President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed proposals on July 10 regarding the introduction of secondary vocational, professional, and higher education programs in Uzbekistan based on international standards. Discussions also covered expanding partnerships with major foreign universities.
The vision for creating an International University Town in Tashkent was presented during the presentation. It is envisioned that both domestic and leading foreign higher education institutions will be located in this area. When developing this project, it was suggested to study the successful experience of educational clusters such as Education City in Qatar, Dubai International Academic City, and Incheon Global Campus.
The President instructed the preparation of detailed proposals across several areas. These include attracting branches of renowned foreign universities, constructing campuses and student dormitories, and simplifying licensing requirements. Furthermore, it is necessary to consider providing tax and customs benefits, as well as partial compensation of royalties to foreign universities, and offering grants and scholarships.
The main objective of this project is to transform Uzbekistan into a significant educational center in the region that actively utilizes international standards and programs. It was noted that over the past eight years, the share of the population covered by higher education has increased from 9% to 44%, and the total number of students has grown from 270 thousand to 1.7 million people.
It is planned that by 2026, professional training programs developed in Germany, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, China, South Korea, and other countries will be implemented in 100 out of 643 technical schools.
Existing projects were cited as examples: Education City in Qatar, which is an educational and research complex covering about 12 square kilometers, created by Qatar Foundation. Branches of universities such as Carnegie Mellon, Georgetown, Northwestern, Virginia Commonwealth, and Weill Cornell Medicine operate there, alongside the local Hamad Bin Khalifa University and scientific centers. Dubai International Academic City is a specialized university district in Dubai that brings together local and foreign educational institutions, laboratories, and the necessary infrastructure for students aiming to become a regional higher education center. Additionally, Incheon Global Campus in South Korea is a joint campus established by the country's government and Incheon authorities, where divisions of the State University of New York, George Mason University, Ghent University, and the University of Utah operate, allowing students to earn degrees from leading institutions.
A new targeted master's program is being introduced in Uzbekistan that will allow highly qualified educators to obtain a master's degree in a distance learning format without interrupting their professional activities.
This new procedure was officially approved by a Cabinet of Ministers resolution. Starting from the 2026/2027 academic year, teachers with a high qualification category who work in general education schools certified according to international standards will be able to apply to the targeted master's program.
The admission process will follow the standard rules for entry into master's programs at higher educational institutions.
The training will be organized at the Nazimi National Pedagogical University of Uzbekistan and will take place entirely in a distance learning mode, ensuring the possibility of combining studies with the main job of the educators. It is important to note that after completing the master's program, graduates are obliged to work in a general education organization for at least three years.
Furthermore, teachers admitted under this new scheme will be exempt from the obligation to reimburse the state for training costs, which is an advantage compared to other categories of master's students.
