Teaching in Uzbekistan

Last fall, College of Business Informatics professor and interim associate 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 in the world.”