Continuing its “Building Institutional Capacity for Sustainable Futures” roadmap under the World Bank’s MUNIS PRIM grant, the Institute for Advanced International Studies hosted an intensive online workshop series from 16 to 20 May 2025. Led by Prof Timur Dadabaev, IAIS’s international consultant within the project, the program engaged the project team in research practice and publication strategies.

The series opened with modules on advanced research methodologies and tools, guiding participants through the use of specialized software for both qualitative and quantitative data analysis, the application of AI and analytics in scholarly work, and emerging international trends in research technologies. Prof Dadabaev also demonstrated best practices for data sourcing, statistical techniques and the integration of big-data feeds to enrich policy-relevant studies.

Mid-week sessions focused on research project design and management, where attendees explored methods for formulating robust research questions, structuring discussion sections, and compensating for limited quantitative data through descriptive analyses. Through real-time critique of draft proposals, the team honed their ability to align methodological choices with overarching project objectives and contextual constraints.

The concluding days emphasized effective research communication and publication, with Prof Dadabaev illustrating how to craft compelling Methods, Results and Discussion sections, and how to leverage platforms such as ORCID, ResearchGate and Mendeley for wider dissemination. Participants practiced simplifying complex findings for diverse audiences and learned policy research techniques including theory of change and cost-benefit analysis.

This online extension of research training underlines the Institute’s commitment to embedding rigorous, internationally recognized research standards within Uzbekistan’s emerging think-tank community.