Uzbekistan to link university funding to national rankings and graduate employment

A central component of the reform is the "U10 – Flagship Universities of Uzbekistan" program. Under this initiative, ten universities will be selected through a competitive process to receive the prestigious status of National Research Universities. The selection will be based on specific criteria, including the potential of the teaching and scientific staff, positions in national and international rankings, and the quality of existing scientific infrastructure.

To support these flagship institutions, the government plans to establish scientific clusters at each participating university. These clusters will operate as consortiums involving local and foreign universities, research organizations, and industrial enterprises. To kickstart this development, the Fund for Financing Science and Supporting Innovation will allocate up to UZS 150 billion to each university attaining the national research status for the creation of these clusters.

Starting from 2027, Uzbekistan will implement a financial incentive system where university funding is tied directly to performance in national rankings. Evaluation criteria will include education quality, scientific output, international cooperation, digitalization efforts, and the employment rate of graduates. Furthermore, the allocation of state grants will be restructured to account for the complexity of educational programs, labor market demands, and university ratings.

The reforms also target the commercialization of scientific research. At least 50% of research funding will be directed toward priority sectors, with project selection involving international experts and industry representatives. To bridge the gap between academia and business, the government will encourage the creation of spin-off companies at universities. This "industry – enterprise – university – research organization" chain is expected to accelerate technology transfer and boost entrepreneurial activity within the academic sector.

Finally, Uzbekistan is looking to increase its appeal to international students through the newly proposed "New Uzbekistan Scholarship." This program will provide 500 grants annually to foreign citizens, allowing them to pursue their education at state higher education institutions.