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NATIONAL SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION WITHIN CONTEXT OF WORLD, EUROPEAN TENDENCIES AND CIS TRADITIONS

GENERAL SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS, THE STATE AND CHANGES

Characteristic of the Higher Education System According to the Types of Institutions by Which It Is Formed
Existence of the Kyrgyz Republic as independent state, its national interests demand strong and effective system of higher education. The following strategic purposes in development of higher education are proclaimed: a priority of universal values, development of spirituality and national culture, an orientation of education to secure sustainable development, achievement of a world educational level to enter the world educational space. Alongside with this it is necessary to secure availability of higher education.

Development of human resources through higher education is the most important component of the program of economic development. Improvement of abilities and knowledge of a labour force through higher education increases efficiency of work, which in turn accelerates the economic growth necessary for all people of Kyrgyzstan.

It is education that will define an image of the future of the country.

The total number of HEIs (Higher Educational Institutions, Universities) at the period from 1994 to 2004 has increased in the Kyrgyz Republic from 22 up to 49, or more than twice. In 1994 educational activity was carried out by 21 state HEIs, and only one university was non state, in 2004 there were already 33 state and -16 non state HEIs. In comparison with 1990 the number of the HEIs financed by the budget of republic, has increased almost in 4 times. The first non-state higher educational institution (the American University in Kyrgyzstan) has been created in 1993 by the Decree of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic under the agreement with the Open Society of Soros Foundation (Budapest). In 2004 number of non-state HEIs became 17 (Table 1).
Table 1
The number of higher educational institutions (at the beginning of academic year)
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
№ of HEIs 22 32 39 43 41 39 45 48 46 47 49
Including the state HEIs 21 25 27 31 28 26 30 32 31 31 32
In % 95,5 78,1 69,2 72,1 68,3 66,7 66,7 66,7 67,4 66 67,3
Nonstate HEIs 1 7 12 12 13 13 15 16 15 16 17
In % 4,5 21,9 30,8 27,9 31,7 33,3 33,3 33,3 32,6 34 32
With branches and other structural divisions 22 22 44 54 55 58 77 79 95 125 132

Thus, at the beginning of 2005-2006 the system of the higher professional education of the country is represented by 49 higher educational institutions, with 32 state and 17 non-state ones. Besides in the republic there are opened 6 branches of foreign HEIs (Russia, Kazakhstan).

At the beginning of 2006 the new management of the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth Policies (MESYP) launched a broad revision of all HEI especially teaching economics, law and medicine.

Based on the results of this revision on July 4th, 2006 the Board of the MESYP adopted the decision to close 7 HEIs (primarily branches of foreign HEIs), recall licences from 21 HEIs for 89 specialities and courses, where the conditions for proper education were not met. Besides several HEIs were forbidden to attract students on contractual basis. It was also ordered to exclude parallelism of some specialities in 6 HEIs. It was stipulated that the students of involved HEIs and specialities would be transferred to similar positions at other HEIs.

This move of the MESYP caused resistance and criticism from certain representatives of academic world. Several HEIs turned to the court to cancel the decision.

Number of students at the end of 2005 in HEIs and branches has been 231095 people, among them:
- In 32 state HEIs - 213619 students (including correspondence form of education - 99314);
- In 17 not state HEIs - 17476 students (including correspondence form of education - 7461);
- In 6 branches of foreign HEIs - 4100 students (including correspondence form of education - 2088) (Table 2)

On average, the quantity of contract students in the republic only in the state HEIs makes about 77 %.
Table 2
The number of students of higher educational institutions
(On the beginning of academic year)
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
In total, thousand person 55.2 64.6 77.9 97.7 129.6 159.2 188.8 207.4 199.1 203 218.3
Including in the state HEIs 53.1 57.2 66.7 86.6 120,9 146 174,5 191.9 184,9 187.9 202,1
% 96,2 88.5 85.6 88.6 93,3 91.7 92,4 92.5 92,8 92.6 92.8
In the nonstate HEIs 2,1 7.4 11.2 11.1 8.7 13,2 14.3 15,5 14.3 15.1 15,9
% 3.8 11.5 14.4 11.4 6.7 8.3 7.6 7.5 7.2 7.4 7.2
On 10000 population 122 127 173 221 288 331.6 385 410 397 406 402








* According to the National Statistical Committee of Kyrgyz Republic
The total number of students in 1994-2004 has increased almost in 4 times, including the state HEIs - in 3,8 times and non-states- in 7,6 times. The total number of students of higher educational institutions in 2004 has made more than 218 thousand people, mainly studying in the state HEIs (92,8 %).

Increase in quantity of students of various forms of education, impetuous creation of branches, institutes and universities have not led to qualitative results however.

Activities of higher educational institutions, inspite of organizational and legal form of ownership and departmental affiliation, is regulated by the general legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic in the field of education.
Levels (stages) of higher education (Bachelor, Spesialist, Master, Doctor, etc.)
National classification of operating levels (steps) of higher education (specify the name)
1-2 years + 3 years + 4 years + 5 years + 6-7 years + The doctor degrees
Bachelor- 4 years; Bachelor + Master – 4+2; Speсialist - 5 years
With acceptance of the Law of the Kygyz Republic «On Education » in 1992 multilevel system of professional education was introduced into the system of the higher professional education in line with preparation of specialists under the traditional program. At the present time the structure of the higher professional education consists of following levels:
- Basic higher professional education with delivery of the diploma and assignment of the academic degree "Bachelor";
- Full higher professional education with delivery of the diploma and assignment of the academic degree "Master";
- Full higher professional education with delivery of the diploma and assignment of a qualifying degree (qualification) «Certificated Specialist».

Normative term of education under programs of preparation of bachelors makes 4 years. After reception of the bachelor's degree the graduate can continue education on the master program for no longer than 2 years. The full program of master preparation makes 6 years of education. Preparation of the specialists is carried out under programs of higher education with normative term for education not less than 5 years (6 years on some specialities of medicine and architecture). Flexibility of multilevel structure of higher education allows to receive a master degree after reception of qualification of the certificated specialist on accelerated master program in time not less than 1,5 years. Having received the baccalaureate diploma, it is possible to continue education under the program of preparation of the certificated specialist in within 1,5 years in corresponding direction (Table 3).

Table 3

The basic parameters of structurally substantial reform of higher vocational education of the Kyrgyz Republic


1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 2000 2004
Quantity of specialities of full higher education 95* 119* 136* 150 164 187 196
Quantity of directions of preparation of bachelors 0 10* 41* 61* 64 65 51
Quantity of directions of preparation of masters 0 0 2* 13* 16 16 19


At the beginning of 90th years the number of HEIs, accomplishing a professional education on multilevel system, increased significantly. However, recently in HEIs there started a tendency of refusal of realization of the baccalaureate programs and transition to traditional preparation of specialists. It is caused by the fact that a degree of the bachelor till now is not fully accepted on labour market, and priority is given to specialists with full higher education, as it is considered that the bachelor is an incomplete higher education. In 2004 the program of bachelor traning were executed in 51 HEIs, and master programs in 19 HEIs.

Postinstitutional professional education sets as a goal realization of programs of preparation of scientific and scientific-pedagogical staff with scientific degrees of the candidate and the doctor of sciences. Such preparation is carried out through correspondence postgraduate study, postgraduate study, adjuncture and the doctoral studies, organized at the educational organizations of higher professional education and scientific institutes. For education in postgraduate study HEIs are given annually about 600 places (250 of them for resident studies).

Number of post-graduate students and their release for 1994-2003 are presented in Table 4. The number of post-graduate students increased from 815 up to 2222 persons, or in 2,7 times for 10 years. The greatest growth of quantity of post-graduate students is observed in HEIs: in 3,2 times (from 591 up to 1874 persons. Release of post-graduate students also has increased: for 10 years in 5,7 times. It is seen clearly, that in Kyrgyzstan, like in other countries of the world, the center of scientific research moves to HEIs.

Table 4

Number and release of post-graduate students by kinds of training (people).


Parameters 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Total № of post-graduate students at the end of the year 815 1182 1390 1476 1510 1475 1688 1825 2004 2222
In % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Including in scientific establishments 224 297 276 298 304 321 334 360 372 348
In % 27.5 25,1 19.9 20.2 20,1 21.8 19,8 19.7 18,6 15.7
In HEI 591 885 1114 1187 1206 1154 1354 1465 1632 1874
In % 72.5 74,9 80.1 80,4 79.9 78.2 80.2 80,3 81.4 81,3
The general release of post-graduate students for a year 132 145 216 304 368 400 396 416 390 431
In% 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Including in scientific establishments 72 54 64 62 80 83 74 92 89 91
In% 54,5 37.2 29,6 20.4 21,7 20.8 18,7 22.1 22,8 21.1
By HEIs 60 90 152 242 288 317 322 324 301 340
In % 45,5 62.8 70,4 79.6 78,3 79.2 81,3 77.9 77.2 78.9
From the general release have defended the dissertation 10 10 10 11 8 6 9 17 17 21
In % 7.6 6,9 4.6 2,6 3 1.5 2,3 4.1 4,4 4.9


Number of doctorate students during ten years has increased in 1,6 times and in 2003 has been 66 persons (Table 5).

Table 5

The basic parameters of doctoral studies activity (people)


Parameters 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Number of Doctors 40 63 74 67 67 63 65 50 62 66
Reception to doctoral studies 15 30 27 24 24 4 17 22 21 25
Release from doctoral studies 10 8 19 18 17 13 18 24 18 24
Including with presentation of the dissertation 4 1 5 4 3 2 4 8 9 11


Cited data about total number of post-graduate students and doctorate students and their release testify that in preparation of scientific specialists the republic has positive tendencies. However technical condition of the equipment used for research and tests, and also other negative factors do not allow post-graduate students to receive necessary preparation during period of education, therefore the quantity of post-graduate students who have defended their thesises in time, remains low.

The branch structure of doctors and candidates of sciences is shown in Table 6.



Table 6

Number of doctors and candidates of sciences on branches of economy (At the end of 2003)


Branches of economy Number of people The sum in %
The doctors of the sciences The condidates of the sciences The doctors of the sciences The condidates of the sciences
1 2 3 4 5
In total it is 812 3354 100 100
Including a forestry 19 52 2.3 1.5
The industry 1 28 0.1 0.8
The financial activity 1 20 0.1 0.5
Researches and development, the services, rendered to the enterprises 139 389 17,2 11.6
State service 37 177 4,5 5.3
Education 536 2425 66 72.4
The higher, from it 521 2341 64.7 69.8
Public health services and Social services 78 235 9,7 7
Other branches 1 28 0,1 0.8
 
 
 
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