EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THEMATIC EVENINGS AND MEETINGS WITH VETERANS IN DEVELOPING PATRIOTIC UPBRINGING AMONG UZBEK YOUTH

Thematic evenings and meetings with veterans represent key non-formal educational practices within Uzbekistan’s state system of patriotic upbringing. This study evaluates their effectiveness in fostering patriotic attitudes, civic responsibility, and military readiness among youth, within the framework of the “New Uzbekistan” strategy, the 2023–2027 Concept of Patriotic Education, and Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 34 (January 28, 2026) on the Program for Patriotic Education in the Continuous Education System. A mixed-methods approach was employed with 397 university and senior secondary students (mean age = 19.8 years; 54% male) from Tashkent and regional institutions. Participants were divided into high-exposure (n=218) and low-exposure (n=179) groups based on self-reported participation in thematic evenings and veteran meetings over the past two academic years. Standardized instruments included an adapted Patriotism Scale (α = .90), Civic Responsibility Scale (α = .87), and a custom Program Effectiveness Questionnaire (α = .92). Quantitative results showed significantly higher patriotism scores among the high-exposure group (M = 5.61/6.00 vs. M = 4.82/6.00; t = 9.34, p < .001), with participation strongly predicting patriotic commitment (β = .48, p < .001, R² = .41). Qualitative thematic analysis of open-ended responses and 32 semi-structured interviews highlighted three core mechanisms: emotional resonance through personal veteran narratives, cultural reinforcement via thematic evenings, and behavioral activation toward civic-military readiness. Findings confirm that these activities serve as highly effective, low-cost tools for translating state policy into lived patriotic upbringing, complementing formal programs such as “Schools of Courage”. Policy recommendations include systematic scaling, digital recording of veteran testimonies, and integration into university curricula. Limitations and directions for longitudinal research are discussed.