Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT) undertakes collaborative research with faculty partners from the University of Westminster (UoW). This research support program promotes institutional cooperation and focuses on developing scholarly research helping WIUT faculty members develop their areas of specialisation.
2024
AI-Driven Skin lesions Detection: A Comparative Analysis of CNNs and Feature-Based Models
Project members: Dr Hamid Reza Shahbazkia (WIUT), Mr Shokhrukh Sultanov (WIUT), Dr Barbara Villarini (UoW), Dr Ester Bonmati (UoW)
Description: The detection of skin cancer using artificial intelligence (AI) is a promising field. However, many existing studies rely heavily on transfer learning models and focus primarily on accuracy, often neglecting critical metrics such as recall, precision, and F1-score. The application of artificial intelligence (AI) in skin cancer detection has shown great promise. However, many existing studies predominantly focus on transfer learning models and prioritise accuracy, often neglecting critical metrics such as recall, precision, and F1-score. This study presents a detailed evaluation of a proposed Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and compares its performance against popular transfer learning models (VGG16, InceptionV3, ResNet50) and a feature-based Random Forest classifier on the HAM10000 dataset.
Driving Change in Higher Education: How Board Diversity and Vice-Chancellors' Personal Traits Shape Universities’ Support for UN Sustainable Development Goals
Project members: Dr Tantawy Moussa (UoW), Dr Mostafa Hussien (UoW), Dr Murtaza Masud Niazi (WIUT), Dr Temur Makhkamov (WIUT), Dr Amani Faraji (UoW), Yusufjon Pulatov (WIUT)
Description: This research project investigates how board diversity and the personal traits of university leaders influence the extent and quality of voluntary Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) disclosures in the annual reports of UK higher education institutions (HEIs). With sustainability becoming a core strategic objective in the education sector, universities play a critical role in promoting and implementing the UN SDGs. Despite this, limited research has explored how internal governance structures shape universities' engagement with the SDGs. Through a longitudinal analysis of 168 UK HEIs from 2016 to 2023, this study examines how Vice-Chancellors’ personal traits and board diversity impact SDG reporting. By developing an SDG disclosure index, the research not only addresses existing gaps in academic literature but also provides evidence-based insights that can inform higher education policy, governance practices, and strategies for promoting sustainability within universities. The project aims to support the development of inclusive leadership practices and enhance transparency and accountability in higher education, ultimately strengthening institutional efforts towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Establishing a community of practice and a research agenda for green and resilient urban development in the Tashkent Urban Region
Project members: Giulio Verdini (UoW), Ripin Kalra (UoW), Zamira Ataniyazova (WIUT), Munira Zakirova (WIUT), Gulnoza Kuldosheva (University of Luxembourg)
Description: In recent years, the Tashkent Urban Region has been the subject of economic integration along the transnational economic corridor (Shymkent-Tashkent-Khujand), which connects Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. This integration has led to increased investments in infrastructure and the development of new industrial zones. While this process has driven rapid urban growth and brought overall economic benefits to the region, it may also come at a cost, potentially generating negative externalities that affect the rich local natural environment and unique cultural resources.
Therefore, this project aims to assess the gaps in knowledge and skills related to green growth, multi-hazard resilience in urban planning, and sustainable, culturally sensitive urban development. To achieve this, the project will organize multi-sector workshops using the 'scenario planning' methodology, bringing together stakeholders from local authorities, the private sector, and academia. The ultimate goal is to establish a community of practice and a research agenda for green and resilient urban development in the rapidly urbanizing Tashkent Region.
History of English Language Teacher Education in Uzbekistan
Project members: Professor Andrew Linn (UoW), Andrey Khojeev (WIUT), Khikmatullo Urazbaev (WIUT)
Description: The history of teaching English as a foreign language in Uzbekistan dates to the early Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) period when learning the English language became part of the public-school curriculum in 1932. Throughout its history, until English became the most learned foreign language in Central Asia, English language teaching (ELT) in Uzbekistan has witnessed several significant reforms in its development.
The primary focus of the research project is trends and patterns in the various teaching methods and approaches that dominated in English language teacher education, preparing the so-called philologists and teachers of English. Data is drawn from archives and libraries as well as transcripts and interviews with those who studied English in Uzbekistan in earlier times. The project and the objectives of the research will contribute to the overall development of the history of applied linguistics with a special focus on the history of ELT in Central Asia, particularly in Uzbekistan. The project will be pioneering in Central Asia and will fill a gap in the literature on the history of linguistics which tends to focus on the Euro-American traditions. It will thus contribute to the de-colonisation of the field and inform further research prospects in the area.
The Impact of Bank Credit on SMEs Innovation Performance: The Case of Uzbekistan
Project members: Dr Naqeeb Ur Rehman (WIUT), Ahliddin Malikov (WIUT), Dr Behzod Alimov (WIUT), Professor Abdelhafid Benamourai (UoW), Dr Sovan Mitra (UoW)
Description: Our research project investigates the impact of formal finance (bank credit) on SMEs' product and process innovation. Our findings will help policymakers to understand the importance of providing easier access to finance for SMEs and in adopting policies that will enhance the capacity of SMEs to innovate and stay competitive. Additionally, this research could reveal specific forms of financing other than bank financing that can effectively promote SMEs’ innovation performance. Policymakers could use the new insights provided by this study in designing new financial programs to foster innovation among SMEs.
Inter Industry and Intra Industry Trade of Uzbekistan with Central Asian Countries: Consequences, Challenges, and Solutions
Project members: Dr Muhammad Yousaf (WIUT), Dr Zohid Askarov (WIUT), Dr Nilufar Rashitova (WIUT), Dr Stefan Van Dellen (UoW)
Description: The basis of international trade has expanded massively due to relative differences in factor endowments, natural resources, taste, technology, etc., where this trade between countries is classified as intra industry trade (IIT). IIT accounts nowadays for about one-fourth of total international trade, and the remaining is inter industry trade. IIT can be decomposed into two types: (i) horizontal intra-industry trade (HIIT) (exchange of substitutes), and (ii) vertical intra-industry trade (VIIT) (exchange of differentiated goods having different levels of quality). The literature on IIT progressively emphasizes the importance of differentiating between HIIT and VIIT. HIIT is generally defined as the exchange of commodities differentiated by different attributes excluding quality; on the other hand, VIIT is the exchange of commodities characterized by different qualities. HIIT is considered to be of greater relevance for trade among developed countries with similar and high per capita incomes, while VIIT is considered to be particularly relevant to trade among trading partners with different income levels. This study therefore examines the main factors driving this intra-industry trade between Uzbekistan and its neighbouring states, quantifies the different types of trade that occur and examines whether these factors differ between HIT and VIT.
Investigating the impact of ESG factors on sustainable profitability in Central Asia's banking sector
Project members: Professor Charles Cui (UoW), Dr Prabha Kiran (WIUT), Feruza Yodgorova (WIUT), Nargiza Kabilova (WIUT)
Description: This research project examines the influence of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors and green banking (GB) practices on the profitability of banks in Central Asia. The project recognises the crucial role of the banking sector in achieving sustainable development goals by funding environmentally and socially responsible firms. It to addresses the current lack of a common definition for ESG factors and the early stage of green finance in Central Asia, ultimately seeking to understand how the incorporation of ESG factors affects bank profitability, considering potential long-term benefits despite initial costs.
The research intends to present preliminary findings in a seminar and publish the results in peer-reviewed journals, contributing to a better
understanding of sustainable finance in the region. While the relationship between ESG factors and profitability is well-documented in developed markets, little is known about this relationship in the Central Asian banking sector. The region’s unique socio-economic dynamics, combined with limited ESG disclosures and inconsistent regulatory frameworks, make it challenging to draw direct parallels with global trends.
Nutraceuticals in health promotion and disease prevention: a mixed-method exploratory study of challenges conducting clinical research in Uzbekistan
Project members: Professor Mohammed Gulrez Zariwala (UoW), Dr Ozoda Saidhodjayeva (UoW), Dr Teddy Seyoum (UoW), Dr Malika Karimova (WIUT), Dr Aybek Khodiev (WIUT)
Description: Nutraceuticals is an umbrella term for food or food-derived products, including functional foods, dietary supplements and herbal remedies that may have health-promoting or disease-preventing properties. These have gained popularity in recent years as a potential alternative to conventional pharmaceuticals due to their relative safety and ease of access. Although the nutraceutical sector has enjoyed exponential growth worldwide, it is largely unregulated, and there is often a lack of sufficient evidence to support widespread usage. This is particularly relevant in the context of clinical research in Uzbekistan, which has a long history of widespread use of nutraceuticals (often colloquially referred to as ‘vitamins’). Given the high prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, these factors make it an important setting for investigating the potential of nutraceuticals in health promotion and disease prevention. The objective of our project is to conduct a qualitative exploration of the use of nutraceuticals in health promotion and disease prevention in Uzbekistan while also examining the methodological challenges of conducting clinical research in this context. We hope that the findings from this study can serve as a crucial starting point for subsequent research as well as informing healthcare policy in Uzbekistan.
Obstacles and barriers to innovation in emerging and transition economies (Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America)
Project members: Professor Charles Cui (UoW), Dr Prabha Kiran (WIUT), Dr Julian Pineres (WIUT), Nargiza Kabilova (WIUT)
Description: An investigation into the obstacles that firms in these regions face when trying to innovate. The research will use a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative analysis of World Bank Enterprise Survey data from 2012 to 2020 with qualitative analysis of case studies in the biotechnological, IT, and pharmaceutical sectors across three selected countries. The project will investigate how these obstacles affect firms' propensity to innovate, the novelty of their innovations, and the persistence of innovation, taking into account different firm characteristics. Ultimately, the project intends to provide policy recommendations to reduce these barriers, specifically considering the context of developing countries.
This research explores two main perspectives on barriers faced by SMEs. The first examines how resource-constrained firms (SMEs) combine exploration and exploitation for innovation. We aim to contribute to ambidexterity literature by studying the effect of trade-off ambidexterity against contextual ambidexterity in relation to SME innovation strategies. Empirically, we are analyzing differences across economies with different economic complexity levels. The second perspective focuses on strategic responses to institutional voids, proposing a look at how configurations of strategies that lead to high performance vary regarding institutional conditions, aiming to identify effective approaches for innovation, productivity, and growth.
University students’ sustained benefits and satisfaction: Applying the consumer-brand relationship concept to universities in Central Asia
Project members: Professor Charles Chi Cui (UoW), Professor Bakhrom Mirkasimov (WIUT), Dr Prabha Kiran (WIUT), Nargiza Kabilova (WIUT)
Description: This WIUT-UOW research project is situated at Westminster International University in Tashkent, focusing on universities in Central Asia, and aims to understand the factors that impede and facilitate university students’ sustained benefits and satisfaction at different levels of learning. It applies the consumer-brand relationship concept alongside existing literature on student learning experience and pedagogical research. The study investigates students' expectations before, during, and after their university education, comparing these expectations with their actual experiences and exploring factors influencing satisfaction, engagement, and outcomes. Ultimately, the project seeks to provide insights into how universities can foster meaningful connections with their students and create supportive educational environments.
An Assessment of Green Supply Chain Management Practices Implementation in the Textile Industry in Uzbekistan
Project members: Dr Anil Kumar (WIUT), Dr Waqas Ahmed (WIUT), Dr Galina Gornostaeva (UoW), Dr Sumita Ketkar (UoW)
Description: The integration of environmental aspects into organisations’ strategic and operational decisions is a reality that affects not only the organisation that makes decisions but also all its stakeholders, whether customers, suppliers or society. A critical issue that demonstrates the growing concern over sustainability issues is the convergence of supply chain and sustainability of the business and society, particularly when we see pandemic situations such as Covid-19. This project aims to answer this question: Does the adoption of GSCM practices result in a higher level of environmental performance, and improved performance of textile firms in emerging economies? Particularly, it aims to identify the key drivers for green supply chain management (GSCM) practices for textile firms in Uzbekistan. It also aims to examine the impact of GSCM practices on the environmental performance and organisational performance of textile firms in Uzbekistan.
IoT-based Machine Learning Models for Efficient Classroom Usage using Timetabling Data
Project members: Dr Djuradj Budimir (UoW), Olga Yugay (WIUT), Dr Philip Trwoga (UoW), Dr Dilshod Ibragimov (WIUT), Dragana Barjamovic (UoW), Muharrem Maloku (UoW)
Description: Due to its multidisciplinary approach, the Internet of Things (IoT) has been phenomenal in revolutionising many aspects of traditional education paradigms, so that education applications and services can be obtained with high efficiency and productivity. In the last two decades, IoT and Sensor Networks have been applied for various IoT education applications, such as using IoT and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for optimising classroom usage or predicting room occupancy using Wi-Fi Soft Sensors. One of the project’s main aims is to research existing AI solutions for modelling IoT-based predictive smart campus frameworks. Later we can use these findings as a foundation and testbed for advancing algorithms for working on the Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT) timetabling problem, which has been explored on the algorithmic level. Moreover, the university may benefit by attempting to predict the university dropout at various stages by analysing collected data. Such analysis would be helpful in implementing effective dropout prevention policies for the university. Considering the growing trend for efficiency, we will also investigate resource-effective approaches when applying algorithms in predictive timetabling and dropout analysis. This project can impact university teaching, learning and research at both institutions.
Spillover Effects of Geopolitical Crises to CIS Banks: Early Warning Indicators of Bank Fragility
Project members: Roberta Adami, Issam Malki, Dildora Ibragimova, Sheeja Sivaprasad, Feruza Yodgorova
Description: This study examines the spillover effects of geopolitical risks on the banking sectors of a sample of post-Soviet countries, focusing on the consequences of the Russian–Ukrainian conflict. We use the geopolitical risk (GPR) index from Caldara and Iacoviello (2022) as a global measure of geopolitical risk and the Diebold-Yilmaz (2012) connectedness model to estimate the spillover effects of the conflict on the performance of financial institutions. We also conduct a network analysis to further examine the transmission effects among banking sectors. Our results show little or no significant evidence of GPR transmissions on the financial sectors' performance (returns) and risk in the countries examined. One plausible explanation for the lack of risk transmission relates to the low exposure of the post-Soviet economies to external financing and investment flows, which reduces the effects of global geopolitical risks. High state ownership and tight government control further limit financial institutions’ exposure to external shocks. This study allows for a better understanding of GPR transmission mechanisms and the consequences of the conflict on Russia’s neighbouring countries. It can also support policymakers and financial institutions in formulating risk management strategies.
Outcomes
- Accepted author manuscript in Review of Behavioral Finance (Emerald Publishing Limited).
- Presented research at the IFABS (International Finance and Banking Society) 2023 Conference held in Oxford.
Modelling and Application of People Analytics Platforms
Project members: Dr Sumita Ketkar (UoW), Dr Abdumalik Djumanov (WIUT), Olesya Smagina (WIUT), Sitora Inoyatova (WIUT), Shakhnoza Kazimova (WIUT)
Description: The project aims to develop research capacity and outcomes as well as business applications of Human Resource (People) Analytics models for HR intelligence and predictive models in recruitment (yield ratios of recruitment sources and effectiveness) and selection (selection methods performance and performance modelling), workforce planning and performance appraisal and management aspects (retention, turnover, promotion, succession planning). These models will help organisations to optimise HR processes, use of resources and alignment to the organisational goals and objectives.
The impact of COVID-19 on Uzbekistan Higher Education Teaching and Learning
Project members: Andrey Khojeev (WIUT), Dr Richard Paterson (UoW), Dr Diana Akhmedjanova (WIUT)
Description: The COVID-19 pandemic has majorly affected the operation of higher education institutions around the globe. The effect is on both research and teaching activities. The lockdown situation has created major obstacles for the collaboration of faculty staff and graduate students on joint research projects where associated mobility for fieldwork and the presence of humans as the subject of investigation are required. The closure of higher education institution campuses has led to the urgent transition from traditional face-to-face to online classes.
A SMARTER way of transition for high school pupils to Higher Education in Uzbekistan
Project members: Dr Alexander Bolotov (UoW), Elena Aripova (WIUT), Dr Aziz Makhmudov (WIUT), Dr Gabriele Pierantoni (UoW), David Chan You Fee (UoW), Richard Paterson (UoW), Dr Serena Masino (UoW), Igor Kim (WIUT), Dmitry Surkov (WIUT), Sayyora Nurmatova (WIUT), Albina Khodjimatova (WIUT)
Description: Transition to university education has always been difficult. To improve access to university education the 2019–2023 Uzbekistan development plan requires enhanced courses through innovative online resources. We will contribute to this initiative by tuning the Digital Educational Hub, SMARTEST recently developed within the Global Challenges Research Funding project “EduHub” and by offering novel transitional educational content in three subjects – Mathematics, English and Generic Skills where socio/economic/community engagement aspects are also embedded.
Adaptation of the learning sign language project for Uzbekistan
Project members: Dr Daphne Economou (UoW), Markos Mentzelopoulos (UoW), Dariusz Piotrowski (UoW), Shirin Primkulova (WIUT), Said Abduvaliev (WIUT), Mikhail Shpirko (WIUT), Olga Yugay (WIUT)
Description: This project will be a follow up from the “Learning sign language combining game theory, video and VR technology” project that received funding from WIUT for 2020/21 to support the UoW/WIUT research collaboration. That project marriages video, Virtual Reality (VR), image processing and speech recognition technologies together with gamification theory to develop an educational resource/game to assist in learning the British Sign Language alphabet. This educational resource/game includes three main levels: learning, practice and assessment. The project will evaluate the effectiveness of the integrated game mechanisms in learning and it will provide a resource to be trailed in different cultures European and Asian. The partners will work together for the implementation of the resource as well as for conducting a user testing study at the UoW and WIUT. The project will be scalable to support more learning objectives in the future.
Outcomes
Daphne Economou:
- presented progress of the work at one of WIUT's research seminars as part of a visit as Liaison tutor in November 2022
- will present the project at the 6th Annual Student STAFF Research Conference of the School of Computer Science & Engineering on the 28 February, 2023
- will present the progress of the project at the WIUT-UoW Computing Conference 2023: Digitalisation and Digital Transformation over Silk Road, 17 May 2023, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, https://conference.wiut.uz/silkroadigital2023
- will organise a workshop on the implications of developing immersive educational resources to support sign language as part of iLRN2023 on June 26-29, 2023 (in person) at the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, USA [https://www.immersivelrn.org/ilrn2023/home-ilrn2023/]
In addition, the project attracted interest from Business School, and it is used to support authentic assessment as part of one of the level 6 modules of the Business Course. Students are using this application as a case study, and they are preparing and will be presenting proposals for the commercial exploitation of the project in April 2023 to the University Enterprise panel.
Daphne Economou has also submitted a proposal for QHT Fund for 150K, two years funded project, which successfully went to stage 2. She is preparing the video pitch for stage 2 of the proposal to be submitted by 3 March.
Westminster Development Policy Network Virtual Seminars
An open online academic seminar series is for any scholar/student worldwide interested in the issues of development policy. The webinars will be run in English via Zoom and include presentations on theoretical and empirical approaches.
All webinars begin at 5pm (Tashkent time) – 12pm (UK time) every Wednesday. Each webinar lasts for up to 60 minutes, starting with the speaker's presentation of 30 minutes, followed by the next 15-30 minutes of questions from the audience. The questions should be submitted to the moderator online via chat, who will address the questions to the presenter.
For more information please visit the Westminster Development Policy Network's blog.
Central Asian Integration: Obstacles and Opportunities
Project members: Roland Dannreuther (UoW), Wojciech Ostrowski (UoW), Komiljon Karimov (UWED/WIUT), Ahliddin Malikov (WIUT)
Description: The overall objective of the project is to address the following overarching research question:
Why have previous efforts at Central Asian integration been unsuccessful and what are the opportunities, and obstacles, for greater Central Asian cooperation and integration in the future?
The project has three main dimensions:
- Internal and intra-regional dimensions of Central Asian integration
- External and extra-regional dimensions of Central Asian integration
- Uzbek perspectives and debates on Central Asian integration.
Learning Sign Language Combining Game Theory, Video and VR Technology
Project members: Daphne Economou (UoW), Markos Mentzelopoulos (UoW), Shirin Primkulova (WIUT), Said Abduvaliev (WIUT), Dariusz Piotrowski (UoW, Level 5 student)
Description: This project marriages video with Virtual Reality and leap motion technology and provides an educational resource that allows learning, training and assessment. Involving 24 users, the current study compares this educational resource to traditional video highlighting the success of the latter. The project extends the current Serious Games by covering all the signs of the British Sign Language, integrating image processing for training and speech recognition for assessment to develop an effective educational resource supporting users learning BSL. The project is scalable to support Uzbek and other sign language in the future.
The Application of Social Media Messengers to Enhance Student Learning Outcomes and Engagement - Facing the Challenges of Engaging HE Students in a Post-COVID World
Project members: Elena Volkova (WIUT), Richard West (UoW), Mudra Mukesh (UoW), Aziza Khakimova (WIUT)
Description: This research project seeks to articulate the reasons why Social Media Messages should be recommended as a replacement and/or augmentation to the formal virtual learning environment in HE. We investigate the effectiveness of two different Social Media Messengers, Instagram and Telegram, in two different Higher Education contexts (England and Uzbekistan). We are forced to study this students’ practice because they seem to prefer using these messages as opposed to formal means of communication. Also, the idea of conducting this research is reinforced given the current climate, specifically the COVID 19 pandemic, where everyone has been forced to conduct teaching and learning online and transform their digital capabilities.
Creativity and Risk in Advertising in Central Asia
Project members: Farhod Karimov (WIUT), Jaafar El-Murad (UoW), Dildara Gapparova (WIUT), Pinar Demir (UoW)
Description: The aim of this research is to investigate the relationship between risk and creativity in advertising from the perspective of both advertising agencies and customers. The project objective is to determine the attitude of local entrepreneurs and businesses towards using creativity in promoting their products and services.
The Evolution of Family Stereotypes in Advertising Communications. A Cultural Comparison between the United Kingdom and Uzbekistan
Project members: Richard West (UoW), Lilit Baghdasaryan (Regents University), Irina Kerimova (WIUT), Zamira Ataniyazova (WIUT)
Description: The objective of the project is to analyse the way images and stereotypes of the family are used in the advertising and marketing communications of two countries, the United Kingdom and Uzbekistan. A research gap exists because little work has been published on the employment of family symbols and stereotypes in the marketing communications of former States of the Soviet Union. This presents an opportunity to gain further ethnographic insights into the culture of post-Soviet Uzbekistan whilst at the same time comparing the historical adaptation of Jung’s archetypes in Western and Central Asian brand story telling.
Cotton Chains: Mapping-Out Clusters of Interest and Responsibility in the Uzbek Cotton Industry and Cotton Supply Chains
Project members: Aurora Voiculescu (UoW), Jamshid Normatov (WIUT), Firuza Bobokulova (WIUT), Bekhzod Egamberdiev (IAMO), Tamilla Tagieva (WIUT)
Description: This research project addresses key issues in the Uzbek cotton sector and cotton supply chains, focusing on aspects related to labour and the environment. The proposed one-year research project stems from the important role that the cotton industry plays in the Uzbek economy and in Uzbekistan’s participation in global exchanges, as well as from the need to address complex socio-economic problems in order to support the cotton sector’s reform.
Reduce Access Barriers to Big Data Analytics
Project members: Gabriele Pierantoni (UoW), Natalya Muzaffarova (WIUT), Temur Makhkamov (WIUT), Tamas Kiss (UoW)
Description: Nowadays, Big Data Analytics is at the base of many decisional processes in different aspects of our society: from corporate business planning, to government-level policies decisions; from city planning to educational feedback analysis. Unfortunately, access and proper usage of Big Data Analytics tools present difficult challenges; this project aims at reducing these access barriers along different dimensions: to facilitate the access to Big Data Applications through Cloud Deployment; to support the computational and storage requirements required by the execution of Big Data Analytics; to facilitate the access to various Big Data Applications tools and applications; to facilitate the conceptual comprehension of the various Big Data Analytics tools and to offer a comprehensive set of tutorials and examples to support the learning process; and to share educational resources between UoW and WIUT to build a coordinate approach (both technical and educational) to learning and using Big Data Analytics.
Attracting FDI in Support of Development and the Role of Legal Frameworks in Uzbekistan
Project members: Ioannis Glinavos (UOW), Khasan Sayfutdinov (WIUT), Karen Jackson (UOW), Akbar Ismanjanov (WIUT), Musojon Rizoev (WIUT), Serena Masino (UOW)
Description: The study investigates the existing status and potential of Bilateral Investment Treaties between Uzbekistan and other nations to support Uzbek development. Uzbek trade and investment deals are at an early stage of development. The project covers the potential for enhancing trade and investment deals and maps the role of legal instruments in improving Uzbek attractiveness for FDI. This is an underresearched area now and novel research outcomes will be of direct use to policy makers in guiding the development of legal instruments and frameworks in Uzbekistan.
Big Data Veracity and Soft Computing
Project members: Panagiotis Chountas (UOW), Dilshod Ibragimov (WIUT), Abdumalik Djumanov (WIUT), Dmitriy Pochitaev (WIUT)
Description: The research topics addressed in this project are of importance for the development of advanced techniques and applications for managing and handling Big data and delivering a data quality framework for big data platforms. Considering the societal and industrial relevance and importance of Big data, the research conducted in the project will indirectly have a socio-economic impact. With this project aims to promote research on: veracity in Big data within the computational intelligence community; on how data quality propagates in data processing and impacts the results of the computations; and under the consideration that quality is a characteristic of data, it is relevant to investigate how data quality can be adequately presented to users.
Civil Society Development: Mahalla as a 'Melting Pot' of Uzbek and European Values
Project members: Pippa Catterall (UOW), Victoria Levinskaya (WIUT), Paul Breen (UoW), Salim Turdaliev (WIUT)
Description: This research aims to identify the most fruitful means of accomplishing this end by looking at how Mahalla can be incorporated into processes of democratization. On the basis of this work, it is intended that the project leads to the elaboration of a framework for the development of more inclusive and democratic institutions in Uzbekistan and contributes critically and constructively to Uzbek political reforms and the strengthening of civil society, good governance and sustainability in Uzbekistan by providing research outputs that can become a point of reference for policymakers.
China in Uzbekistan: an investigation into the effects of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on trade, migration, and Chinese language education
Project members: Gerda Wielander (UoW), Cangbai Wang (UoW), Karen Jackson (UoW), Bakhrom Mirkasimov (WIUT), Khamid Inomkhodjaev (WIUT), Nozima Yusupova (WIUT)
Project background: This project very simply asks what impact BRI has had on Uzbekistan in the field of trade, migration, and Chinese language education and aims to provide a preliminary evaluation of this impact on the Uzbek population. The main objective of this one-year project will be to map out Chinese presence in Uzbekistan since 2013 to find out whether there has been a marked increase of activity following Xi Jinping’s declaration. We expect that the main change in dynamic will in fact have occurred since the political change in Uzbekistan in 2016 and Uzbekistan’s launch of its own New Strategy for Development in 2017. We also expect that China’s importance in the country in all areas under investigation will reflect Uzbekistan’s geopolitical situation and historic orientations.
Language policy at WIUT
Project members: Andrew Linn (UoW), Anastasiya Bezborodova (WIUT), Saida Radjabzade (WIUT)
Description: This is a practical project to develop a language policy for an English-Medium-Instruction university in Uzbekistan. Although the university is de facto English-only, it presents a complex language ecology, which in turn has led to confusion and disagreement about language use on campus. The project team investigated the experience, views and attitudes of over a thousand people, including faculty, students, administrative and maintenance staff, in order to arrive at a proposed policy which would serve the whole community, based on the principle of tolerance and pragmatism. After outlining the relevant language and educational context and setting out the methods and approach of the underpinning research project, the project team proposed a language policy document.
Embedding Students Learning Profiles in Teaching Practices to Improve the Efficiency of Mathematics Learning
Project members: Aleksey Semyonov (TEAM University), Alexander Bolotov (UoW), Temur Makhkamov (WIUT), Gabriele Pierantoni (UoW)
Description: According to the students’ feedback, lectures and tutorials for mathematics (QM) are of less value than expected. This is also confirmed by the feedback from the tutors, indicating that time to deliver tutorial material is not sufficient and some of the lecture material has to be repeated. We believe that the reason for these lie in the delivery of the mathematical content which is not optimised to the students’ audience needs and abilities. Hence there is a need to optimise mathematics teaching at WIUT to address both students and tutors/lecturers concerns. This project’s main goal is to study individual differences in students’ psychological and learning profiles and embed this personalised element in teaching.
