Uzbekistan’s academic community suffers a heavy loss

A dedicated educator who devoted his life and career to the development of education in Uzbekistan—Candidate of Agricultural Sciences and Honoured Higher Education Worker Karim Oybekovich Egamqulov—passed away on 14 February this year at the age of 87. The news was announced by the President’s press secretary, Sherzod Asadov.

Egamqulov was born on 5 May 1939 in Guliston District of Sirdaryo Region. In 1964, he graduated from the Tashkent State Pedagogical Institute (now the Nizami National Pedagogical University of Uzbekistan) and began working there as a senior laboratory assistant. He later pursued postgraduate studies at the same institution and defended his (PhD-equivalent) dissertation.

From 1969 to 1972, he served as the executive secretary of the “Bilim” Society in the Sirdaryo Region, contributing to efforts to promote knowledge and education among the public.

From 1972 to 1975, he worked effectively as vice rector of the Sirdaryo State Pedagogical Institute, demonstrating leadership capacity as well as strong organisational and initiative-driven qualities.

From 1975 to 1987, he served as director of the Yangiyer branch of the Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers, playing a dedicated role in training highly qualified specialists for the sector in Uzbekistan.

Egamqulov linked scholarship with practice and, in particular, established a distinctive school of experience focused on developing education and practical training in agriculture and water management.

An experienced and innovative educator, he was known as the author of more than 20 teaching and methodological manuals and textbooks in irrigation and agriculture. He also worked effectively as dean of the institute’s professional development faculty, head of the Soil Science Department, and director of the Sirdaryo regional training centre for the retraining of accountants, organising efforts to strengthen practitioners’ skills and familiarise them with modern scientific achievements in the field.

In recent years, despite his advanced age, he remained active as a committed public figure and respected elder, promoting the outcomes of reforms underway in Uzbekistan, including initiatives aimed at improving rural areas and neighbourhoods and raising living standards.

“Karim Egamqulov’s memory—as a highly capable scholar, a kind mentor to young people, and a humble person—will remain in our hearts forever,” the condolence statement said.

It is worth noting that earlier, the director of the Institute of Legislation and Legal Policy under the President of Uzbekistan, Senator Mir-Akbar Khoji-Akbarovich Rahmonqulov, also passed away at the age of 74.