Tajik entrepreneur Firouz Boboyev shares his perspective on how professionals should be trained to meet the needs of Tajikistan’s economy. He stresses that it’s time for practical, thoughtful action in the realm of business education.
The ongoing struggle
“When we open a job vacancy today, what do we face? Either we get someone with a ‘good’ diploma but no real-world understanding, or someone with experience but no foundational knowledge. Either way, we start from scratch—explaining, retraining, and adjusting. This takes time, money, energy, and causes stress for everyone involved,” Boboyev explains.
However, he emphasizes that the problem is not with the individuals, but rather a flaw in the system. "Business education is fragmented: universities, courses, trainers, and projects each operate in their own way. The market speaks one language; education speaks another."
The need for a unified compass
Boboyev argues that what Tajikistan needs is not a revolution but a pragmatic solution. "If the country needs managers, marketers, and financiers, then there must be a cohesive system for their training, aligned with reality—not outdated models."
He supports the idea of a unified business education standard in Tajikistan. This should not be a mere formality, but a living framework that everyone can rely on: students, teachers, and employers alike.
Why now?
Boboyev believes the time is right for systemic change. "Tajikistan is approaching a point of transformation. Business is growing, especially in construction, banking, and telecommunications, and new generations of entrepreneurs are emerging. This brings a need for managers who understand not just Excel and reports, but also the culture of decision-making, ethics, digital tools, and global challenges."
However, if every university and school continues on its own path without a standard, Tajikistan will fail to create a national intellectual foundation, he warns. "We can no longer just ‘do business.’ Now, we need to build businesses consciously—understanding strategy, teams, clients, and sustainability. This is maturity, and a unified business standard is its main tool."
What we are ready to do
As an entrepreneur, Boboyev is ready to take action:
- Share real-life cases and experiences
- Participate in shaping a competency model
- Support internships and training programs
- Offer platforms for piloting new formats
“This isn’t just ‘verbal support,’” he adds. “This is a challenge we are willing to take on. Without a business education system, we’ll remain stuck between improvisation and chaos.”
The time has come
Boboyev believes the moment has arrived for Tajikistan to set its own rules. "If we don’t set them, others will. And they will likely ignore our realities, challenges, and context. What Tajikistan needs isn’t just a standard—we need trust in the standard, from businesses, education, and the government."
"We are ready to start building it. Together."
