved during the first half of 2026 and to pursuing new initiatives that will further enhance the University’s contribution to the development of higher education, scientific research, and international academic cooperation in the Republic of Tajikistan.
