THE ROLE OF NATIONAL LITERARY HERITAGE IN DEVELOPING LINGUISTIC AND CULTURAL COMPETENCE OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract

The development of linguistic and cultural competence among university students has become one of the key priorities of modern higher education systems, particularly in countries undergoing rapid socio-cultural transformation and educational reform. In the context of Uzbekistan, the study of national literary heritage plays a fundamental role in shaping students’ intellectual worldview, moral values, and language proficiency. This research investigates the pedagogical potential of national literary works in strengthening linguistic competence, cultural awareness, and critical thinking among students studying Uzbek language and literature at higher educational institutions. The study is based on theoretical analysis, pedagogical observation, comparative literary analysis, and survey methods conducted among university students and teachers. The results demonstrate that systematic integration of classical and modern Uzbek literary texts into university curricula significantly enhances students’ language mastery, improves their interpretative skills, and fosters a deeper understanding of national identity and cultural continuity. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of interactive teaching approaches, interdisciplinary integration, and digital educational technologies in the teaching of literary heritage. The findings suggest that the effective use of literary texts not only develops linguistic competence but also strengthens students’ cultural consciousness and ethical values, which are essential for preparing highly educated specialists capable of contributing to the cultural and intellectual development of society. The article contributes to contemporary pedagogical and philological research by proposing methodological recommendations for integrating literary heritage into higher education language instruction.