An initiative is being considered in Uzbekistan to change the rules of the national rating of higher education institutions, which involves linking financial revenues to state universities with the results of this rating. According to the draft order, universities will be divided into three tiers depending on the number of points scored. This new system could potentially take effect from January 1, 2027.
The proposed distribution structure includes assigning 20% of universities with the best performance to the first category, the next 40% to the second, and the remaining 40% to the third. The amount of funds allocated to a university will directly depend on its category. For institutions that have financial independence, the payment calculation will be based on the amount the state allocates per student under the state order or grant.
For other state universities, the size of the funding will be determined based on the volume of budget funds intended to cover their expenses. After the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation publishes the rating results, it is obliged to transfer the corresponding funds to the treasury accounts of the universities within fifteen working days, while the universities retain the right to independently dispose of the received money.
Changes to evaluation criteria
The draft also provides for modifying the criteria for evaluating universities. Instead of using three separate metrics—graduate employment rate, job search duration, and average income—the introduction of a unified graduate quality index is planned. This index will be assessed in a range of 20 to 40 points, depending on the university's category.
Furthermore, it is proposed to adjust the deadlines for providing data for participation in the rating: the data submission date is moved from February 1st to June 1st. Universities will have to upload information for the past reporting period to a specialized platform, after which the agency will verify the data and calculate the final scores.
For educational institutions in Uzbekistan that are included in the top thousand international rankings, such as THE, QS, and ARWU, the creation of a separate national rating is provided for. In this case, results from narrow subject areas will not be taken into account. Universities that have been operating for at least three years and have already graduated undergraduates can participate in the national rating. Starting in 2027, the calculation of faculty staff numbers will be based on the sum of full-time equivalents.
These changes are currently in the stage of a draft order from the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Education and will only come into force after official approval and publication of this document. It was previously reported that the development of a Graduate Quality Index for universities in Uzbekistan was underway, which should consider parameters such as employment level, employment stability, income level, and assigned job category.