The Library and Information Science PhD Program in Uzbekistan: Current Challenges and Future Prospects

Two universities in Uzbekistan offer PhD programs in library and information science (LIS). This article used a documentary research method, enriched the collected data with the direct observations and lived experiences of the authors, and explored seven challenges of the LIS PhD program in Uzbekistan: (1) the topics of PhD research, (2) insufficient skills of Uzbekistan PhD students in the English language, (3) the risk of unregulated proliferation of PhD programs, (4) the different subject orientation of Uzbekistan PhD host institutions, (5) the low salaries of librarians and the lack of interest in continuing their studies at the PhD level, (6) insufficient skills of Uzbekistan PhD students in research methodology, and (7) their simultaneous employment somewhere outside the university. The article concludes by suggesting some solutions, including adopting the vision of the Information School, utilizing the potential of the Tashkent University of Information Technologies in centering the PhD program around digital technologies, and granting national awards to the best PhD research, emphasizing adherence to standards.