History of university

It is with great pride and joy that, in accordance with Decree No. 565 of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan dated September 2, 2014, "On the Celebration of the 70th Anniversary of Abuabdulloh Rudaki Kulob  State University," the 70th anniversary celebration will take place on September 1, 2015, at the aforementioned university. The noble people of Kulob  and the beloved people of Tajikistan, together with faculty and staff, students, graduates of various courses, and employees of the university structures, will proudly celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of Kulob  State University. In anticipation of this important historical date, the university administration has established an organizing committee and developed and approved a series of celebratory events. We are all deeply proud and honored to remember the first meeting of the Head of State, Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, on October 12, 1994, in the hall of Abuabdulloh Rudaki State University in Kulob , on the eve of the nationwide referendum on the Constitution of the Republic of Tajikistan and the presidential election. This inspiring and memorable event will never be forgotten, because the wise and far-sighted words of the most worthy candidate for the post of President of the Republic of Tajikistan on the fundamental paths to ensuring peace and security, saving the country from political, economic, and cultural crisis, and achieving full independence still resonate. The appeal of the voters at the rally to all voters of the Republic of Tajikistan was accepted. And we remember that after the first announcement of the vote count results and his overwhelming victory, Emomali Rahmon came to Kulob and was honored by the people. The streets of Kulob  were filled with happy people! Following the victorious victory of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany and the beginning of the restoration and development of the national economy, the Kulob  State  Institute was established under the name Kulob  State  Two-Year Pedagogical Institute by order No. 1373 of the USSR Ministry of Culture dated August 15, 1945, on the basis of the Kulob  Pedagogical  Institute, which had previously been known as the Pedagogical Course (1931-1934), Pedagogical College (1934-1935), and Pedagogical Combine (1935-1938). Later, by order of the USSR Ministry of Education dated August 1945, the two-year pedagogical institute was transformed into a four-year state pedagogical institute. Initially, the institute included faculties of history and philology, physics and mathematics, natural sciences, and geography.

In the first year of the institute's operation, only 48 applicants were accepted to the faculties, taught by nine faculty members with higher education. The first director was Rahmon Karimov, appointed to this position by the decree of the Minister of Education of the Republic of Tajikistan on August 25, 1945. In the first year of study, the planned enrollment was 80%. However, with the assistance and support of the relevant state and party departments of the city and region of Kulob , the necessary number of classrooms, offices, laboratories, and student dormitories was found. The educational process was streamlined. The best teachers were recruited from all corners of the country.

During the 1947-1948 academic year, this scientific and educational center housed the departments of Marxism-Leninism (headed by Khodjabobo Ortikov), Language and Literature (headed by Shakhidi Karimov), Physics and Mathematics (headed by Azam Akbarov), Natural Sciences and Geography (headed by Rahmon Karimov himself), and Pedagogy and Psychology (headed by Abdullo Rakhimov).

Rector Muhammadi Ismatulloev invited many young scholars and teachers to Kulob  from the cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, Khujand, and Dushanbe. During the tenure of Rector Khudoynazar Mamadnazarov, notable changes occurred: the number of applicants to the institute increased significantly, new departments and faculties were created, the quality of education and training improved, and significant changes in staffing arrangements occurred. For example, senior lecturer Kh.B. Bogirov was appointed secretary of the party bureau, A. Siddikov was appointed chairman of the trade union, and D.G. Reznik was appointed head of the correspondence department. The gravity of the situation should be further emphasized by the fact that the bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Tajikistan was appointed head of the Department of the Fundamentals of Marxism-Leninism. The head of this department was B.T. Abdurakhimov, and G. Mamadnazarov, A. Siddikov, G. Yatimov, M. Shukurov, Mallaev, Varkhanin worked there as teachers. Teachers G.B. were appointed to the Department of History of the Peoples of the USSR. Bogirov, R. Usmonov, Minyazov, D.G. Reznik.

The institute gradually expanded, and the faculty's supply improved. In the 1952-1953 academic year, the faculty reached 576, and the number of scholars and teachers reached 100. Talented specialists were hired as faculty, including Solomiddin Atoyev, Ya. A. Boboev, M. G. Kabina, G. Nazarov, Moyonsho Nazarshoyev, Mirzo Sultonov, Parviz Irfon, Gomid Khodjayev, and others. Over the course of its eight years of operation (1945-1953), the two-year Kulob  Pedagogical  Institute played a significant role in training teachers and providing the republic's schools with incomplete higher education teachers. During this time, more than 900 students studied in its full-time and part-time departments, more than 750 of whom received an incomplete higher education diploma.

This marked the end of the first stage of the Kulob  Pedagogical  Institute's activity and development, and the second stage began in the 1953-1954 academic year. Despite impressive results, it became clear that the institute could not meet the growing needs of the educational sector. New approaches were needed. It's worth noting that the institute's material and educational resources were created within the eight years of its existence. First and foremost, a team of experienced teachers and lecturers was ready to conduct educational work at a higher educational institution—a four-year pedagogical institute. The institute's leadership repeatedly appealed to the authorities of the city and region of Kulob , as well as the national government, requesting the establishment of the Kulob  State  Pedagogical Institute. These requests, along with those of the institute's leadership, were finally accepted by the Government of the Soviet Union, and on August 7, 1953, the USSR Ministry of Education approved Resolution No. 1373 "On the liquidation of the Kulob two-year pedagogical institute and the establishment of the Kulob  State  Pedagogical Institute on its basis in the 1953-1954 academic year." Based on this resolution, the Council of Ministers of the Tajik SSR also adopted a special resolution on August 15, 1953, "On the Opening of the Kulob  State  Pedagogical Institute on the Basis of the Kulob  Pedagogical  Institute."

Now the second stage of the Kulob  State  Pedagogical Institute's activities and development began. The institute's director, Khudoynazar Mamadnazarov, was dismissed on August 10, 1953, due to a transfer to another position, and Ashraf Siddikov, head of the Department of Fundamentals of Marxism-Leninism, was appointed acting rector of the Kulob  State  Pedagogical Institute.

Thus, in the 1953-1954 academic year, the number of full-time and part-time students at the institute totaled 572. Due to the expansion of each specialty, the number of students and faculty at the institute increased, and new departments, laboratories, and divisions were created. The library's collection of scientific, methodological, artistic, and literary-technical literature increased, and the issue of improving the quality of training highly qualified personnel was raised. On December 19, 1953, PhD in history and associate professor Kh.K. Khodjaev was appointed rector of the Kulob  State  Pedagogical Institute. He undertook a tremendous amount of work to ensure the quality of education and training, strengthen the institute's material and technical base, develop research, and provide material, technical, and living conditions for the institute's faculty. For example, with his help and efforts, city authorities transferred to the institute two-story buildings at 25 and 27 Karl Marx Street (now S. Safarov Street) and a one-story building at Orzhonkidze Street (now the site of a four-story building housing the municipal social security administration). The faculty was provided with housing. As a result, the number of faculty members leaving the university was reduced to a minimum, while the core faculty remained. During the second stage of its development, the institute trained hundreds of teachers, providing them with a comprehensive higher professional education. Among them were People's Teacher of the USSR Idi Khalifayev, Honored Teachers of Tajikistan Sonya Akkalaeva, Saragon Turakhanov, Karim Kodirov, Akhmad Khayatov, Sang Samadov, Barot Mirzoyev, and others.

In the 1956-1957 academic year, the institute transitioned from a four-year to a five-year integrated curriculum, as the country needed interdisciplinary teachers. Integrated specialties were practiced within the faculties. For example, the Faculty of History and Philology trained teachers of Tajik and Russian languages, literature, and history, while the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics trained teachers of mathematics, physics, drawing, astronomy, and other subjects. The transition to integrated education forced the institute's leadership to revise the curricula and programs, improving student independent work, as well as the volume and quality of practical and laboratory classes.

The institute gradually expanded, and the faculty's supply improved. In the 1952-1953 academic year, the faculty reached 576, and the number of scholars and teachers reached 100. Talented specialists were hired as faculty, including Solomiddin Atoyev, Ya. A. Boboev, M. G. Kabina, G. Nazarov, Moyonsho Nazarshoyev, Mirzo Sultonov, Parviz Irfon, Gomid Khodjayev, and others. Over the course of its eight years of operation (1945-1953), the two-year Kulob  Pedagogical  Institute played a significant role in training teachers and providing the republic's schools with incomplete higher education teachers. During this time, more than 900 students studied in its full-time and part-time departments, more than 750 of whom received an incomplete higher education diploma.

This marked the end of the first stage of the Kulob  Pedagogical  Institute's activity and development, and the second stage began in the 1953-1954 academic year. Despite impressive results, it became clear that the institute could not meet the growing needs of the educational sector. New approaches were needed. It's worth noting that the institute's material and educational resources were created within the eight years of its existence. First and foremost, a team of experienced teachers and lecturers was ready to conduct educational work at a higher educational institution—a four-year pedagogical institute. The institute's leadership repeatedly appealed to the authorities of the city and region of Kulob , as well as the national government, requesting the establishment of the Kulob  State  Pedagogical Institute. These requests, along with those of the institute's leadership, were finally accepted by the Government of the Soviet Union, and on August 7, 1953, the USSR Ministry of Education approved Resolution No. 1373 "On the liquidation of the Kulob two-year pedagogical institute and the establishment of the Kulob  State  Pedagogical Institute on its basis in the 1953-1954 academic year." Based on this resolution, the Council of Ministers of the Tajik SSR also adopted a special resolution on August 15, 1953, "On the Opening of the Kulob  State  Pedagogical Institute on the Basis of the Kulob  Pedagogical  Institute."

Now the second stage of the Kulob  State  Pedagogical Institute's activities and development began. The institute's director, Khudoynazar Mamadnazarov, was dismissed on August 10, 1953, due to a transfer to another position, and Ashraf Siddikov, head of the Department of Fundamentals of Marxism-Leninism, was appointed acting rector of the Kulob  State  Pedagogical Institute.

Thus, in the 1953-1954 academic year, the number of full-time and part-time students at the institute totaled 572. Due to the expansion of each specialty, the number of students and faculty at the institute increased, and new departments, laboratories, and divisions were created. The library's collection of scientific, methodological, artistic, and literary-technical literature increased, and the issue of improving the quality of training highly qualified personnel was raised. On December 19, 1953, PhD in history and associate professor Kh.K. Khodjaev was appointed rector of the Kulob  State  Pedagogical Institute. He undertook a tremendous amount of work to ensure the quality of education and training, strengthen the institute's material and technical base, develop research, and provide material, technical, and living conditions for the institute's faculty. For example, with his help and efforts, city authorities transferred to the institute two-story buildings at 25 and 27 Karl Marx Street (now S. Safarov Street) and a one-story building at Orzhonkidze Street (now the site of a four-story building housing the municipal social security administration). The faculty was provided with housing. As a result, the number of faculty members leaving the university was reduced to a minimum, while the core faculty remained. During the second stage of its development, the institute trained hundreds of teachers, providing them with a comprehensive higher professional education. Among them were People's Teacher of the USSR Idi Khalifayev, Honored Teachers of Tajikistan Sonya Akkalaeva, Saragon Turakhanov, Karim Kodirov, Akhmad Khayatov, Sang Samadov, Barot Mirzoyev, and others.

In the 1956-1957 academic year, the Institute transitioned from a four-year to a five-year integrated curriculum, as the country needed interdisciplinary faculty. Integrated specializations were practiced within the faculties. For example, the Faculty of History and Philology trained teachers of the Tajik and Russian languages, literature, and history, while the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics trained teachers of mathematics, physics, drawing, astronomy, and other subjects. The transition to integrated education forced the Institute's leadership to revise the curricula and programs, improve student independent work, as well as the volume and quality of practical and laboratory classes.

In the 1970s and 1980s, the Institute's ties with research centers and universities in the former Soviet republics strengthened. In the 1980s and 1990s, Associate Professors S.K. Karimov, H. Gafurov, M. Malikov, K. Kodirov, and M.O. Ibodov, I. Ikromov, A. Makhmadov, K.B. Kodirov, H. Afzalov, R. Saidov, J. Sharifov, A. Kucharov, A. Pakhlavonov, J. Alimi, and others.

During the fourth stage of development (1962-1991), the heads of Kulob  State  University named after Abuabdullo Rudaki were Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor Tokhir Umarov (1962-1971), Doctor of Philosophy, Professor Abdullo Rakhimov (1971-1972), Candidate of Economic Sciences, Professor Ikbol Davlatovich Khushvakhtov (1973-1980), Candidate of Philosophy, Associate Professor Tagai Rahmonov (1980-1990), and Doctor of Historical Sciences Mahmud  Khakimovich Malikov (1991-1993). Fortunately, the fateful 16th session of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Tajikistan, held from November 16 to December 2, 1992, at the Arbob Palace of Culture in the Khujand district, restored and revived constitutional government in the country. Thanks to the efforts of the nation's beloved son, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, and other supporters of peace and unity, as well as through the mediation of the heads of friendly states, the "General Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and National Accord in Tajikistan" was signed on June 27, 1997. During a very sensitive and difficult period in the country's public life, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Tajikistan on July 24, 1992, approved Resolution No. 235 "On the Transformation of the Kulob  State Pedagogical Institute into Kulob  State University." During those difficult and catastrophic days, the so-called "newly formed" university never ceased its educational process, continuing its educational and upbringing work. On the personal initiative of Academician S.K. Karimov and the Ministry of Education, beginning in the 1992-1993 academic year, new faculties, departments, and specialties were created at Abuabdulloh Rudaki Kulob  State  University. This is one of the first fruits of independence, national unity, peace, and stability, as well as the efforts of the President of our beloved and dear Motherland.

Over the course of 80 fruitful years, the following were appointed and elected to the honorary position of Rector of Abuabdulloh Rudaki Kulob  State  University: Rahmon Karimov (August 1945 - February 1948), Bozor Sharifzoda (February 1948 - December 1948), and Muhammadi Ismatulloev (September 1948 - November 1948). 1950), Khudoynazar Mamadnazarov (January 1951 - August 1953), Ashraf Siddikov (August 1953 - December 1953), Hamid Kosimovich Khojaev (December 1953 - August 1957), Nazrisho Latipov (August 1957 - August 1960), Niyoz Safarov (August 1960 – July 1960). 1962), Tohir Umarov (July 1962 - July 1971), Abdullo Ragimov (July 1971 - March 1972), Ikbol Davlatovich Khushvakhtov (March 1973 - May 1980), Tagai Rahmonov (May 1980 - May 1990), Mahmud Khakimovich Malikov (May 1990 - September 1993), Samariddin Karimovich Karimov (September 1993 - December 2004), Khursand Saidovich Azamov (December 2004 - October 2008), Karimjon Kodirov (October 2008 - September 2010), Solekhov Nurali Nazarovich (September 2010 - August 2012), Abdullo Khabibullo (August 2012-2019), Miralizoda Abdusalom Mustafa (from January 2019 to June 2022), Rahmon Dilshod Safarbek (from June 10, 2022 to 2025), Safarzoda Munir Vatan (from May 2025 to the present)