The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in collaboration with its partner institution based in Central Asia - Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT) - held a Regional Training Course (Summer School) on Applied Econometric Analysis from June 10 – 21, 2019, for the fifth consecutive year. This two-week training course for young researchers from the region took place at WIUT in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. More than 20 participants from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan participated in the training. Participants were selected on a competitive basis based on their interest and background in applied research, as well as their knowledge and skill level in quantitative methods.

Day 1 - June 10

• Introduction to applied research in economics and overview of the training program, Kamiljon Akramov (IFPRI)
• Introduction to Stata (do files, global and local macros, types of variables, descriptive statistics, exporting results of regression to word processor and spreadsheet), Ziyodullo Parpiev (WIUT)
• Introduction to Stata (data management: importing, reshaping, merging, appending, and cleaning data), Ziyodullo Parpiev (WIUT)
  • Related Materials: https://www.stata.com/manuals14/u.pdf 
  • Related Materials (do files)

Day 2 - June 11 

• Looping and useful shortcuts in Stata, Kakhramon Yusupov (WIUT)
• Drawing graphs and maps in Stata, Kakhramon Yusupov (WIUT)
  • Related Materials
• Review of probability (Random variables and probability distributions; Expected values, mean, and variance; Joint and marginal distributions; Conditional distributions; Covariance and correlation), Farrukh Ataev (WIUT)
• Review of probability (cont.), Farrukh Ataev (WIUT)
  • Related Materials

Day 3 - June 12 

• Distributions in statistics (Normal, Chi-squared, Student t, and F distributions; Random sampling and sample distributions), Farrukh Ataev (WIUT)
• Distributions in statistics (cont.), Farrukh Ataev (WIUT)
• Introduction to statistical inference (Estimation of the population mean; Hypothesis testing: p-value, t-test, F-test, confidence intervals), Farrukh Ataev (WIUT)
• Introduction to statistical inference (cont.), Farrukh Ataev (WIUT)
  • Related Materials

Day 4 - June 13 

• Linear regression model, Kakhramon Yusupov (WIUT)
• Hypothesis tests, model specification and diagnostics in linear regression, Obid Khakimov (WIUT)

Day 5 - June 14 

• Regression with binary dependent variable (Linear probability, probit, and logit models), Obid Khakimov (WIUT)
• Assessing studies based on standard regression analysis with examples, Kamiljon Akramov (IFPRI)
• Regression and causal inference (Counterfactual model of causality, Potential outcomes, Assignment mechanisms, Estimands, and estimator), Kamiljon Akramov (IFPRI)

Additional Reading and Related Materials:

Cassidy, J. (2013). The Reinhart and Rogoff Controversy: A Summing Up. The New Yorker. Available from https://www.newyorker.com/news/john-cassidy/the-reinhart-and-rogoff-controversy-a-summing-up.

Imbens, G. and Rubin, D., ed. Causal Inference for Statistics, Social, and Biomedical Sciences An Introduction. New York: Cambridge University Press, 31-42. Available from https://books.google.co.uz/books?hl=en&lr=&id=Bf1tBwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR17&dq=Imbens+%26+Rubin,+Causal+Inference,+Part+I,+Chapter+3,+November+25,+2009&ots=jd-Ecc-NzB&sig=_5Wj7ce83aov0VCMnO7DKCGZy-k&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false 

Day 6 - June 17 

• Identification: Regression analysis of RCTs, Bakhrom Mirkasimov (WIUT)

• Panel data econometrics (fixed effects, random effects, incidental parameter problem), Obid Khakimov (WIUT)

Important message: This event has been postponed until further notice

Legal Transformations, Global Comparisons and the Challenges Lying Ahead

Contemporary dynamism of Central Asian Law, gaining impetus from an evolving scale of reforms necessitate to examine trajectories of this change and revisiting its position from international perspectives. It presupposes outlook on Central Asian law from the comparative perspectives and position of international standards, with pointing on the next stage of its development under the increasingly interdisciplinary and transnational character legal relations. The central place of the Forum concerns the correlation of the mainstream trends in the industry, technology and professional practice on the trajectories of legal development, as well as the effect of the new generation of law on the social reality. It includes pivotal areas of bilateral investment treaties and, foreign investment facilitation, accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Public-Private Partnership, Corporate Governance, Foreign Direct Investment and Corporate Social Responsibility, Law & Technology, and other contemporary trends causing academic debate and industry interest. The Forum is an opportunity to integrate the views on foreseeable implications of the next generation of Central Asian law under international standards and practices with construing its broader picture across the disciplines in synergy with industry and legal practice.

Date: postponed until further notice

Venue: Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT)

Speakers (TBC):

Mr. Jovan Jekic, Senior WTO/Trade Advisor, USA

We welcome international and Central Asian law experts from academia, industry, and legal practice. We expect submissions of original interdisciplinary research focusing on Central Asian law with nexus to contemporary developments under international standards.

The language of the Forum, submissions, and presentations is English. Please submit paper abstracts (250-300 words) by April 1, 2020 (subject to change) by email to Patricia Celeti This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Submissions should clearly state all names of the authors, their affiliations and contact details. Authors of accepted paper abstracts will be notified by April 15, 2020 (subject to change). There is no charge to attend the Forum. WIUT organizers will cover meals and refreshments. Participants will be required to pay for their own travel and accommodation. Further details will be included in the letter of acceptance.

Selected papers will be published in international peer-reviewed journal Silk Road: A Journal of Eurasian Development managed by Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT) and published by the University of Westminster Press (UK) https://silkroadjournal.online

Important message: This event has been postponed until further notice

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

2020 Summer School for Young Economists

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT) invite young economists and researchers to apply for the Regional Training Course (Summer School) on Applied Econometric Analysis from June 1 to June 12, 2020 (subject to change), in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The aim of the Summer School is to strengthen the capacity of young economists in Central Asia, specifically those of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, for quantitative research, economic policy analysis, and, in particular, for econometric analysis of socioeconomic phenomena in the context of economics and related social sciences.

The emphasis of the Summer School Program will be made on identifying causal relationships using modern tools and techniques of applied econometric analysis. When necessary, the program will also cover mathematical foundations of modern econometrics. Students of the Summer School Program will learn to:

• identify research niche and develop research questions;
• do empirical data analysis and build robust econometric models;
• detect causality in cross–sectional, time-series and longitudinal (panel) data settings;
• address endogeneity and heterogeneity issues in empirical studies;
• interpret results of empirical research and make a causal inference;
• publish research papers in international peer-reviewed journals.

Classes of the Summer School Program will be held at WIUT premises in Tashkent, with sessions combining applied and empirical analyses with statistical packages such as Stata in computer-labs. All classes will be conducted in English by IFPRI senior researchers and WIUT faculty members with experience in modern research in economics.

The most promising researchers among the participants of the Summer School may be invited, on a competitive basis, to IFPRI headquarters in Washington, D.C. for a research internship.

Participation requirements:

Participants for the Summer School Program will be selected on a competitive basis. All those who are engaged in research or seek a career involving research, are fluent in English, are at the age of 35 or younger, and reside in one of the following countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, are eligible. Applications from previous Summer School participants will not be considered. Applicants should submit Online Application Form (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TYCDL23) no later than April 20, 2020 (subject to change). Those applicants, who have no access to Online Application Form, could alternatively apply via submitting a completed 2020 Summer School Application Form together with their most up to date CV to the following addresses This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. no later than April 20, 2020 (subject to change). Please note: applicants do not need to do both – online application form and alternative submission.

The organizers will provide foreign participants of the summer school with economy class round trip ticket to Tashkent, accommodation and living allowances for the duration of the Summer School.

To gain a better understanding of the programs curriculum, please review the curriculum offered during 2016, 2017, 2018 or 2019 Summer School for Young Economists.

For any inquiries or questions regarding the Summer School, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and/or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

ANNUAL STUDENT RESEARCH SOCIETY CONFERENCE

Important message: This event has been postponed from 17 April to a new date until further notice

CALL FOR PAPERS

The Westminster International University in Tashkent Student Research Society is pleased to host its first Annual Student Research Society Conference with theme “Investing for sustainable development”.  This research conference aims to bring together undergraduate and postgraduate students and researchers throughout the Globe with interests in business, management, economics and international law disciplines.

ABOVE LISTED TOPICS ARE FOCUSED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING

UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS  

IMPORTANT DATES

Abstract submission:                                    ...                              

Notification of acceptance of abstracts:         ... 

Date of the event:                                          This event has been postponed from 17 April to a new date until further notice                        

Full paper submission:                                  ...

VENUE: Westminster International University in Tashkent, Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

WORKING LANGUAGES OF THE CONFERENCE IS ENGLISH. 

PUBLICATION

Selected papers will be published in either Conference Proceedings, Research Digest or in international peer-reviewed journal, Silk Road: A Journal of Eurasian Development https://silkroadjournal.online/, published by Westminster University Press (UK)  https://www.westminster.ac.uk/

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

• Submission must be prepared by using sample provided.
  • The title of the paper (up to 15 words)
  • The name and surname of the author(s)
  • The affiliation of the author(s)
  • The email address (es) of the author(s)
  • The keywords (3-5 words)
  • An abstract (250-300 words).
• File name: ISRC 2020_AREA_NAME OF AUTHOR
  • For example: ISRC 2020_LAW_ALIEV ALI
  • ISRC 2020_ECON _ALIEV ALI
  • ISRC 2020_B&M_ALIEV ALI

• Email subject: Same as FILE NAME.
• Submit your abstracts via e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Full papers must be prepared based on journal format Silk Road: A journal of Eurasian Development https://silkroadjournal.online/.

 PRESENTATION

• Presentation can be made via Power Point slides or Poster (in A1 format).
• 15 minutes for presentation and 5 minutes for Q&A.
• Each presenter will receive Certificate of participation.

REGISTRATION

• Participation in conference is free of charge.
• Unregistered participants will not be allowed to attend.
• Organizers will cover meals and refreshments. Participants will be required to pay for their own travel and accommodation

CONTACT US 

• Contact to organizing committee for any inquiry or question, via email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Facebook/Instagram @WIUTResearch or via phone +99871 2387415.