I. General provisions

1. This Policy supports and protects the academic freedom of everyone who teaches and conducts research at the Tashkent University of Information Technologies named after Muhammad al-Khwarizmi (hereinafter “the University”): the freedom to choose areas of research, and to teach and speak publicly about the area of their research.

2. The Policy has been prepared in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Law “On Education”, which establishes the academic freedom of higher education institutions, the Law “On Science and Scientific Activity” and the Charter of the University.

3. The Policy applies to all academic staff and researchers: senior academics (professors, associate professors, heads of departments and laboratories) and junior academics (assistants, lecturers, early-career researchers, doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers).

II. Research freedom

4. Senior academics are free to choose the areas and methods of their research, to seek funding, to collaborate in Uzbekistan and abroad and to publish their results, subject to the law and research ethics.

5. Junior academics enjoy the same research freedom. Supervisors guide but may not impose topics, prevent publication or claim authorship without a genuine contribution, and junior researchers may apply for grants in their own name.

III. Teaching freedom

6. Senior academics are free to determine the content, methods and materials of their teaching within the approved curriculum and learning outcomes.

7. Junior academics enjoy the same teaching freedom, including developing their own teaching materials and methods.

IV. Speaking publicly

8. All academic staff, senior and junior, may speak and write publicly, including in the media, about their area of research and teaching. When doing so in a personal capacity, they make clear that they do not express the University’s official position.

V. Responsible exercise and protection

9. Academic freedom is exercised responsibly, with respect for the law, research ethics, academic integrity and the Code of Ethics. No member of staff may be disadvantaged for the lawful exercise of academic freedom; complaints of restriction are considered by the Ethics Commission with the guarantees of TUIT-SP-11.

10. The Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs is responsible for teaching freedom, and the Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation for research freedom.

VI. Monitoring and expected results

11. The number of complaints concerning academic freedom and their outcomes are reported every year in anonymised form. Expected result: all complaints considered, with no confirmed restriction of lawful academic freedom.

VII. Final provisions

12. This Policy is reviewed at least once every two years, and earlier if there are significant changes in legislation or in the activities of the University. Amendments are approved by the University Council.

13. This Policy enters into force on the date of its approval by the University Council and replaces the earlier provisions of the University on academic freedom.

14. This Policy is published on the official website of the University (tuit.uz/sustainability) in Uzbek and English and remains publicly available.