The main instruments of cooperation in the framework of Tempus III were 2 and 3 year Joint European Projects (JEPs), Structural and Accompanying Measures (SCMs) and Individual Mobility Grants (IMGs).
1. Joint European Projects implemented by a consortium comprised of the universities from EU and the partner countries. Non-academic organizations are also participated in the projects.
- Curricula development projects were focused to create a new or update existing courses, training teachers and introduce advanced methods of teaching;
- Projects in the field of university management were aimed at improving management systems and organization of higher education institutions;
- Trainings for institutional building were designed to improve administrative and institutional structures in partner countries through courses to improve practical knowledge and skills of employees of non-academic organizations.
2. Structural and Accompanying Measures provided the opportunity for short-term needs in the implementation of the reforms in higher education and dissemination of best practices. Obligatory condition to apply for short-term SAM projects was written approval of the Ministry of Education or the confirmation of direct involvement in the project consortium as a partner organization.
3. Individual Mobility Grants (IMG) have been designed for academic and administrative staff of universities and provide the possibility of the short-term visits in European universities in three areas: 1) preparing an application for JEP, 2) participation in conferences and seminars, 3) training, education, cooperation on a separate academic discipline and spread of best practice.
Preliminary agreement and approval of the objectives and work plan by the management of higher education institute was obligatory condition for Tempus IMG.
TEMPUS III in Uzbekistan
In Uzbekistan, Tempus started its activity with the implementation of 6 preparatory projects in Samarkand and Tashkent, spreading so far in all regions of the country. The total budget of the third phase of the programme (2000 – 2006) was 11.2 million Euro from 17.4 million Euro allocated for implementation of 65 projects since 1994.
Cooperation within the Tempus programme was carried out in different areas: management of universities, applied science and technologies, humanities and social sciences, economics, management, business, education and training of teachers, institutional building, agriculture and food sciences, medical sciences, integration with enterprises and regional cooperation.
Recognition of the effectiveness of the program and its contribution to the higher education reforms was reflected to increase the Tempus budget based on the constant growth of the quantity and quality of the applications.
Tempus Joint European Projects on curricula development were particularly important because of direct relation with the implementation of NPPE and the introduction of a two-tier higher education system. Currently, new master's programs in food security and application of information technology in teaching chemistry is developing with participation of three higher education institutes.
Seven projects in the field of university management have contributed to the development of international cooperation through the establishment of international relations departments and organization of the trainings. New departments responsible for the relations with industry were established and provided with necessary equipment in Tashkent and Namangan, support of business activities in Andijan and Tashkent.
A number of new structures in higher education were created thanks to this tool of the Tempus programme: Centers for quality assurance in the Tashkent Agrarian University and National University of Uzbekistan, Centre for learning practical clinical skills in the Tashkent Medical Academy and the Center for Information Technology in Tashkent Automobile and Road Construction Institute.
Tempus has contributed to the development of the relations of universities with enterprises and non-academic sectors: 22 different organizations and institutions were involved in the projects. For example, a training course on management in the energy sector, developed at the Tashkent State Technical University (TSTU), attracted the interest of local industry, whose employees were successfully trained by university teachers. TSTU team continued to work within another project which was focused to establish inter-university network in the energy sector, in collaboration with colleagues from Russia, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.
In the framework of the "Matador" - first project in Uzbekistan in the field of institutional building, training courses in management for small and medium-sized businesses were developed by the academic staff of the Tashkent State Economic University. Tashkent irrigation institute provide trainings on evaluation and monitoring of environment for employees of the State Committee of Environment and teachers of professional colleges.
A number of projects under the JEPs and SCMs provided assistance in increasing awareness of higher education institutes about the Bologna Process in EU countries, as well as in implementation of the principles of quality assurance, ECTS and independent study.
Cooperation in Central Asia and beyond
Tempus programme has contributed significantly to the development of regional cooperation: four projects in energy, water management, social economy and tourism have been implemented with participation of the universities and non-academic organizations from Ukraine, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Mongolia.
Tashkent Institute of Chemical Technology and the Bukhara Technological Institute of Food and Light Industry together with Almaty Technological University are participating in the project on food security curriculum development. Andijan Engineering Economic Institute, Chamber of Commerce, Andijan Agricultural Institute, Tashkent financial institution together with St. Petersburg Electrotechnical University and Osh State University are participating in the project aimed to establish a pilot model of business support.
Mobility
In the framework of Tempus people younger and older generations, teachers and students, administration, ministries and non-academic partners had the opportunity to visit European universities to enhance their expertise and work together to modernize the curriculum and upgrade teaching materials. In turn, the European partners had the opportunity to share best practices, knowledge and experience.
In addition to the trainings within the framework of long-term projects, 109 people from Uzbekistan comprised by the teachers, university management, and ministry staff, received grants for individual mobility, and had opportunities to train in European universities.
Thirteen European partners came to Uzbekistan for training and exchange of experience in international cooperation.
Human resource development
The opportunity to coordinate the project, within the framework of the Tempus III, has been repeatedly used by university teachers from Uzbekistan, which has strengthened their role in the implementation of projects and increased their interest in a stable outcome. It should be noted that the experience of Tempus impact on the radical transformations in project management, and allowed to conduct a needs analysis and plan the necessary actions on the basis of real and specific needs.
The participation of universities from the regions of the republic
Participation in Tempus for Higher education institutions located in different regions of the country has helped not only to begin cooperation with European partners, but also to manage connections with other universities in the country. For example, four agricultural schools from Tashkent, Andijan and Samarkand collaborated in projects of agricultural economics, ecology and water management. Three schools located in Karshi, Nukus and Urgench had jointly developed a program for master's degree in applied ecology.
Two resource centers, established in Samarkand and Karshi as joint project of Tempus in 2000, laid the foundation for lifelong learning of teachers and students to use information technology in the learning process.
Sustainable Partnership
Being a program of equal and mutually beneficial partnership, Tempus is the first step in the development of further international cooperation. As after the end of Tempus funding, the partnership between the institutions of the republic and the European universities are supported by a mutual exchange of teachers and students, joint publications, as well as through participation in conferences and joint research activities, and etc.
The Ministry of Higher and Secondary Special Education of the Republic is assisting in the dissemination of the achievements and sustainability of project results throughout the program. Direct participation in project consortia helped to enhance the role of program in the process of modernization of higher education, as well as to extend and implement best practices.
Tempus projects have made particular contributions to:
- curriculum development of bachelor and graduate studies, i.e. the introduction of a two-tier system of higher education in general;
- update and development of training materials;
- restructure university management;
- train the teachers and administrators by their gaining new knowledge and skills;
- strengthen links with industry and society as in whole;
- create a sustainable academic partnerships.
Over the entire period of its activity in Uzbekistan, Tempus has provided significant support in the development process of the internationalization of higher education thereby assisting in the implementation of educational reforms in the country.
Tempus in numbers, May 2007
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Years of participation in Tempus programme
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1994-2006
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Number of partner-universities
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40
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Number of non-academic partners organisations
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22
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Total number of projects
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67
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National JEPs
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27
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Regional JEPs
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5
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Compact and preliminary projects
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19
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Network projects (including regionals)
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2(1)
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Regional projects on dissemination of the best practices
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1
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Structural and Accompanying Measures
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13
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IMGs from EU to Uzbekistan
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13
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IMGs from Uzbekistan to EU countries
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109
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Budget of Tempus 2000-2006 (million euro)
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11.2
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