TEACHING IN UZBEKISTAN

ast fall, College of Business Informatics professor and interim associate L

dean, Bob Houghton, Ph.D. visited Uzbekistan for six weeks under the

Fulbright Specialist program. Houghton was assigned to help Tashkent

University of Information Technology (TUIT) by teaching a master course

as well as helping the staff reassess and evaluate their curriculum. He also

helped conduct research into the nation’s internet, what it looks like and

issues that Uzbek companies face because of this.

Houghton heard about the program through his friendship with Australian

scholar, Bill Davies. Davies suggested that he apply to the program.

Houghton is one of the first recipients of the Fulbright Specialist designation

to be assigned to Uzbekistan as well as the only specialist to be assigned to TUIT. Houghton said his experience was “magnificent, the hospitality of the

Uzbek people is some of the best in the world.” He had done a lot of reading

about the country and found that while it was rebuilt by the Soviet Union,

the country emulates Western culture, particularly in their choice of vehicle

and dress. After his visit and his experience teaching at TUIT, Houghton

found that the Uzbek students had great respect for the education available

in the U.S. “The amount of respect that a student who graduates from Idaho

State has is monumental. The education that a student receives at Idaho

State is truly world class. Students should know that the quality and impact

of the faculty, leaders and overall educational experience is among the best