Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Experts from the Institute of Macroeconomic and Regional Studies (IMRI) under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan have conducted an analysis of the results of reforms in the higher education sector in Uzbekistan over the period from 2017 to 2024.

In the 2017/2018 academic year, the number of higher education institutions (HEIs) stood at 72. By the 2023/2024 academic year, this number had grown to 219, reflecting an increase of 304%. During this period, the number of foreign universities operating in Uzbekistan rose nearly 4.5 times, reaching 31.

For context, as of 2024, Kazakhstan had 113 higher education institutions, Kyrgyzstan 61, Tajikistan 27, and Turkmenistan 23.

In 2025, 23 Uzbek universities were included in the list of leading universities in Central Asia according to the international QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) ranking.

According to the results of the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings in 2024, 53 Uzbek universities entered the global ranking (compared to 26 in Kazakhstan), of which 7 (versus 3 in Kazakhstan) ranked among the top 1,000 universities worldwide.

For reference, the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings assess universities based on their contribution to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

At the start of the 2024/2025 academic year, the enrollment rate in higher education among the population aged 18 to 23 reached 47.7%, compared to just 8.3% in 2017.

In 2024, the number of international students studying at Uzbek universities reached 12,500, a 9.6-fold increase from 1,300 in the 2017/2018 academic year. The majority of foreign students come from India (6,502), Turkmenistan (1,430), Pakistan (1,250), and Russia (732).

In 2024, 27,300 dormitory places were constructed for students. Additionally, the dormitory allocation system was fully digitized, allowing students to reserve their places online remotely.

The number of teaching staff at universities increased from 25,100 in 2017/2018 to 45,400 in 2023/2024. During the same period, the number of professors rose from 1,078 to 2,074, and the number of associate professors increased from 4,091 to 7,108.

In 2024, 39 educational programs at seven Uzbek universities successfully received international accreditation. Diplomas with international accreditation are recognized abroad. In 2025, the number of accredited programs is expected to increase to 45.

According to the decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated March 7, 2022, No. PF-87, the government fully funds tuition contracts for all women enrolled in master’s degree programs at public universities. At least 200 billion Uzbek soms are allocated annually for this purpose.

Furthermore, per the Government Resolution No. PQ-323 dated July 18, 2022, women enrolled in higher and vocational education systems are eligible for interest-free educational loans with a repayment term of seven years. This system was further improved by Presidential Decree No. PF-82 dated May 27, 2024.

The “Uzbekistan – 2030” strategy outlines several measures for the development of the education system and infrastructure, including achieving at least 50% higher education enrollment among youth; securing international accreditation for programs at 30 universities; implementing a “double degree” system involving at least 50 joint educational programs with foreign universities ranked within the global top 500; constructing an additional 120,000 study places and 150,000 dormitory beds; and including 10 Uzbek universities in the prestigious international “Top 1000” ranking of the world’s best universities.