Higher education system in the Kyrgyz Republic at the present stage

Abstract

Relevance. The relevance of this study is conditioned by the fact that in the conditions of global changes it is necessary to train a new generation of citizens able to adequately respond to the challenges of society.Purpose. The purpose of this study was to investigate the reforms carried out in higher education in the Kyrgyz Republic to determine compliance with international standards.Methodology. The research methodology is based on a combination of general scientific (analysis, synthesis, generalisation) and special scientific (historical-logical, retrospective, system-structural analysis, statistical) methods.Results. The findings of this study describe that Kyrgyz Republic has gradually implemented the European initiative on harmonisation of the education system for interaction between European universities, as well as reforming the higher education system. It was noted that in the Kyrgyz Republic, for the implementation of tasks to meet international standards of education, a transition was carried out to a credit-module system following the Bologna Convention; developed social partnerships and active involvement of employers in the educational process; an effective policy was carried out on human resources management. Kyrgyz Republic�s education system has undergone two stages during the last 15 years, namely the liberal stage and the stage of comparative stability. In the Kyrgyz Republic there is now an inherent desire to rationalise the management of education, the focus on consolidation and use of European practices has become a determining factor. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of exchange programmes involving students and teachers from Kyrgyz Republic, for instance: the presidential programme �El Umutu�, private programmes from international organisations (Erasmus Mundus, Tempus).Conclusions. The practical significance of this study is that the main provisions, ideas, and conclusions can serve scientists, teachers, and researchers for further scientific searches on reforming higher education in Kyrgyz Republic.