According to the presidential press service, 750 of these students are studying at the state’s expense through the El-Yurt Umidi Foundation, which supports Uzbek youth in pursuing higher education abroad.
“We are all delighted that last year our country’s youth ranked first in Central Asia in admissions to the top 500 universities. Words cannot express the joy of parents, especially those whose children are studying at the world’s most prestigious institutions,” the president said. Analyses show that since Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s first election as president eight years ago, higher education coverage in Uzbekistan has risen from 9% to 42%. During the same period, the number of kindergarten places increased to 2.5mn, with coverage reaching 78%. Additionally, 1mn new student places have been created through the construction of new schools and expansion of existing institutions.
The El-Yurt Umidi Foundation, established by presidential decree in September 2018, provides financial support for Uzbek youth to pursue bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs at prestigious universities abroad. The foundation also helps specialists returning from overseas study find employment in Uzbekistan, monitors their professional activities, and assists in career development.
Looking ahead, the foundation’s state budget allocations are set to grow steadily: UZS 600bn ($48mn) in 2025, UZS 800bn ($64mn) in 2026, UZS 950bn ($76mn) in 2027, and UZS 1 trillion ($80mn) by 2028.
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