"Higher Education in Central Asia. The Challenges of Modernization" – this is the title of the report prepared as part of a World Bank led initiative "Analysis of the Situation of Higher Education in Central Asia".

The four country reports united in the publication were presented at the dissemination workshop held on 21 September 2007 at the "Poytaht" Hotel in Tashkent.

The report was presented to government officials from various Ministries and Agencies dealing with the higher education issues, as well as representatives of Uzbek Universities and international organizations attending the workshop.

Maureen McLaughlin, the World Bank Lead Education Specialist, shared international experience in higher education development. One of the authors of the report national expert Abdurakhim Vakhabov presented to the workshop participants the main features of the Higher education in Uzbekistan.

Positive innovations in higher education in Central Asia were touched upon in the presentation of another national expert Erkin Imamov.

Small group discussions were focused around the following topics: Quality and Quality Control; Access to higher education; Financing of higher education; and Private Sector role in labor market development. The results of the small group discussions were presented at plenary meeting.