Uzbekistan and Djibouti Agree to Expand Cooperation in the Field of Education

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 1 November 2025, in Samarkand, on the sidelines of the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, a meeting took place between the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Kungirotboy Sharipov, and the Minister of Education of the Republic of Djibouti, Mohamed Mahamoud Mustafa.

The discussions centered on developing cooperation in the fields of higher and vocational education, science, and innovation.

The parties exchanged views on organizing student and faculty exchanges, implementing joint scientific projects, introducing advanced international practices in vocational training, and preparing gifted graduates from Djibouti to study at universities and vocational institutions in Uzbekistan.

Agreements were reached on strengthening ties between universities and vocational education centers of the two countries and on building systematic cooperation mechanisms.

Djibouti’s Minister of Education, Mohamed Mahamoud Mustafa, spoke about the education reforms carried out in his country over the past 27 years.

He noted that 100% of the population has access to school education and that an equal learning environment has been established for boys and girls. The University of Djibouti currently educates more than 12,000 students in fields such as economics, law, engineering, medicine, and social sciences.

For his part, Kungirotboy Sharipov highlighted Uzbekistan’s efforts to reduce poverty, foster innovation, promote economic growth, and modernize the vocational education system. He emphasized that 2026 has been declared the “Year of Vocational Education” in Uzbekistan, and one of the key priorities is to expand international cooperation.

During the meeting, the sides discussed joint vocational training programs, professional development for teachers, and the preparation of technical specialists with the participation of Djibouti.

At the initial stage, Uzbekistan expressed readiness to allocate 10 scholarships for Djiboutian youth to study at the country’s universities and technical colleges in fields such as engineering, medicine, information technology, and artificial intelligence.

Minister Mohamed Mahamoud Mustafa highly appreciated Uzbekistan’s initiative, noting its importance for strengthening friendly and strategic relations between the two countries.

Following the meeting, both sides agreed to develop a framework document aimed at further strengthening cooperation in higher and vocational education, science, and innovation, and to define practical steps for its implementation.