Mirziyoyev Orders Overhaul of Public Leadership Training

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a presentation on measures to identify and train a new generation of managers, build a national talent reserve, and support young professionals through the El-Yurt Umidi Foundation.

The presentation noted that annual investment in Uzbekistan exceeds US$50 billion, exports are approaching US$40 billion, and the development of modern sectors of the economy requires qualified personnel for both the public sector and business.

Officials said that in recent years the system for selecting and evaluating civil servants has been digitalized. A unified electronic database containing information on 87,700 civil servants has been created for the first time, while recruitment to the civil service is now conducted through open competitions that assess candidates' knowledge and skills without human involvement.

According to the presentation, artificial intelligence was used to analyze promising areas of development across industries and regions. The analysis identified demand for management personnel in more than 50 modern specialties. The highest demand was found in energy and green technologies, construction and urban development, agriculture and water management, digitalization, and services.

The president said the lack of a prepared talent reserve could negatively affect the effectiveness of public administration. He proposed replacing the practice of assessing candidates based on personal records with a portfolio-based system that comprehensively evaluates knowledge, professional experience, psychological qualities, strategic thinking, and leadership skills.

Under the proposals, prospective managers will be assessed using a 100-point system supported by digital technologies. Big data analysis and business intelligence tools will identify high-potential specialists, while artificial intelligence will be used to develop individual professional development plans. The new system is expected to be introduced first in agriculture, higher education, and construction.

The government plans to select 500 promising managers every two years. By 2030, it aims to establish a new-generation talent reserve comprising 1,500 high-potential specialists.

The presentation also outlined the "TOP-100" open competition, which is designed to create a talent pool for senior management positions. The competition will cover agriculture, healthcare, entrepreneurship, the judicial system, education, information technology, and artificial intelligence. Winners who complete testing, professional assessment, interviews, and specialized training will be included in the national talent reserve.

Special attention was given to involving Uzbek nationals living abroad, as well as students studying at or graduating from the world's top 100 universities. From 1 October 2026, a new "Students Abroad" module is scheduled to be launched on the career.edu.uz platform. The system will link students with government agencies and private companies for internships, interaction with potential employers, and future employment.

The meeting also reviewed measures to further improve the work of the El-Yurt Umidi Foundation. Officials said that following reforms introduced last year, the share of scholarship recipients studying at the world's top 100 universities had increased from 30% to 80%. Under three competitions held under the new rules over the past year, 447 young specialists were awarded foundation scholarships.

Additional proposals include aligning the foundation's educational programs with regional and sectoral needs, co-financing education with major enterprises, launching joint academic programs with foreign universities, supporting research, startups, and alumni initiatives through small grants, and organizing leadership training programs based on the experience of Singapore, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, and Japan.

At the conclusion of the presentation, Mirziyoyev instructed officials to ensure openness and objectivity in personnel selection, expand support for talented specialists, and create conditions for making effective use of their potential in the country's development.