El-yurt umidi Foundation’s Control Transferred to Presidential Administration
The “El-yurt umidi” Foundation of Uzbekistan Under Direct Supervision of Presidential Administration
In a strategic shift towards prioritizing the development of qualified and skilled engineers and technologists through education abroad, the “El-yurt umidi” Foundation of Uzbekistan is set to be moved under the direct supervision of the Presidential Administration.
At a meeting chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on February 5, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovations was tasked with the large-scale assessment of 116 universities to develop a plan for their expansion and to set definitive criteria for elevating their status to “national”, “state” university, academy, or institute.
Furthermore, the “El-yurt umidi” Foundation will implement a new system for foreign studies, specifically dedicating resources to the preparation of young individuals in the much-needed fields of engineering and technology.
Starting with the upcoming academic year, technical schools will introduce a new system that harmonizes “Academic” and “Vocational” education components. The first and second-year programs, textbooks, assessment criteria, and teacher qualifications at these technical schools will be unified with those of higher education institutions. A “credit system” will be adopted, allowing credits earned at technical schools to be recognized at the university level, enabling students to continue their studies in second or third-year university courses under the “2+2” or “2+3” programs.
Additionally, a new system is set to raise the status of vocational students who choose to continue their professional journey in the industry. After working for two or three years to gain experience, these individuals will be able to take assessments to achieve a qualification equivalent to a bachelor’s degree.
The meeting also resolved to enroll 50,000 vocational students in a dual education system, starting with sectors such as textiles, construction, electrical industries, and machinery.
The assessment of knowledge and skills will incrementally transition to private organizations, changing the traditional state-controlled evaluation model.
The Ministry of Higher Education is instructed to cut the number of bachelor’s degree specializations by 40% by consolidating them and updating the curricula based on programs from the top 300 universities worldwide.
These changes mark a significant shift in Uzbekistan’s approach to education and demonstrate a commitment to prioritizing the development of qualified engineers and technologists.
