Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 5 May, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed and approved proposals to reform Uzbekistan’s system for training highly qualified specialists and to further develop international education programs.

Human capital development is a national priority, and since the inception of the “El-yurt umidi” Foundation, 2,225 individuals have received scholarships to study in 45 countries. Over 1.5 trillion soums have been allocated from the state budget for this initiative. More than 1,400 graduates have returned and are working in key sectors such as the economy, education, science, healthcare, and public administration. Currently, 748 scholars are studying at universities ranked in the world’s top 300.

To expand these efforts, the Foundation and the Academy of Public Administration will be reorganized into a single cluster — the “El-yurt umidi” Foundation for Future Leaders and the Academy of State Policy and Administration under the President. The new structure will operate in coordination with the Agency for Civil Service Development.

Priority will be given to internships and training in fields such as energy, urban planning, transport, architecture, engineering, land management, and public administration. Civil servants will be eligible for targeted internships of up to six months.

New benefits for scholarship holders will include:

Automatic scholarships for those accepted into top-100 global universities without additional exams.

Full compensation of international travel and housing costs for students at top-300 institutions.

Presidential school graduates admitted to top-20 universities with at least 50% scholarships will receive funding without competition.

A Parents’ Council will be created to maintain constant feedback with students abroad, while Uzbek embassies will be tasked with providing legal and logistical support.

The Academy of State Policy and Administration will continue key programs such as the “School for Khokims,” “School for Women Leaders,” and “Leaders of the Future,” which trained over 13,000 participants last year.

The new public administration training system will consist of three components: professional development, retraining, and master’s programs. All will be conducted in partnership with international universities and aligned with OECD recommendations.

Master’s programs — available on grant and contract bases — will last up to 18 months in fields such as Public Administration, Public Policy, Regional Development, Human Capital Development, and Public Finance Management.

To ensure quality education, the Academy will establish an International Academic Advisory Council and four new centers, including a Center for Applied Public Administration Research.

President Mirziyoyev approved the proposals and instructed the government to implement the new system, train foundation and academy staff, identify and support talented youth, and involve experts in reform efforts.