British Council marks nearly 30 years in Uzbekistan, highlights growing focus on quality in higher education

Michael Houlgate, Country Director of the British Council in Uzbekistan and Cluster Lead for Central Asia, said that Uzbekistan’s higher education system is expected to place increasing emphasis on quality improvement alongside the continued expansion of access.

Houlgate, who has worked with the British Council for more than 13 years and assumed his current role in September 2025, made the remarks in an interview marking the organization’s nearly 30 years of activity in Uzbekistan. The British Council has been active in the country since 1996.

Speaking about education reforms, he noted that Uzbekistan has made significant progress in recent years, particularly in expanding access to higher education, improving teacher training, and strengthening language education. At the same time, he said the next stage of development is expected to focus more on ensuring consistent quality across the system.

Houlgate highlighted ongoing cooperation between the British Council and Uzbekistan’s education authorities on quality assurance systems and university governance reforms to align institutions with international standards. He also noted Uzbekistan’s ambition to develop into a regional education hub by attracting more international universities and students.

Another key focus of the interview was the role of technology in education, particularly artificial intelligence. Houlgate said education systems worldwide are facing the challenge of effectively integrating digital tools into teaching and learning, adding that Uzbekistan is taking steps in this direction by developing infrastructure and exploring new approaches.