Introduction to IREG 2023

Global rankings have been a stable phenomenon for over 20 years, major global rankings kept their methodology stable and still rely mainly on research and reputation.  However, rankings are now under pressure as the world has faced tremendous global challenges. The climate crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian war on Ukraine, all of which impact higher education. University rankings do not exist in a vacuum; to be meaningful, they need to reflect the changes in higher education on a global as well as regional scale.

The IREG 2023 Conference will be a forum to discuss rankings response to the above mentioned changes. It will consider rankings ability to identify indicators and data that focus on societal challenges and major global issues. The conference will pay special attention to ambitions of universities of Central Asia striving to improve their place on the global higher education landscape.

14.00 – 17.00 Workshop on rankings (for rectors of Uzbek Universities)

Arrival of delegates and registration

18.00 – 20.00 Welcome reception

9.30 – 10.00 OPENING
Minister of Higher Education of Uzbekistan
President of IREG

10.00 – 11.30 FIRST SESSION
Universities of the Central Asia region and their aspirations

11.30 – 12.00 Coffee break

12.00 – 13.00 SECOND SESSION
New developments in international rankings

13.00 – 14.00 Lunch

14.00 – 15.15 -THIRD SESSION
Rankings – competition and social responsibility

15.15 – 15.30 Coffee break

15.30 – 16.30 FOURTH SESSION
The role of research in rankings

16.30 – 16.45 Coffee break

16.45 – 17.45 FIFTH SESSION
(to be announced)

18.00 – 19.00 IREG General Assembly

19.30 Conference Gala Dinner

Transfer to Samarkand

14.00 – 17.00 SPECIAL SESSION –
IREG meeting with rectors of Samarkand universities

18.00 – 20.00 Reception

• Culture and history program at Samarkand (optional)
• Transfer to Tashkent or Bukhara

• Culture and history program Bukhara (optional)