I. General provisions

1. This Policy establishes the written policies and procedures by which the Tashkent University of Information Technologies named after Muhammad al-Khwarizmi (hereinafter “the University”) identifies local stakeholders external to the University and engages with them, gives them a meaningful mechanism for participating in University decision-making, and contributes to SDG policy together with government and civil society.

2. The Policy has been prepared in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On Education”, the Law “On Public Control”, the legislation on citizens’ self-government bodies and the Charter of the University.

II. Terms used in this Policy

3. The following terms are used in this Policy:

local stakeholders – persons and organisations outside the University that are affected by its activities or can influence them, including local residents and mahalla citizens’ assemblies, the city and district khokimiyats, schools, employers, civil society organisations (including organisations of persons with disabilities and of migrants and displaced persons), alumni and parents.

III. Identifying local stakeholders

4. The Rector’s Office maintains a Stakeholder Register recording each stakeholder, its interest, the responsible unit and the form of engagement. The register is reviewed every year, with particular attention to underrepresented and vulnerable groups.

IV. Engaging with local stakeholders

5. The University engages with local stakeholders through an annual engagement plan, which includes regular meetings with neighbouring mahallas and the district khokimiyat, public consultation before projects affecting neighbours, public events and outreach (TUIT-SP-15), and a feedback channel on the University website. The results of consultations and the University’s responses are published.

V. Participation in decision-making

6. Local stakeholders take part in University decision-making through the Board of Trustees, which includes representatives of government, employers and civil society; through external members of the Sustainability Committee, including a representative of local residents or a mahalla; and through employers’ advisory councils that review study programmes.

VI. Contribution to SDG policy

7. The University contributes to national and regional SDG policy by providing expert opinions to ministries and agencies, delegating specialists to working groups preparing laws and programmes, and implementing joint projects with non-governmental and international organisations. These contributions are described in the annual Sustainability and SDG Report.

VII. Responsibilities

8. The Rector’s Office maintains the Stakeholder Register and the engagement plan; faculties and the International Cooperation Department organise advisory councils and policy contributions; the press service publishes consultation results.

VIII. Monitoring and expected results

9. The following indicators are reported every year: stakeholders in the register; engagement events and consultations held; external members of University bodies; and contributions to policy development.

10. Expected results: an up-to-date Stakeholder Register; at least two meetings a year with neighbouring mahallas and the khokimiyat; external members participating in University governance bodies.

IX. Final provisions

11. 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.

12. This Policy enters into force on the date of its approval by the University Council and replaces the earlier procedures of the University for engagement with local stakeholders.

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

Annex. Form of the Stakeholder Register