Sustainable Governance

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion governance at Navoi State University     

         Navoi State University has an institutional mechanism in place to support equality, diversity, inclusion, human rights, and staff welfare through its Trade Union (Kasaba uyushmasi) https://lex.uz/uz/docs/-4631281 , which functions as the principal representative and protective body for employees’ rights and interests within the university.

         The role of the Trade Union is grounded in the national legal framework of the Republic of Uzbekistan, particularly the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On Trade Unions” (No.588, adopted on 6 December 2019, effective from 8 March 2020). This law defines trade unions as voluntary public associations established to represent and protect the labour, socio-economic, and other lawful rights and interests of employees and learners. It also establishes key principles including non-discrimination, equal rights, openness, legality, and voluntary participation, which provide an important normative basis for institutional equality and inclusion practices at the university.

         Institutional Independence, Protection of Rights and Employee Representation through the Trade Union

         At Navoi State University, the Trade Union serves not only as a staff-support and representative body, but also as an independent institutional mechanism for protecting employees’ rights, welfare, and socio-economic interests. In accordance with the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On Trade Unions,” https://lex.uz/uz/docs/-4631281 trade unions operate on the principles of independence, self-governance, non-interference, and equality, which strengthens their credibility and institutional value within the university governance system.

         Under national legislation, trade unions are independent in their activities, including financial matters, and are not subordinated to state authorities or employers except in cases expressly provided by law. They are entitled to develop and approve their own charter, determine their organizational structure, elect their governing bodies, and organize meetings and other activities autonomously. This legal independence is important evidence that the Trade Union at Navoi State University functions as a legitimate and protected body capable of representing employee interests in an impartial and structured manner.

         The law also guarantees non-interference in trade union activities. State bodies, officials, and employers are required to respect trade union rights and lawful interests, and they are not permitted to interfere in trade union activities or arbitrarily demand documentation relating to those activities unless specifically allowed by law. In addition, trade union property is legally protected, and the activities of a trade union cannot be terminated at the initiative of state bodies, officials, or employers. These provisions reinforce institutional stability and ensure that employees have access to a protected representative structure.

         At the organizational level, employers are legally required to create conditions for effective trade union work. This includes respecting trade union rights, consulting with trade unions before making decisions affecting employees’ interests, considering trade union proposals in a timely manner, providing written responses, granting access to workplaces, and supplying necessary information free of charge on issues affecting employees’ socio-economic rights and interests. Employers must also provide time and conditions for elected trade union representatives to perform their duties during working hours. These legal provisions show that trade unions are not symbolic bodies, but active participants in institutional governance and staff representation.

         The legislative framework further strengthens the social role of trade unions by allowing them to participate in the development of social protection measures, support programmes aimed at ensuring decent living conditions, and contribute to the protection of employees during periods of institutional restructuring or reorganization. Trade unions are also entitled to obtain relevant information from state bodies and employers in order to carry out their statutory activities effectively.

         An especially important area of relevance to university governance is the role of trade unions in labour protection and occupational safety. Under the law, trade unions have the right to obtain information on working conditions, labour protection, accidents, and occupational diseases; participate in investigations of accidents; propose suspension of work in cases of danger to life or health; monitor compliance with labour protection obligations; and seek accountability where labour protection standards are violated. They may also defend employees’ rights in court where health, safety, or labour-protection rights have been infringed.

         In addition, trade unions may submit applications, complaints, proposals, and requests to state bodies and employers, and they may request documents necessary to defend employees’ socio-economic rights and lawful interests. This gives the university’s Trade Union a formal basis for hearing staff concerns, seeking clarification, escalating problems where necessary, and contributing to a more transparent and responsive institutional environment.

         Taken together, these legal guarantees demonstrate that the Trade Union at Navoi State University can be presented in QS Sustainability evidence not merely as a staff association, but as an independent and legally protected governance mechanism that supports fairness, representation, labour rights, social protection, workplace safety, and institutional accountability.

         At Navoi State University, the Trade Union serves as a practical channel through which employees can raise concerns, submit complaints, receive advice, and seek support on workplace-related matters. The union listens to staff complaints, provides consultation, and helps protect employee rights in accordance with university policy and national legislation. This contributes directly to the university’s governance framework for dignity, equity, and procedural fairness on campus. The national law also confirms that trade unions may participate in protecting workers’ socio-economic rights, engage in labour dispute processes, and submit appeals, complaints, and proposals to relevant bodies, which strengthens the institutional legitimacy of this function.

         In addition to this staff-rights mechanism, Navoi State University also supports gender inclusion and campus welfare through its Women’s Support Community. This structure operates across faculties through designated dean’s advisers, who work together with the Rector’s adviser at university level. Through this coordinated model, the university is able to identify gender-related concerns, support women students and staff, and ensure that inclusion-related issues are addressed not only centrally but also at faculty level. This distributed support structure is important evidence that equality and inclusion responsibilities are embedded in institutional practice rather than left as a purely symbolic commitment.

The university’s governance environment is further reinforced by internal policy instruments, including a Code of Ethics  and a Complaints Policy, which provide a normative basis for respectful conduct, fairness, accountability, and procedures for addressing concerns. Together, these mechanisms show that Navoi State University does not rely on a single statement of values, but instead combines policy, representation, grievance support, and advisory structures in order to promote a more inclusive and rights-based campus environment.

         In practice, the university also demonstrates inclusion through support measures for underrepresented or vulnerable groups. For example, women enrolled in master’s programmes may benefit from state-supported tuition coverage, including cases where female students admitted on a contract basis have their tuition paid through government support mechanisms. The university also supports students with disabilities by enabling them to study alongside their peers in mainstream groups, while taking their specific conditions into account when assigning and assessing academic tasks. These examples are important because they show that equality and inclusion at Navoi State University are reflected not only in governance structures, but also in actual access and support practices.

         The university further strengthens good governance through feedback and review mechanisms. Surveys conducted by relevant bodies on education quality and related matters help the institution monitor concerns and identify areas for improvement. This contributes to an environment of institutional listening, responsiveness, and continuous improvement, which is aligned with the wider aims of inclusive governance.

         Overall, Navoi State University can demonstrate that it has a functioning institutional system for equality, diversity, inclusion, and human-rights-related support through: its Trade Union as a formal rights-protection and advisory body, its Women’s Support Community with faculty-level advisers, its Code of Ethics and Complaints Policy, and its practical support measures for women and students with disabilities. This combined structure provides evidence of an active and operational governance approach to fairness, non-discrimination, participation, and protection of rights across the university.