“The welfare of the people is the supreme law” (Salus populi suprema lex). — Cicero.
The main objective of the Department of Constitutional Law is to establish one of the leading academic and research schools in the field of constitutional law and to train highly qualified specialists equipped with up-to-date knowledge and professional skills, capable of competing at the international level.
The Department places particular emphasis on developing teaching and learning materials in constitutional law that meet international standards; studying constitutional developments in Uzbekistan and around the world, as well as the activities of civil society institutions; analysing international best practices; conducting research aimed at improving legislation and regulatory legal acts; and strengthening cooperation with public authorities and other organisations.
The Department’s main tasks are to:
· study best practices in constitutional law from developed countries;
· develop students’ comparative, analytical and logical thinking skills through the study of relevant disciplines;
· equip students with practical skills in applying constitutional law;
· expand opportunities for independent learning and ensure a strong connection between theory and practice;
· establish cooperation with leading foreign educational and research institutions specialising in constitutional law.
The Department delivers a total of 11 courses: 8 at undergraduate level and 3 at postgraduate level.
Undergraduate courses:
· Constitutional Law;
· Parliamentary Law;
· Comparative Constitutional Law;
· Constitutional Justice;
· Local Government Law.
Elective courses:
· Election Law;
· Self-Government Law;
· Law of Non-Governmental Non-Profit Organisations.
Postgraduate courses:
· Research and Practical Issues in Constitutional Law;
· Constitutional Review and Constitutional Justice.
Elective course:
· Media Law.
The courses are delivered through lectures and seminars.
In 2020, the Department’s academic staff published 37 articles in academic journals included in the national Higher Attestation Commission (HAC) list, including 10 articles in international journals, as well as 9 articles in academic journals indexed in the Scopus database. In addition, 3 textbooks and 5 monographs were published.
The Department organised the following academic events:
· 3 international academic conferences;
· 5 national academic conferences and round-table discussions.
The Department’s academic staff and independent researchers conduct research in the specialisation 12.00.02 — “Constitutional Law. Administrative Law. Financial and Customs Law”.
As part of its international cooperation activities, the Department develops partnerships with foreign higher education institutions that hold high positions in reputable international rankings, including the Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings, Times Higher Education and the Academic Ranking of World Universities.
In particular, Professor Pablo Cortes of the University of Leicester (United Kingdom) and Professor Ignacio Hernandez, a researcher at Harvard University, deliver online classes for the Department’s students.
The Department also organises various academic and educational activities in cooperation with Nagoya University. Since 2021, Assistant Professor F. Umirov, PhD, of Osaka University has been teaching the Constitutional Justice course.
The Department cooperates with the Legislative Chamber and Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Cabinet of Ministers, the Constitutional Court, the Central Election Commission, the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Ministry of Justice and the Academy of Public Administration in the fields of education, research and legislative improvement.
The Department’s academic staff have actively contributed to the drafting of the revised Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan” and the Electoral Code.
The Department has also established partnerships with the University of World Economy and Diplomacy, the Academy of the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Customs Institute of the State Customs Committee, the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Westminster International University in Tashkent.
The Department hosts the “Public Law Club” and “Yosh tadqiqotchi” academic societies. It also supports academic schools in constitutional law established by Professor Rahim Khakimov, Doctor of Law, and Professor Eshmuhammad Qodirov.
More than 300 talented students are involved in the activities of these academic schools and societies, conducting research into current issues of constitutional law and public administration.
The Department’s academic staff continuously develop their professional knowledge and skills, exchange experience with international colleagues and introduce modern approaches to the teaching and learning process.
The Department currently employs 3 professors, 3 associate professors, 2 senior lecturers and 6 lecturers. In addition, qualified academic staff and practising professionals are engaged in teaching on an internal and external part-time basis.
The Department’s research activities also involve 6 independent researchers and 3 doctoral students.