Uzbekistan and Japan have signed an agreement to establish a joint university that will offer graduate programs in artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and business administration, with the first admissions planned for the 2028/29 academic year.
The agreement was signed via videoconference by Uzbekistan's Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Kongratbay Sharipov and President of Japan's University of Tsukuba Kyosuke Nagata.
According to the agreement, the new Uzbek-Japanese university will focus on training highly qualified specialists with modern technical and managerial competencies while strengthening educational, scientific, and cultural cooperation between Uzbekistan and Japan. The project also aims to further integrate Uzbekistan's higher education system into the international academic community.
The university will operate as an independent legal entity under the legislation of Uzbekistan. Its founders will be the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation and a consortium of Japanese universities coordinated by the University of Tsukuba.
Under the agreement, the University of Tsukuba will oversee the consortium's activities while participating in the university's academic and educational processes.
During the initial stage of operations, the university will offer master's degree programs in artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and business administration. Doctoral and bachelor's degree programs are planned to be introduced in later stages.
All academic programs will be delivered in English and will follow the Japanese higher education model. Students will also have access to short-term educational programs in Japan, as well as courses in Japanese language and culture.
The Uzbek side will provide the university campus, establish educational and research infrastructure, and finance the activities of professors, teachers, and administrative staff.
The University of Tsukuba will support the development of academic curricula, coordinate the consortium of Japanese universities, recruit professors and lecturers, and organize academic exchange programs.
According to the implementation schedule, the university's preparatory office will begin operating in Tashkent in September 2026, while the first intake of students into master's programs is planned for the 2028/29 academic year.
