Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan will introduce a system of dual higher education based on orders from employer companies starting from the 2027/2028 academic year. The relevant presidential decree “On measures to improve the system of personnel training through dual education in higher education” was signed on 29 September 2026.
The system will train specialists under the “enterprise–university–targeted specialist” model, with graduates subsequently employed by the companies that ordered their training.
Universities will determine the list of bachelor’s degree fields and admission parameters for dual education in coordination with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation. Admissions will be conducted annually by 1 October on a paid-contract basis, in line with applications submitted by employer companies.
Dual education will be organized under an agreement between the university, the enterprise and the student. The enterprise will be required to pay the student a monthly salary during the period of study at a rate no lower than the minimum wage.
In turn, students will be required to work for the enterprise for at least two years after completing their studies.
Students enrolled in dual education who are included in the Social Register will receive a social scholarship.
Students studying engineering, manufacturing and processing, architecture and construction, as well as agriculture will have the opportunity to continue their studies under state grant quotas from their second year.
The period of study under the dual education system will be included in the calculation of the student’s total employment record.
Starting from 1 January 2027, special courses will be organized for mentors assigned to students by enterprises participating in dual education.
Following the 2027/2028 academic year, a performance ranking will be compiled for universities and employer companies participating in dual education. The three universities and three enterprises with the best results will receive awards of 1 billion, 2 billion and 3 billion soums, depending on their ranking.
The decree also provides additional support measures for enterprises participating in dual education.
Starting from 1 January 2027, enterprises will receive a subsidy covering 50% of the labor costs for each student enrolled in dual education in engineering, manufacturing and processing, architecture and construction, as well as agriculture.
In addition, enterprises will receive additional points on the “Sustainability Rating of Business Entities” platform. The number of points will depend on the number of students admitted to dual education.
Equipment, installations and laboratory equipment imported by enterprises to create practical facilities for dual education on university premises will be subject to a 1% customs duty rate until 1 January 2030.
Enterprises will also be entitled to apply accelerated depreciation over a three-year period to educational equipment and facilities purchased for practical training under dual education programs.
