International university campus planned for Tashkent

Tashkent is set to become home to a new international university campus, a project presented to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on July 10. The campus will house branches of prominent international and domestic higher education institutions, aiming to transform Uzbekistan into a leading educational center in the region.

The initiative draws inspiration from successful models like Qatar's Education City, Dubai's International Academic City, and South Korea's Global Campus in Incheon. To facilitate its development, the project may receive benefits such as simplified licensing procedures, tax and customs exemptions, and partial reimbursement of royalties paid to foreign universities.

This ambitious plan is part of a broader strategy to enhance Uzbekistan's educational landscape. Over the last eight years, the country has witnessed a dramatic surge in higher education enrollment, growing from 9% to 44%, with the student population expanding from 270,000 to 1.7 million. Furthermore, by 2026, 100 technical schools are slated to implement vocational education programs from various countries, including Germany, Great Britain, Switzerland, China, and South Korea.

The establishment of the international campus signifies Uzbekistan's commitment to integrating global academic standards and programs. The president's press service highlighted the goal of widespread adoption of international programs and standards, underscoring the nation's aspiration to elevate its educational offerings on a global scale.