INAUGURAL TIMES HIGHER EDUCATION FORUM HELD IN UZBEKISTAN
In October, Tashkent hosted the inaugural Central Asian Universities Forum, organized by Times Higher Education in partnership with New Uzbekistan University. This landmark event brought together over 350 delegates from 25 countries, including 60 leaders of international organizations and representatives from 97 higher education institutions, including some from the top 10 global universities. The forum provided a unique platform for exchanging ideas and fostering collaboration across the fields of education, public policy, and business.
The central theme of the forum was shaping the future of higher education in Central Asia, addressing pressing issues and exploring innovative solutions to help universities in the region advance. These discussions culminated in recommendations aimed at boosting educational development in the region.
Uzbekistan, in particular, has made significant strides in education reforms in recent years. As a result, the country’s higher education enrolment rate has more than quadrupled, rising from 9% in 2016 to 38%. This increase has translated into a 1.3 million rise in the number of students.
Hilola Umarova, Minister of Pre-school and School Education and Rector of New Uzbekistan University, emphasized the importance of these reforms: “Step by step, we are building a fundamentally new education system, sharing best practices with our regional colleagues, and launching student exchange programs to ensure the region’s presence in the global community. Science and education are historically strong pillars of development for our country and all Central Asian states. We are revitalizing this legacy by investing in the education and future of our children.”
Phil Batey, head of international relations at Times Higher Education, highlighted Tashkent’s potential as an emerging education and technology hub. He noted that Central Asia has seen impressive progress in the past five years, with the region’s universities rapidly advancing in global rankings. “Central Asia is attracting more international students, its research base is growing, and its universities are reforming to meet high international standards. This region is becoming an important bridge between East and West,” he said.
The forum also facilitated bilateral meetings, leading to cooperation agreements between Uzbek universities and foreign institutions. Ibrahim Al Hajri, President of Khalifa University (UAE), discussed the region’s educational potential, noting: “Education in the countries of Asia and the East has historically been strong and has consistently ranked highly in global assessments.” He underscored the importance of Central Asia as a partner in education, confirming agreements with New Uzbekistan University for student exchange and joint research projects.
The forum also addressed the challenges that Uzbekistan’s education system might face as it continues to grow. Rita Almeida, Head of the World Bank’s Global Education Practice for Europe and Central Asia, spoke optimistically about the region’s future, noting that its growing demographics will contribute significantly to growth and development. However, she stressed that this growth would necessitate a strategic approach to university enrolment and effective use of the region’s human potential. “The higher education sector, along with skilled professionals, will be critical to economic diversification,” she said.
MIT’s Vice President, Professor Eric Grimson, who led a delegation from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to Tashkent, also spoke at the forum. He highlighted the importance of education meeting industry needs. “Today, cooperation between education and industry is essential across all sectors, not just for technological professions,” he said. Grimson noted that MIT sees great potential in the region and is keen to support Central Asian universities as they develop.
As a result of the forum, three Uzbek universities made notable progress in the Times Higher Education rankings: the Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers entered the Top 600, the National University of Uzbekistan secured a spot in the Top 1,001, and the Tashkent University of Information Technologies was ranked in the Top 1,501.