State Grant Quota Set at 36,000 for 2026/2027 Academic Year in Uzbekistan

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — For the 2026/2027 academic year, Uzbekistan has allocated 36,023 state grants for undergraduate higher education programs.

The total enrollment capacity for full-time education will exceed 234,000 places, with strategic admission priority given to engineering specialties, information technology, pedagogy, and agriculture.

This was announced by the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, Kongratbay Sharipov, during a "Government Hour" session in the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis. The parliamentary session focused on the employment rates of university graduates, aligning higher education curricula with the dynamic demands of the labor market, and training globally competitive personnel.

According to the minister, the state order (government-funded student quotas) is formulated based on a thorough analysis of labor market needs, industry demands, and historical graduate employment rates. Starting from 2025, state order parameters are approved for a four-year period, establishing a long-term framework to better align higher education with the strategic development goals of the national economy.

During the session, deputies noted that universities are actively expanding their cooperation with employers. This includes opening specialized department branches directly at enterprise facilities, establishing corporate collaboration councils, and backing spin-off companies and student-led startups.

Members of the parliamentary factions raised several questions regarding the introduction of new academic disciplines, the overall efficiency of the digital career platform career.edu.uz, and the personal accountability of university rectors for ensuring graduate employment. They also highlighted the importance of narrowing the digital divide between regional universities and preparing skilled workforces tailored for the transitioning "green" economy.

Minister Sharipov concluded that the feedback and constructive proposals voiced during the legislative discussions would be fully integrated into future state policies to systematically improve the national higher education network.