Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — In Uzbekistan, 3,500 children from low-income families will have the opportunity to pursue higher education on a grant basis as part of the "From Poverty to Prosperity" program.

This initiative is outlined in the presidential decree on the "State Program for the Implementation of the Uzbekistan–2030 Strategy" in the Year of "Environmental Protection and Green Economy."

Starting from the 2025/2026 academic year, a new set of measures will be introduced to foster human capital development and create favorable conditions for education.

The Central Asian University for Environmental Studies and Climate Change will become a leading institution for training specialists in ecology, environmental protection, and climatology. It will also launch a new program focusing on circular economy.

Branches of this university, known as "Green Technical Colleges," will be established in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regional centers, and the capital. Additionally, state universities in Uzbekistan will introduce new courses and programs related to environmental protection and sustainable development in the fields of natural sciences, engineering, economics, and finance.

As part of an effort to expand grant-based university education, the government will increase state-funded places for students specializing in exact and natural sciences, engineering, technology, medicine, and services to 25,000. The "El-Yurt Umidi" Foundation will also allocate up to 20 scholarships for environmental studies.

Furthermore, schools meeting inclusive education standards will be gradually opened in every district and city across Uzbekistan.

According to the Ministry of Poverty Reduction and Employment, Uzbekistan’s poverty rate decreased from 11% to 8.9% by the end of 2024.