Uzbekistan and British Council Expand Education Cooperation

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Representatives of Uzbekistan held talks with the British Council in London during the World Education Forum 2026, focusing on expanding cooperation in higher education, workforce training, and international academic collaboration.

The meeting took place between Sardor Rajabov, First Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of Uzbekistan, and Scott McDonald, Chief Executive of the British Council. The sides discussed prospects for strengthening cooperation between Uzbekistan and the United Kingdom in university education, English language teaching, academic mobility, and scientific collaboration.

During the talks, officials presented key reforms being implemented in Uzbekistan’s higher education, science, and innovation sectors. Particular emphasis was placed on improving the quality of English language instruction, introducing international education standards, and training specialists aligned with modern labor market requirements.

The parties reviewed practical steps to expand cooperation, including training English language teachers for universities and vocational institutions, developing English-taught programs, improving university governance and quality assurance systems, and expanding academic mobility and joint research projects.

Special attention was given to student employment and the development of modern skills within educational programs.

The British Council highlighted the significance of its global work, noting that it operates in more than 100 countries and plays an important role in English language education, international examination systems, and academic exchange.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their readiness to strengthen partnership relations and implement new joint initiatives aimed at developing Uzbekistan’s education system and expanding international cooperation.