On May 16, 2020, at the "Silk Road" International University of Tourism held an online seminar on the introduction of professional and social support services and the consolidation of international specialists. The purpose of the seminar was to provide the University with effective services of professional and social support, to strengthen international specialists of various categories and to increase competitiveness.

The need for an online seminar is also due to the implementation of an inter-University policy aimed at attracting foreign teachers to our University, and the formation of special conditions for the integration of foreign specialists into the new environment. The participants of the seminar were heads of departments and employees of the University, managers and specialists involved in recruiting and supporting research and teaching staff.

It is worth noting that at the moment at the "Silk Road" International University of Tourism employs foreign specialists from five continents of the world. Attending lectures by world-renowned scientists and professional experts in the field of tourism, students get an idea of the global development of various research areas in tourism, are determined with the topics of certification works. According to the University staff, one of the main goals of creating support services is the successful adaptation of invited research and teaching staff with the possibility of continuing their activities at our University.

The international services of the University, under the guidance of the rector and Vice-rector for Internationalization and Strategic Development, are directly involved in the competitive selection of foreign RTS. Each teacher, according to the Vice-rector of the doctor of Economics, Professor B.Turaev, makes a personal contribution to the common cause aimed at improving the knowledge, skills and abilities of the young generation of the "Silk Road" International University of Tourism.

“Attracting international experts is an important part of the internationalization of the International University of Tourism, increasing the authority of our University in the educational arena. We have done a great job of studying the experience and achievements of our partners and colleagues. Today, the "Silk Road" International University of Tourism lectures are given by teachers from the world's largest universities. They become mentors for our students, their recommendations and advice help the younger generation to prove themselves in the professional field and determine the current research topics, " B. Turaev said.

It was also stressed that it is an effective practice for an international University to attract teachers from partner universities.

Bahodir Turayev's speech was supplemented by the head of the International Department Firuza Ikramova and the Head of the Department for work with foreign specialists Hamid Turaev, who noted the unique qualities and potential of each University, the need for an individual approach and the possibility of practical application of the materials obtained at the online seminar.

"We wanted to show all the possibilities in the field of attracting foreign personnel. I hope that each participant will find something that is of interest to them, " Hamid Turayev continued.

Also, the Head of the Department for work with foreign specialists told about the developed methods and analysis of various data. "We needed to generalize the best practices and establish cooperation with foreign specialists. We tried to get away from academism and prepare something that will be in demand in practice.

During the online workshop, he shared the main results of the tasks aimed at attracting and retaining international specialists, and organized a discussion of methodological recommendations. Also, during the online seminar, information was provided about the system of support for foreign personnel: for example, a system of recruitment and fixed-term contracts was introduced for scientific and pedagogical workers.

During the online seminar, participants discussed the order of work with a package of regulatory and working documents for the establishment and functioning of professional services and social support of international experts, features of labor relations with foreign employees and recent changes in the legislation concerning the employment of foreign experts.

All participants of the seminar noted that competent registration of labor relations with invited RTS is an important condition for their successful work at the "Silk Road" International University of Tourism. RTS reviews and their satisfaction with the work contribute to increasing the number of foreign students, conducting joint research and participating in scientific projects.

The University's mission is also being implemented through effective support for the activities of foreign RTS. We constantly analyze the changes taking place in the universities of our foreign partners. It is necessary to think carefully about the services that our University can provide, engage in professional training and adaptation of specialists, create structural divisions to meet these goals, " Hamid Turayev, the Head of the Department for work with foreign specialists, summed up the results of the seminar.

All specialists and employees of our University highly appreciated the events and expressed their readiness to regularly communicate on the topic of improving the methods of hiring and adapting foreign teachers.