Today, 23 September, a scientific and practical roundtable entitled “The Importance of Dual Education in Developing the Social Protection System of New Uzbekistan” was held at the Courtyard by Marriott Tashkent hotel in Tashkent. The event was organized by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) within the framework of the “Promoting Social Protection and Integration of Vulnerable Groups (PROSPI)” project, in cooperation with partner organizations.

The roundtable focused on the strategic and institutional foundations for introducing a dual education model in the “Social Work” field in Uzbekistan, the integration of academic and practical components of education, the role of higher education institutions in implementing the programme, and mechanisms for cooperation among relevant stakeholders.

The event brought together specialists from the fields of higher and vocational education, national qualifications system development and social protection, including representatives of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, the Agency for Vocational Education, the Institute for Development of the National Qualifications System, higher education institutions, and territorial departments of the National Agency for Social Protection.

Dual Education: Bridging Theory and Practice

During the discussions, participants exchanged views on the concept and substance of dual education, its distinctive features compared with traditional bachelor’s degree programmes that include practical training, as well as the strategic rationale for introducing this model in the field of social work. The experience gained and ongoing initiatives to develop dual education in other sectors were also reviewed.

The participants were also presented with the results of consensus seminars conducted with higher education institutions, INSON Centres, and social workers. The discussions covered the structure of the proposed dual education model, the recommended balance between theoretical and practical training, the use of INSON Centres as practical training sites, the role of the Professional Development Centre in preparing workplace mentors, as well as accreditation-related issues.

Partnership and Shared Responsibility

One of the key aspects of the event was the recognition that dual education should not be viewed solely as the responsibility of higher education institutions, but rather as a system requiring long-term and coordinated cooperation among multiple stakeholders.

To this end, participants were divided into four institutional groups to discuss the responsibilities of each organization, mutual expectations, existing capacities and potential challenges. During the final session, participants developed common approaches to establishing a shared responsibility matrix, identifying overlapping functions and existing gaps, and addressing them.

Particular attention was also given to appointing responsible persons within each institution for the programme and defining specific actions to be completed before the next stage, together with clear timelines.

Next Steps

The final part of the roundtable featured a preliminary six-month roadmap outlining the key stages for the phased introduction of the dual education model in the field of social work.

The initiative is aimed at further strengthening the connection between education and practice in social work, enhancing cooperation between higher education institutions and organizations providing social services, and preparing specialists equipped with the practical skills required in the field.