1 Introduction

The science is a real advantage for people. (Wolfgang Goethe)

In Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, vocational education (VE) is divided into three levels: initial, secondary, and higher. The initial VE ensures obtaining a working profession (of the primary qualification) and is implemented in the educational institutions, called vocational schools; the secondary VE in the colleges; and higher VE in the educational institutions having the status of a university (university, institute, academy).

In order to integrate the system of vocational education into the world educational space, the Kyrgyz Republic and Republic of Tajikistan have switched to a multilevel training system. These universities have already trained Bachelors according to this multilevel educational system, and in the upcoming 2016/2017 academic year, they will move to the second level of training – training of Masters of Vocational Education.

According to the State Educational Standard of Higher Vocational Education (SES HVE), Masters of Vocational Education should be ready to implement the following tasks:

  1. 1.

    Educational and professional

  2. 2.

    Scientific and research

  3. 3.

    Pedagogical designing

  4. 4.

    Organization and management

  5. 5.

    Production and technological

To accomplish the above tasks, a Master of Vocational Education must have certain competences in the educational standard: universal and professional.

2 The Competencies of Masters of Vocational Education

In the context of globalization, a major factor for the successful functioning and training of competitive specialists that meet the requirements of the labour market is the integration into a single educational space.

The colleagues from Central Asian countries, namely, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan, have initiated and implemented several educational projects within the framework of the international GIZ project and the regional program “Vocational education in Central Asia”, the component “Vocational education – training of teachers of the secondary vocational education” of the SUCCESS program (Education and Teacher Network in the PBBZ framework).

According to Alekhina O. F., Gontar V. V., and Lavrenteva V. A. “a qualitative development of the intellectual potential is characterized by the increase of the personal qualifications of each employee’s capabilities in the field of research and development work to make the highest quality decisions within his/her competence” (Alekhina et al. 2004, p. 44).

It should be noted that the qualification characteristics and competences of Masters are reflected in the Regulation “On Master’s degree programmes”, approved by the Municipality of the Republic of Tajikistan as Regulations on baccalaureate, specialist, and Master’s degree (Municipality of the Republic of Tajikistan 2007).

3 The Competences of Masters, Formed as a Result of Implementation of the Scientific Researches

As a result of the implementation of a scientific research, a graduate student must acquire the following professional competences:

  • Present the results of the research, compare, and critically evaluate the generalized results obtained by the domestic and foreign researchers; identify and formulate relevant scientific problems in the selected theme of the industry.

  • Justify the timeliness, theoretical, and practical significance of the chosen research topic.

  • Conduct independent research in accordance with the program developed.

  • Present the results of the study in the form of the thesis, articles, patents for inventions, adoption deed, speaker’s paper, or research report.

  • Under the direct supervision of the leading scientist in the field, develop training guidelines and work programs of the training courses.

Based on the goals and objectives of the research project, a graduate student must know:

  • Specifics of the scientific researches in the chosen field

  • General scientific and special methods of researches in the field of the Master’s program

  • Principles of arranging of the scientific research activities

  • Content of the research tools

  • Technology of the scientific research activities

  • Be able to:

    • Formulate the scientific range of problems in the selected field.

    • Justify the urgency of the chosen research area.

    • Choose the means and methods for solving the problems set in the scientific research.

    • Use the methods of the scientific research.

    • Justify the conclusion of the research results.

    • Have peer review and review of the scientific publications.

  • Possess:

    • Methods for conducting research in the chosen field

    • Methods of analysis and self-assessment and critical approach, contributing to the development of the individual researcher

    • Techniques for processing of the empirical data obtained and their interpretation.

4 The Structure and Content of the Scientific Research of a Graduate Student

As a result of the research work, a student should get practical skills on how to conduct research activities and to process the findings. The specific practical skills and abilities are defined in the Principal Education Program (PEP) of the higher vocational education. The total number of credits of the PEP for training of Masters makes 120 credits (100%). Thirty credits are allocated for the research-oriented subjects and the research practicum – this is the fourth part of the total number of credits, i.e. 25%.

The level of readiness of Bachelors to the scientific research (SR) is shown in the below diagram (cp. Fig. 19.1). Under the readiness for the scientific research, we understand the successful defence of the graduation thesis (GT). The diagram is made according to the results of defence of the final qualifying papers of Bachelors of Vocational Education. The diagram shows that only a third of graduates are ready to carry out.

Fig. 19.1
figure 1

Research activities

Full size image

Total number of persons completed the training – 14 students (100%), of which:

  • Five Bachelor’s degree students defended their graduate thesis (GT) and received the grade of “Excellent”, which makes 36%.

  • Seven Bachelor’s degree students defended their graduate thesis (GT) and received the grade of “Good” – 50%.

  • Two Bachelor’s degree students defended their graduate thesis (GT) and received the grade of “Satisfactory” – 14%.

It should be noted that the scientific-specific subjects and other types of research activities of students in the training programs of Bachelors of Vocational Education make up only 10% of the total number of credits, i.e. 24 credits of the total 240.

Based on the above indicated and on the recommendations of the GIZ program’s experts, the total number of credits of the subjects that form the scientific research competence of Masters, increased up to 25%.

In the course of the scientific research activities, the students in the Master’s programs use the technology of classical (traditional), student-centred learning, information technology, technology of project, and problem-based learning, adopted in the educational process.

The students in the Master’s programs can apply the scientific methods, which include observation, comparison, counting, measurement, experiment, generalization, abstraction, formalization, analysis, and synthesis, induction and deduction, analogy, modelling, idealization, ranking, axiomatic, hypothetical, historical, and system methods (Rahimov 2007, p. 12).

5 Provision with the Training and Methodological Package for Conducting Scientific Researchesand Self-Preparation of Master’s Thesis

The graduate students must be provided with the following:

  • Access to the databases and library stocks in accordance to the full list of subjects (modules) of PEP

  • The possibility for the rapid exchange of information with foreign universities, companies, and organizations

As part of the research activity, a Master student shall:

  • Plan scientific research activities, including familiarization with the subject of the research in this field of activity, and define methodologies and methods of the research.

  • Conduct research.

  • Draw up the research report, which includes scientific publications on the topic of research, abstracts about the results of the work, research reports, adoption deed, and patents for inventions.

  • Make self-assessment of the activities performed during the period of research.

6 Forms of Midpoint and Final Assessment Following the Results of the Scientific Researches

The form of the midpoint and final assessment of the scientific researches of the graduate students is an attestation of the results for the whole period of implementation of the research work in the Department (where a student studies) to be held by a special commission with the participation of a research supervisor of Master’s thesis.

First, a graduate student defends his/her Master’s thesis in front of the Department Commission. After getting the conclusion of the Department, he/she is allowed to defend the thesis at the meeting of the State Attestation Commission.

Assessment criteria:

  • The level of performing experimental and research programs, the degree of independence, quality of the data processing, and their interpretation considering the development of the research activities of the graduate student.

  • The degree of psychological readiness of the graduate student to work in the modern conditions, his/her understanding of the goals and challenges of the modern specialist in the chosen field of industry.

  • The level of development of didactic skills, methodological, and technical training to conduct scientific research in modern conditions.

  • Assessment of the ability to plan and to predict the results of his/her activities, to consider the real possibilities and reserves.

  • Assessment of the activity of work of the graduate student to improve his/her professional level, the search for effective methods and technologies in conducting researches.

  • The degree of development of personal qualities of the graduate student (the culture of communication, the level of intellectual, and moral development and others).

  • After each year of education in the Master’s degree program and based on the results of the research performed, the graduate student submits for publication the following: theses, articles, reports, or scientific report, as well as prepares presentations for the scientific and scientific-practical seminars, conferences, and forums in order to develop his/her rhetorical abilities.

7 Conclusions and Further Perspectives of the Researches

Currently, three persons are enrolled in the Master’s program of KSTU named after I. Razzakov. The university tests the program for training of Masters of Vocational Education, elaborated jointly with the experts of the GIZ project, which is totally new to Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

The PEP Regulation allows introducing changes in the program for up to 15% of the total list of subjects.