Shavkat Ayupov, President of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan and a Hero of Uzbekistan, has issued a stark warning about systemic corruption, plagiarism, and the proliferation of 'predatory' journals in the country's academic degree system. In an interview with Jadid.uz, Ayupov stated that while state incentives for obtaining degrees have increased, they have been widely abused, leading to a tenfold surge in degree awards without corresponding quality improvements.
Ayupov highlighted that government benefits—such as a 30% salary supplement for Candidate of Sciences and 60% for Doctor of Sciences—were intended to support researchers but have instead fueled mass exploitation. He recalled that during his tenure as Chairman of the Higher Attestation Commission from 1997 to 2003, there were about 100 doctoral and 500-600 candidate dissertations defended annually; now, these numbers have skyrocketed, with many works being superficial or plagiarized, including translations from Russian presented as original research.
"A person becomes a senior official, and within two years, they have a PhD. Another two or three years, and they're a Doctor of Sciences. When does such a leader engage in science? They are overwhelmed with their own duties. I myself, in this position, see no time even to read books," Ayupov remarked, criticizing the trend of high-ranking officials rapidly acquiring degrees without genuine scientific contribution. He questioned the value such figures bring to academia, emphasizing that this practice severely damages the prestige of Uzbek science.
The Academy President also pointed to international reports ranking Uzbekistan highly for publications in 'pirate' or predatory journals, calling it a "huge stain" on the nation's scientific reputation. He noted that most substandard research originates from the higher education system, indicating a deep-rooted institutional issue. Ayupov revealed that despite his past calls to annul diplomas based on plagiarism, no such actions were taken, underscoring the lack of enforcement.
Ayupov confirmed that President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is aware of the problem and that systemic reform is urgently needed. His comments shed light on the challenges facing Uzbekistan's academic sector, where quantitative growth in degrees masks qualitative decline and ethical breaches, threatening long-term scientific credibility.
Source: kun.uz