Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 30 April, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a presentation focused on enhancing the non-state education system and improving the quality of higher and vocational education.

During the discussion, it was emphasized that the development of the economy and investment climate is closely tied to the training of qualified personnel. In recent years, Uzbekistan has actively supported private initiatives in education: 71 private universities and 51 technical colleges have been established, currently serving around 500,000 students. As a result, higher education coverage has increased from 9% to 42%.

However, despite the progress made, not all private institutions meet the required quality standards. Key challenges identified include improving admissions systems, curricula, teaching quality, scientific research, and aligning workforce training with current labor market demands.

Measures under consideration include systematizing the activities of private institutions, reforming the licensing process, and introducing new state accreditation rules. Notably, a two-stage licensing system is proposed, along with mandatory program-specific accreditation and comprehensive institutional accreditation every five years.

The proposal also includes establishing an independent body to conduct external quality assessments and introducing transparent and objective monitoring mechanisms based on international standards.

The implementation of these reforms is expected to enhance the efficiency of the education system, strengthen the scientific capacity of universities and technical schools, and improve their positions in international rankings.