Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Enrollment for free training of IT specialists at the School 21 campus in Tashkent has opened today. The first qualifying pool will begin on 26 August, 2024. 

School 21 in Tashkent is a school of digital technologies that gives all interested residents of Uzbekistan and neighboring countries over 18 years of age the opportunity to obtain a sought-after profession in the IT field for free.

The enrollment process consists of several stages. First, the participant submits an application on the school’s website, goes through two online memory and logic games, and then a qualifying “pool.” During the selection process, participants write code from scratch over 26 days, create a game, and complete collective and individual projects. For more than 50% of participants, participation in the project is their first programming experience.

After successful completion of the “pool”, participants move on to basic training, where in 1.5–3 years they grow into competent IT engineers, programmers, ML engineers, development engineers, IT project managers, analysts, junior and middle developers, in demand in the labor market. Such results are achieved due to the features of the school, such as the peer-to-peer teaching methodology, where participants learn from each other during training, a flexible schedule, gamification of the educational process and a strong emphasis on practice.

As part of the Uzbekistan-2030 strategy, an ambitious goal has been set - to increase the export of IT services and software products to US$5 billion. To achieve this, comprehensive measures are being taken, including the development of IT infrastructure, the venture market and the attraction of international companies. Over the past four months of this year alone, the volume of services in the sector increased by 20 percent, exports amounted to US$200 million, and 5 thousand jobs were created.

Due to the active development of the IT industry and the increase in the number of companies in the country, the demand for qualified specialists is growing. In accordance with this, the state has set the task of preparing more than 300 thousand IT specialists for the market. The School 21 digital technology school is an excellent solution for training personnel in this area. The project is being implemented jointly with the Ministry of Digital Technologies and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Rustam Karimjonov, Deputy Minister of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan:
“The emergence of the School 21 campus in Tashkent promises a significant contribution to the development of education and digital technologies in Uzbekistan. This is due to an innovative approach to training, training for the digital economy, international cooperation, stimulating innovation and start-up projects.”

School 21 quickly integrated into the educational IT landscape of the Republic of Uzbekistan and created a solid foundation for the digital transformation of the country.

Bobur Rakhimov, Advisor to the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of the Republic of Uzbekistan:

“The opening of the School 21 campus in Tashkent brings positive changes to education by integrating information technology into various disciplines. This gives students unique opportunities to become in-demand professionals with deep knowledge, digital skills and creative thinking. University collaboration with School 21 provides students with access to modern technologies, practical projects and teamwork. This broadens their horizons, develops leadership skills and creates specialists capable of solving the problems of the modern era and contributing to the development of science and technology.”

School 21 in Tashkent is the second campus in the republic - since December last year the project has been implemented in Samarkand and is in great demand. During its work, more than 10,000 people applied for basic training and decided to try their hand at IT. Moreover, in addition to participants from Samarkand, residents of Tashkent, Bukhara, Jizzakh and other cities of Uzbekistan study here.

Ahead of the training participants is an internship in large companies in the country, which lasts three months. School 21 is already actively cooperating on this issue with companies such as OsiyoTech, UIC, QUBIT, GAME PRIME STUDIO, IT-Bilim, IT-Park residents and many others.

Zarina Lukhmanova, managing director of School 21:

“School 21 in Tashkent is another significant step in the development of education and the technology industry of our country. Only through education and innovation can we create a future in which everyone can realize their potential. The school strives to be not just a place of learning, but a center where motivated participants will gain the knowledge, skills and inspiration to change the world around them. We are proud to contribute to shaping the future of an innovative society. I express my gratitude to the government of Uzbekistan for the opportunity to train qualified specialists and strengthen our country’s position in the IT field on the world stage.”